A Houston lawyer is facing serious charges after he allegedly shot his son, then attempted to dispose of the body in a disturbing way. The incident reportedly unfolded over a roughly 17-hour period before the attorney called authorities, describing the situation as a “horrible accident.”
Michael Howard, 68, has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence, according to Sabine County Investigator JP MacDonough, who spoke to reporters at a press conference. The victim, 20-year-old Mark Howard, had been diagnosed with Down syndrome but was described as a “high functioning” individual who worked and lived independently.
When police arrived, Howard claimed he had mistaken his son for an intruder and shot him. He then led officers to the remote area of his property where he allegedly burned Mark’s body on a wood pile. MacDonough described how Howard used a backhoe tractor to move the body and placed it on a pile of wood he had prepared in advance, stating that he believed the act of cremation was what his son would have wanted.
Authorities noted that the scene where the shooting occurred appeared to have been washed down, raising further suspicions regarding Howard’s account of events. According to MacDonough, Howard insisted this was all a tragic mistake, but the circumstances surrounding the case suggest otherwise.
The investigation revealed that Howard’s wife and two other children were not present during the incident. Additionally, there had been previous police calls to their home, with one occurring just days prior, in which Howard reported a trailer theft.
Prosecutors are currently considering further charges, including mishandling a corpse and additional counts related to the tampering of the crime scene. Howard is being held in a Sabine County jail with a bond set at an astonishing $10 million for each charge, although it remains unclear if he has entered a plea or secured legal representation as of now.
