Alabama man sentenced to 99 years in wife's death

CENTREVILLE, Ala. - A man accused of killing his wife 14 years ago has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.

WVTM-TV reports William Jody Byrd was sentenced Wednesday in his wife's February 1999 death.

Investigators have said Byrd initially told them he found his 29-year-old wife, Desta, dead from a gunshot wound to her head in the driveway when he came home from work. Investigators initially ruled the woman's death a suicide, but charged Byrd in May 2011.

AL.com reports that a grand jury said the woman was killed for insurance money.

A Bibb County Circuit Court judge ordered Byrd to also pay court costs, pay $10,000 to the Alabama Crime Victim Compensation Fund and additional restitution.

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