Man who was on the SAPD’s Most Wanted List now facing murder trial

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 11CF3436

Date: February 10, 2015

MAN FORMERLY ON SAPD’S MOST WANTED LIST TO FACE TRIAL FOR MURDERING EMPLOYER IN 2009

SANTA ANA – A man who was on the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) most wanted list is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for murdering his employer. Gerald Guy Byrne, 54, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at 9:15 a.m. in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Byrne was working for 69-year-old Charles Samo.

Between July 19, 2009, and July 21, 2009, Byrne is accused of entering Samo’s residence in Santa Ana and strangling him to death. Byrne is accused of fleeing to Washington and was placed on the “Santa Ana Police Department’s 10 Most Wanted Suspects” list.

On Oct. 22, 2011, Byrne was arrested in Everett, Wash. by the Everett Police Department on an unrelated charge. He was identified during the booking process as a wanted parole suspect in California and was extradited back to Orange County.

SAPD investigated this case.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718