A chilling saga came to an unexpected close last Friday when Jared James Dicus, a 24-year-old Texas man convicted of the brutal murder of his wife, was found dead in his prison cell. The incident occurred at the Wainwright Unit in Houston County, where Dicus was serving a 40-year sentence for the heinous crime that took the life of 21-year-old Anggy Diaz, just months after their wedding.
Dicus was discovered hanging in his single-person cell, and despite the immediate life-saving attempts by prison staff, he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m., as per the state death report obtained by local media. This death brings an abrupt end to a case that had deeply shocked the Houston community.
The couple's marriage in October 2022 was fraught with problems, as friends of the pair reported witnessing ongoing issues in their relationship. Tragedy struck less than four months into their union when, on January 11, 2023, Dicus' father found Diaz's severed head in the shower of the couple’s cottage, alongside a knife, signaling the extent of the violence.
The Waller County Sheriff's Department had been familiar with the couple prior to the murder, having responded to disturbance calls involving them, though Sheriff Troy Guidry noted that none of these incidents hinted at the level of violence that would later be unleashed.
In the aftermath of the murder, friends and acquaintances of Diaz came forward with troubling signs about the relationship. One friend recalled a social media post by Dicus claiming ownership over Diaz, which seemed possessive and unusual. Another friend noted Dicus's abrupt departure from a Christmas party, which raised suspicions about potential domestic violence—a suspicion that Diaz, perhaps out of embarrassment, never confirmed.
Before her tragic death, Diaz had begun working as a fitness coach, with aspirations of starting a family with Dicus. However, friends had advised caution against rushing into parenthood given the couple's volatile relationship.
The case moved swiftly through the justice system following Dicus's guilty plea in 2024. His sentence of 40 years was a reflection of the gravity of his crime, which not only ended his wife's life but also left her family and friends in mourning. Now, with Dicus's own death in custody, the case concludes on a somber note, with authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances of his suicide.
