A Houston attorney has been accused of shooting his special needs son then burning his dead body.
Michael Howard, 68, was charged with murder and tampering with evidence over the death of his son Mark Randall Howard, 20, who had Down syndrome.
Howard claimed the shooting was a ‘horrible accident’ when he mistook Mark for an intruder at his Sabine County lake house on Sunday night.
But after realizing his son was dead, Howard put the body in the front basket of a tractor and moved the corpse to a wood pile, which he dowsed in gasoline and set on fire.
The attorney, who has practiced law in Texas since 1984, then waited 17 hours before calling the police, MacDonough said.
Before notifying the police, he reportedly told his wife and other son about his actions.
When police arrived, Howard showed them the gun he used to shoot Mark.
Michael Howard, 68, was arrested on Monday after informing authorities that he ‘accidently’ shot and killed his son before setting the body on fire
Howard and his son were staying at the attorney’s Sabine County lake house, about 170 miles away from Houston
Howard led police to the wood pile about a mile and a half from the house, where charred bodily remains and bones were discovered.
MacDonough noted that rangers and deputies found remains including a piece of a lower jaw with a few teeth attached.
Authorities believe Mark’s father hosed down the area where the 20-year-old was shot.
‘It is a bizarre crime anywhere you are just because of the nature of the event,’ MacDonough said.
‘Mr. Howard committed this act and in the furtherance of that, burned the body and cleaned the crime scene, which as an investigator, I would take as indicative of nefarious purposes or for nefarious purposes.’
Howard and his son were at the lake house alone, and court records indicate that Mark hardly left his father’s side, the Houston Chronicle reported.
After searching the premises, police found a pair of eyeglasses and a bullet casing, according to court records.
Sheriff J.P. MacDonough said Howard waited about 17 hours before telling police about the incident
Cameras were also taken from the property to check if there is any footage of the shooting.
Mark’s mother and brother were interviewed by investigators on Wednesday.
MacDonough described Mark as a high-functioning individual. He had a full-time job and was visiting his family when he was killed.
Howard’s primarily resides in Houston and used the remote Sabine County house as a vacation spot.
It is located about 170 miles away from Houston and sits on about 2,500 acres of land.
Howard’s bond is set at $20 million, $10 million for each of his charges, and is being held at the Sabine County Jail.
The Sabine County Sheriff’s Office is still investing the case.
Sabine County District Attorney Paul Robbins said Howard will face additional charges once the grand jury evaluates the case.
Sabine County District Attorney Paul Robbins said Howard may be hit with additional charges after he faces a grand jury
An autopsy has not yet been performed on Mark’s remains, but they were sent to Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Prior to allegedly shooting, killing and burning his son, Howard called the police last Friday to report a stolen wood-working tool and other items from his home.
The deputy that responded to Friday’s incident was the same one who arrived when Howard reported Mark’s death.
