A Houston attorney, Michael Howard, has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing his adult son, Mark Howard, and then burning his body in a wood pile on his property.
The 68-year-old lawyer faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence following the disturbing discovery last week.
According to authorities, Michael Howard told police that he had mistaken his 20-year-old son, who had Down syndrome, for an intruder and shot him.
However, his actions and the evidence found at the scene have raised serious questions about his version of events.
Howard reportedly led police to the location where his son’s burnt body was found, and authorities say the body had been burnt on a pile of wood using a backhoe tractor.
Sabine County investigator JP MacDonough stated that the scene showed signs of a deliberate effort to cover up the crime, including the apparent washing of the crime scene with a hose.
Howard’s story of a tragic accident began to fall apart as investigators uncovered details that pointed to foul play rather than a mistaken shooting.
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The victim, Mark Howard, who was described as a high-functioning individual, had a job and had been living with his father at the time.
Michael Howard’s wife and other children were not home during the shooting.
Authorities also revealed that the family had a history of police calls, including a report about a stolen trailer just days before the incident.
Michael Howard has been arrested and is being held on a $10 million bond. Additional charges, including desecration of a corpse, are being considered as the investigation continues.