Man decapitated wife four months after wedding, found dead in prison cell
Jared James Dicus, a 24-year-old man who admitted to brutally murdering and decapitating his wife just months after their wedding, has been found dead in his prison cell in Texas. The horrific case, which shocked the local community, reached its grim conclusion when prison staff discovered Dicus hanged in his cell at the Wainwright Unit in Houston County.
A brief marriage ends in unimaginable violence
Dicus and his 21-year-old wife Anggy Diaz were married in October 2022, but friends had already expressed concerns about their relationship dynamics. Just four months later, in January 2023, Diaz's mutilated remains were discovered in the shower of the couple's small cabin, located on the same property as Dicus's parents' home approximately 60 miles outside downtown Houston.
The crime scene presented a gruesome tableau that horrified responding officers. According to court documents, Diaz was found on the floor near the bed in a pool of blood with stab wounds to her back. The documents chillingly noted that "what appeared to be the head of the victim" was located in the shower, alongside a knife believed to have been used in the decapitation.
The discovery and immediate aftermath
Dicus's own father, who lived in the larger main house on the property, made the grim discovery and alerted authorities. The Waller County Sheriff's Office received a frantic call at approximately 4:35pm local time on January 11, 2023, reporting a possible death at the property.
In the hours between the murder and his arrest, surveillance footage captured Dicus driving to the Chepes meat market where his wife had worked. He was seen stealing a can of beer and drinking it in the parking lot—a disturbing display of calm following the brutal violence he had inflicted.
Relationship red flags and domestic violence concerns
A friend of Diaz, who spoke anonymously to The New York Post in 2023, revealed that Dicus had displayed signs of insecurity about the marriage. "He posted a video saying, 'She is mine,' to social media, and it was weird because no one was questioning that... it was out of nowhere," the friend recalled.
The friend last saw Diaz at a Christmas party weeks before the murder, where Dicus reportedly stormed out "looking really upset" while others were enjoying themselves. Though Diaz never explicitly discussed relationship problems, her friend suspected she might have been experiencing domestic violence but was "just embarrassed to admit her relationship was not perfect."
Legal proceedings and tragic conclusion
During a brief trial in 2024, Dicus admitted to the brutal killing. He received a 40-year prison sentence with the earliest possible parole date set for 2043. Waller County Sheriff Troy Guidry revealed that his department had been aware of the couple prior to the murder, having responded to previous "disturbance" calls, though nothing had indicated the "level of violence" that would ultimately occur.
On Friday, prison staff discovered Dicus hanged in his cell. Despite attempts to save him, emergency medical service staff declared him dead just before 11pm. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
A life cut short and troubling statistics
Diaz, who had aspirations of starting a family, had been advised by her friend to "avoid getting pregnant so quickly" after marrying Dicus. Her tragic death reflects disturbing national statistics about intimate partner violence.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in five homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. The reports further indicate that over half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.
For confidential support regarding domestic abuse, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. Those who have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse can seek specialist support from AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse).
