Michael Howard, a 68-year-old lawyer from Houston, is accused of killing his 20-year-old son, Mark Howard, in what he claimed was an accident. After allegedly shooting his son, Howard is said to have burned Mark’s body on a pile of wood on his property.
Authorities say Howard waited about 17 hours after the incident before calling the police to report what he described as a “horrible accident.”
Howard reportedly told investigators that he mistook Mark for a trespasser on his property and shot him with a shotgun. Mark had Down syndrome but was described as “high functioning,” capable of holding a job and living an active life.
After the shooting, Howard allegedly moved Mark’s body using a tractor, placing it on a woodpile about two miles from where the shooting occurred. He then set the pile on fire, burning his son’s body. Howard later claimed that he believed this was something his son would have wanted.
When police arrived, Howard gave them the shotgun he said he used and showed them around the property, including the location of the burned remains. Investigators noted that the area where the shooting occurred appeared to have been cleaned with a water hose.
Howard was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence. During a press conference, Sabine County investigator JP MacDonough described the case as “bizarre,” noting that Howard not only killed his son but also tried to cover it up by burning the body and cleaning the crime scene. MacDonough suggested that these actions could indicate Howard had other intentions beyond what he claimed was an accident.
At the time of the shooting, Howard’s wife, the victim’s mother, and his two other children were not home. Police also revealed that they had responded to the Howard property just days earlier, on November 29, when Howard reported a stolen trailer. It’s unclear if this earlier incident is connected to the shooting.
The Texas District Attorney’s Office is considering filing more charges against Howard. These could include desecration and improper handling of a corpse, as well as further charges related to tampering with the crime scene.
Howard is being held in the Sabine County jail with a bond set at $10 million for each charge. It’s not yet clear if Howard has entered a plea or if he has a lawyer to represent him.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, which they describe as both tragic and highly unusual.
