Texas Man Admits to Killing Black Fiancée, Lived With Body For Days After She Started Decomposing

A Texas man is in custody after allegedly murdering his Black fiancée and reportedly remaining with her corpse for three days, claiming he “wanted to lay with” her. William Joseph Oddo III, 52, was apprehended on June 2 in Denton County. Charged with murder and evidence tampering, he confessed to fatally shooting LaVera Wardell, 39, in the head following a confrontation on May 6. He is currently held on a $160,000 bond.Oddo’s actions came to light on May 19 when neighbors, disturbed by a noxious odor, alerted authorities. Upon investigation, police discovered the apartment suspiciously tidy, free of any visible blood evidence, and later found a shotgun among the possessions. Surveillance footage captured Oddo acquiring cleaning supplies a week post-incident. Oddo contends that he acted in self-defense during an argument. Disturbingly, he admitted to staying with Wardell’s body for days. Police were aware of prior domestic violence incidents between the couple, indicating a troubling history.