In what he describes as a “horrible accident,” police say a Texas lawyer was at a lake property last weekend with his adult son when he mistakenly thought the man was an intruder and shot him dead with a shotgun before cremating his body on a pile of wood and rubbish.
According to a press release from the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office that the local Sabine County Reporter posted on Facebook, Michael C. Howard, 68, of Houston, was with his son Mark Howard at a lake house a few hours outside of the city, close to the Toledo Bend Reservoir, on Sunday when the unintentional killing took place.
According to reports, on Sunday night, Mark Howard, who has Down syndrome, was on the property when his father thought he was an intruder.
According to a press statement from the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, Michael C. Howard reached out to a deputy on December 2, 2024, through public service. Howard told the police that he had shot his own son by accident.
Later, Michael Howard claimed that after the shooting, he picked up his son’s body, loaded it into a backhoe tractor’s front-loading bucket, and moved it to a secluded spot on his property.
According to the police, the cremation happened there.
According to the sheriff’s office, Michael Howard incinerated his kid after placing his body on a wood/trash pile that had already been prepared. Howard also reportedly informed the arriving authorities that his son’s death was a terrible accident. The remains of Mark Howard were found when a search warrant was being carried out.
According to the sheriff’s office, all of the bones showed signs of having been burned, and the area where they were discovered was covered in a lot of ash and soot.
Michael Howard has been taken into custody and accused of tampering with evidence and murder.
The State Bar of Texas website states that the Houston-based lawyer practices private law in the Heights neighborhood and focuses on family law, litigation, ethics, professional malpractice, personal injury, oil, gas, and energy resources, and real estate.
The Board of Disciplinary Appeals suspended Michael Howard in 1995 after he entered a no contest plea to third-degree felony theft in Harris County, according to court documents. He received a one-year probationary sentence and deferred adjudication, according to board authorities, with his suspension lengthening the punishment.
Currently, Michael Howard is being held on a $20 million bond.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.