Michael Howard, a 68-year-old attorney from Houston, has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence after fatally shooting his 20-year-old son, Mark Howard, who had Down Syndrome. Howard allegedly mistook his son for an intruder on their family property in Hemphill, Texas, on December 1, according to the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities reported that Howard, concerned about a prior burglary at the property, shot his son, believing him to be an intruder. Upon realizing the mistake, he allegedly transported his son’s body in a tractor bucket to a remote part of the property, placed it on a wood pile, and burned it.
Howard later told investigators that he believed cremation was what his son “would have wanted.” He waited approximately 17 hours before notifying authorities of the incident, first contacting Mark’s mother and then a deputy sheriff.
Deputies, with Howard’s consent, searched the property and eventually discovered the burned remains about two miles from where the shooting took place. Investigators recovered charred bones and body parts, including a portion of the lower jaw, from the ash-covered scene.
Evidence suggests that Howard also attempted to clean the crime scene using a water hose, according to county investigator JP MacDonough.
“It is a bizarre crime anywhere… just because of the nature of the event,” MacDonough said, adding that he believes Howard’s actions were “nefarious” in nature.
Howard has been charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence involving a human corpse. He is currently held in the Sabine County Jail on a $20 million bond.
The Sabine County District Attorney, Paul Robbins, stated that additional charges might be brought against Howard as the investigation continues. A grand jury indictment is forthcoming.
Michael Howard owns a private law practice in Houston and has owned the Hemphill property, located 170 miles away, for years. His practice areas include personal injury, real estate, and legal malpractice.
The attorney’s legal history includes a suspension of his license in 1995 during a one-year probation for third-degree felony theft.
Howard has two other children, and investigators have interviewed Mark Howard’s mother as part of the case.
