A Houston lawyer has been accused of shooting his special needs son and then burning his body.
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 claims the shooting was a “horrible accident” when he mistook Mark for an intruder at his Sabine County lake home Sunday night.
But after realizing his son was dead, Howard put the body in the front basket of a tractor and moved it to a pile of wood, which he doused with gasoline and set on fire.
The attorney, who has practiced law in Texas since 1984, waited 17 hours before calling police, MacDonough said.
Before notifying police, he reportedly told his wife and other son of his actions.
When the police arrived, Howard showed them the gun he used to shoot Mark.
Michael Howard, 68, was arrested Monday after reporting to authorities that he “accidentally” shot and killed his son before setting his body on fire.
Howard and his son were staying at the attorney’s lake house in Sabine County, about 170 miles from Houston.
Howard led police to the wood pile about a mile and a half from the home, where charred body remains and bones were discovered.
MacDonough said rangers and deputies found remains that included a piece of lower jaw with some teeth attached.
Authorities believe Mark’s father hosed down the area where the 20-year-old was shot.
“It’s a rare crime anywhere simply because of the nature of the event,” MacDonough said.
‘Mister. Howard committed this act and, in furtherance of it, burned the body and cleaned up the crime scene, which, as an investigator, I would take to be indicative of nefarious purposes or nefarious purposes.’
Howard and his son were alone at the lake house, and court records indicate that Mark barely left his father’s side, the Houston Chronicle reported.
After searching the premises, police found a pair of glasses and a bullet casing, according to court records.
Sheriff JP MacDonough said Howard waited about 17 hours before reporting the incident to police.
Cameras were also removed from the property to check if there is any recording of the shooting.
Mark’s mother and brother were interviewed by investigators 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 resides primarily in Houston and used the remote Sabine County home as a vacation spot.
It is located about 170 miles from Houston and sits on approximately 2,500 acres of land.
Howard’s bail is 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 evaluates the case.
Sabine County District Attorney Paul Robbins said Howard could face additional charges after facing a grand jury.
An autopsy has not yet been performed on Mark’s remains, but they were sent to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Before allegedly shooting, killing and burning his son, Howard called police last Friday to report the theft of a woodworking tool and other items from his home.
The officer who responded to Friday’s incident was the same one who arrived when Howard reported Mark’s death.