MAGNOLIA, TX — In a sobering case highlighting the grim reality of domestic violence, a young man received a 40-year prison sentence for the gruesome killing of his new bride under a plea agreement that forecloses any chance of an appeal or insanity defense.

The Waller County prosecuting authorities announced that Jared James Dicus, 23, confessed to the brutal murder of his 21-year-old wife, Anggy Diaz, just months after the couple had tied the knot. The horrific discovery was made following a distress call from Dicus’ parents on January 11, 2023, leading law enforcement to a chilling scene in a cabin located in the rural precincts northwest of Houston.

Upon their arrival, deputies encountered a scene of carnage with Diaz’s decapitated body and evidence of a violent struggle throughout the couple’s dwelling. It soon emerged that the seemingly quiet setting had been previously disrupted by calls to respond to domestic incidents.

During preliminary legal proceedings, issues surrounding the mental health of the accused emerged, yet a psychiatric evaluation upheld Dicus’ fitness to proceed to trial. As part of his plea, Dicus voluntarily relinquished any right to contest his conviction or pursue an insanity defense in the future, solidifying the gravity of his sentencing.

Waller County Criminal District Attorney, Sean G. Whittmore, emphasized the community’s staunch opposition to domestic violence and the commitment to seeking justice for such atrocities. He expressed that the 40-year sentence, which offers no possibility of parole until at least 2043, was an emphatic statement against such acts of violence and a testament to standing with victims of domestic abuse.

Diaz’s untimely and tragic end evoked a flood of memories from loved ones recalling her spirited and positive influence, replete with dreams and aspirations. Her employer, Veronica Jimenez, depicted her as an ever-optimistic presence, while her uncle, Irvin Orellana, in a candid appeal for support to bring her remains to her birthplace of Nicaragua, described her as the family’s beacon of happiness and light.

This case leaves behind a deeply felt void among Anggy Diaz’s friends, family, and co-workers, as well as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of domestic violence and the enduring need for vigilance and support for those impacted.