DENTON, TX – A Texas man is facing murder charges after allegedly shooting his fiancée and cohabitating with her corpse for over a week before fleeing due to the overpowering smell, police say.

William Oddo III, 52, informed investigators that the fatal shooting of 39-year-old LaVera Wardell occurred during a dispute on May 6, claiming he acted in self-defense as Wardell reportedly lunged at him with a knife.

Oddo, however, did not contact law enforcement afterward, allegedly to avoid discussing the incident.

Concerns were first raised when neighbors on Par Drive reported a distressing odor emanating from the apartment on May 19, prompting a police welfare check. Witnesses had seen Oddo with Wardell before her sudden disappearance.

Upon executing a search warrant, police discovered Wardell’s remains inside the residence. Evidence indicated a gunshot wound to the head, and the scene showed signs of attempted cleanup, including efforts to conceal the odor, authorities said.

Law enforcement found that Oddo had been acquiring cleaning agents to obscure the crime, a detail highlighted in a police press release. Surveillance and witness accounts revealed Oddo’s departure on May 14, leaving the disturbing scene behind.

On June 2, Oddo was apprehended at a motel in Mount Pleasant and initially charged with tampering with evidence. Following his arrest, further charges of murder were levied against him, with bond set at $160,000.

Neighbors expressed shock and distress over the incident, particularly given the apartment’s proximity to the building’s main offices. Despite the gruesome circumstances, the case underscores the complexities and challenges of domestic violence situations and their tragic potential outcomes.