A suspicious wife hunting for evidence of infidelity discovered a murder her husband committed years ago, according to Bakersfield Police.
The wife’s discovery led to the excavation of two graves Wednesday and Thursday and, on Friday afternoon, to death penalty charges against her husband.
The death may have netted the killer more than half a million dollars, police said.
Prosecutors charged Frank Jude Valles, 45, with first degree murder committed for financial gain – a charge that can lead to the death penalty or a no-parole prison term if proved.
Valles made his first court appearance Friday, but did not enter a plea. He's due back in court next week. He is being held without bail.
The victim was identified as Alphonso John Hyde. Reports say he may have been dead for years but was reported missing only last Thursday. The case came to light when, police say, Valles paid a third man to move Hyde's body from one place to another.
Hyde was a registered sex offender, convicted in Bakersfield of lewd acts with a child under the age of 15.
That conviction required he check in with a parole officer but, according to state records, he hasn't checked in since 2008.
That's the same year he was living with Valles and Valles' wife, Consuelo, in a house at 5908 Grass Creek Drive in southwest Bakersfield, according to reports.
"In recent months, Consuleo Valles believed Frank Valles was cheating on her," according to court records filed Friday.
The report also says:
When she placed a digital recorder in a shared kitchen, Frank Valles was heard telling Pablo Medrano he would pay him to move Hyde's remains.
Medrano agreed and was paid $1,000. Medrano spoke of purchasing horse manure to cover the odor and transporting Hyde to 218 Curnow Road (Frank Valles') new residence.
Frank Valles was/is Hyde's Power of Attorney and has been receving and cashing Hyde's Indian/Tribal Reservation $10,000-$20,000 monthly checks.
Frank Valles estimated he took $600,000 from Hyde. Frank Valles first said Hyde died and that he kept his body hidden for four years and later said it was a hoax.
Cadaver dogs keyed on locations at both Frank Valles' homes.
Medical records revealed Hyde was gravely ill. However, Frank Valles said Hyde had no medical problems. Medrano took officers to where Hyde's body was disposed.
The reports leave many questions unanswered: When and how was Hyde killed? Who reported him missing, and why wasn't he reported missing earlier? How did Valles get power of attorney? Why did Valles want the body moved?
The revelations by Consuelo Valles led to the excavations of a grave-size hole at the home on Grass Creek Drive, and an on-going dig at the home on Curnow Road.
