ST. LOUIS, MO – A Missouri man has been arrested and charged with the murder of the mother of his child, a crime that shocked the community with its chilling details. Karl Mayberry, 34, faces one count of first-degree murder following the 2021 death of 31-year-old Alvatyne Thomas, whose body was discovered in a scene resembling a horror story.
In December 2021, officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police responded to a call for a welfare check on Oregon Avenue and discovered Thomas deceased. Her body was found sitting upright, with a plastic bag taped around her head—a grim indicator of foul play. Investigators reported Thomas had suffered a gunshot wound, severe swelling on her forehead, and other signs of a violent struggle.
Authorities familiar with the case disclosed that Thomas seemed to have had bleach poured on her body. As the investigation unfolded, Thomas’s family revealed a history of domestic abuse at the hands of Mayberry, the child’s father.
Text message exchanges between Thomas and Mayberry became pivotal in the investigation. Records indicate they communicated shortly before her death, with Thomas telling Mayberry she was at home and preparing for bed.
Mayberry initially claimed he was at work during Thomas’s murder. However, co-workers reportedly contradicted his alibi, recounting that he vanished for several hours on the day of the killing. When Mayberry finally returned to work, witnesses noted that he appeared in different clothes and looked emotionally unsettled.
Further evidence came to light with a search of Mayberry’s phone and social media. Authorities discovered messages Mayberry had sent just after Thomas’s death, detailing specific aspects of the crime scene not released publicly at the time, raising suspicions about his involvement.
Incriminating data from his phone records also showed that Mayberry conducted several online searches following Thomas’s murder. Searches included queries about legal defenses related to first-degree murder in Missouri and potential strategies for defending such a case.
He also reached out to a criminal defense attorney, allegedly asking about the cost to defend a murder case, further pointing to premeditated concerns about his legal predicament.
Currently detained at the St. Louis City Justice Center and held without bond, Mayberry was on federal probation for previous charges, including assault and possessing a firearm illegally, at the time of the murder. His recent court appearance marks the beginning of a legal process in a case that has gripped the local community and drawn significant media attention.