A Houston attorney has been accused of shooting his special needs son and then burning his corpse.
Michael Howard, 68, was charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his son Mark Randall Howard, 20, who had Down syndrome.
Howard claimed the shooting was a “terrible accident” when he mistook Mark for an intruder at his lake home in Sabine County on Sunday evening.
But after realizing his son was dead, Howard placed the body in the front basket of a tractor and moved the corpse to a woodpile, which he doused in gasoline and set on fire.
The attorney, who has practiced law in Texas since 1984, then waited 17 hours before calling police, MacDonough said.
Before informing police, he reportedly told his wife and other son about his actions.
When the police arrived, Howard showed them the gun he used to shoot Mark.
Michael Howard, 68, was arrested Monday after informing authorities that he ‘accidentally’ shot and killed his son before setting the body on fire
Howard and his son stayed at the attorney’s Sabine County Lake House, about 170 miles from Houston
Howard led police to the woodpile, about a mile from the house, where charred body 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’s a bizarre crime no matter where you are, just because of the nature of the event,” MacDonough said.
‘Sir. Howard committed this act and in furtherance of it burned the body and cleaned the crime scene, which as an investigator I would interpret as indicative of nefarious purposes or for nefarious purposes.”
Howard and his son were alone at the lake house, and court records show Mark barely left his father’s side Houston Chronicle reported.
After a search, police found glasses and a bullet casing, according to court records.
Sheriff JP MacDonough said Howard waited about 17 hours before telling police about the incident
Cameras have also been removed from the home to see if there are any images 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 lived primarily in Houston and used the remote Sabine County home as a vacation spot.
It is located approximately 170 miles from Houston and sits on approximately 2,500 acres of land.
Howard’s bond has been set at $20 million, $10 million for each of his charges, and he is being held in the Sabine County Jail.
The Sabine County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the case.
Sabine County District Attorney Paul Robbins said Howard will face additional charges once the grand jury reviews the case.
Sabine County District Attorney Paul Robbins said Howard may face additional charges after he faces a grand jury
An autopsy has not yet been performed on Mark’s remains, but they have been sent to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Before he allegedly shot, killed and burned his son, Howard called police last Friday to report woodworking tools and other items stolen from his home.
The deputy who responded to Friday’s incident was the same one who arrived when Howard reported Mark’s death.