A 34-year-old Missouri man has been arrested for allegedly killing his child’s mother, who was discovered sitting upright in a chair inside her home with a plastic bag taped over her head. According to court records reviewed by Law&Crime, Karl Mayberry was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the 2021 death of Alvatyne Thomas, age 31.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on December 27, 2021, officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a welfare check request at a home in the 4000 block of Oregon Avenue.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they reported finding an adult female, later identified as Thomas, who was already deceased and had “a plastic bag taped around her head.”
“She had been shot in the back and had extreme swelling to her forehead, a severed ear and apparent defensive wounds on her hands,” according to the confessional. “She appeared to have had bleach poured over her body as well.”
During the investigation, officers said they learned from Thomas’ family that she had been in an abusive relationship with her child’s father, whom they identified as Mayberry. Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for Thomas’ cellphone.
According to the data obtained from her phone, Thomas texted Mayberry shortly before her death. In the text messages, she allegedly informed Mayberry that she was at her house and about to sleep.
In an interview with detectives, Mayberry stated that he was at work when Thomas was killed.
“However, officers interviewed multiple co-workers, who stated the Defendant had disappeared for hours during the timeframe in question,” according to the paperwork. “Officers also learned that, when the Defendant appeared again, he was in different clothes and appeared emotionally distraught.”
A search warrant was obtained for Mayberry’s cellphone and social media. Authorities said they discovered phone messages sent by Mayberry to an unnamed person shortly after Thomas’ murder. In the messages, Mayberry stated that Thomas was “found dead in the kitchen with a plastic bag wrapped around her head.”
According to authorities, Mayberry’s message about Thomas’ murder occurred “prior to police releasing this accurate information to anyone.”
In addition to the messages, Mayberry allegedly conducted several incriminating internet searches around the time Thomas died. Those searches allegedly included “first degree murder defenses” and “can he say she say be used against a person for murder in Missouri,” among other topics.
According to the affidavit, Mayberry also texted a criminal defense attorney to inquire about the cost of “defending a murder.”
Mayberry is currently being held in the St. Louis City Justice Center without bond, according to jail records. According to court records, he was on federal probation at the time of Thomas’ death after being convicted of assault and felon in possession of a firearm.
He made his first appearance in court on Friday afternoon.