Pottawatomie County man accepts plea deal for wife's murder
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) - According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office, Frank Byers has accepted a plea deal for the murder of Makayla Meave.
Officials say on September 16, 2023, Byers reported his wife missing. A few days later, on September 20, Meave’s body was found wrapped in a carpet in a drainage ditch about 2,000 feet from her home in rural Pottawatomie County.
Shortly after she was found, Byers was arrested. Court records reveal Byers’ work boots “had a blood like substance on them” that investigators now say came back as a positive DNA match to Meave’s.
Detectives also found a Walmart receipt for a mop, ammonia and bleach on Byers’ property the day Meave was reported missing. After reading through text messages, court records show investigators believe Byers committed the crime so he could “establish a relationship” with another woman.
According to the Medical Examiner, Meave suffered two gunshot wounds to the skull, which has been determined as her probable cause of death.
According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office, Byers took a plea deal and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Freeland Wood released the following statement:
"The thoughts and prayers of the Pottawatomie County community and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office are with the family of Makayla Meave. While there is little we can do to ease your grief, we pray for peace and healing for Makayla's loved ones.
The goal throughout this tragedy has been to seek justice for Makayla, her family, and her loved ones. This plea deal, which resulted in a life sentence without parole, provides justice, even though it may be imperfect justice. Perfect justice will be dealt by the hand of God.
I am deeply grateful for the assistance of our partner agencies and the hard work of the dedicated men and women of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office. In particular, I want to recognize the tireless efforts of Detective Dakota Black. This case was handled with remarkable professionalism from start to finish."