A Texas man, Michael Howard, has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot his 20-year-old son, Mark Howard, mistaking him for an intruder. The incident occurred on December 1 at the family’s property in Hemphill, Texas. Michael Howard, 68, had recently reported a burglary on his property and, in the dark of night, believed his son was an intruder.
After realizing his tragic mistake, Howard reportedly burned his son’s body in a remote area of the property. He later told investigators he thought this was what Mark would have wanted. It took Howard 17 hours before he contacted authorities, and he first reached out to his son’s mother before finally calling a deputy.
When the deputy arrived, Howard led the officer to a burned area where the remains were found. Investigators discovered charred bones, including parts of the jaw and teeth. A search revealed signs that Howard had tried to clean the scene with a water hose. Howard has been charged with murder and tampering with a human corpse, and is being held on a $20 million bond.
Howard, a lawyer with a Houston-based law practice, has a prior criminal record, including a felony conviction for theft in 1995. Authorities are considering additional charges as the investigation continues.
