Authorities in Houston have revealed a shocking case where a local attorney is accused of a heinous crime. Michael Howard, 68 years old, was arrested on Monday and charged with one count of murder and another of tampering with evidence. The victim was his 20-year-old adult son, Mark Howard, who had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and was a high-functioning individual with a job.

Alleged Actions of the Attorney

Howard is said to have mistakenly believed his son Mark to be an intruder on his property and fatally shot him. When police arrived at the scene, he showed them around and provided the shotgun he used. He then led them to a wood pile about two miles away where his son's burned body was found. It is alleged that Howard took the body, placed it in the front loading bucket of a backhoe tractor, and carried it to a remote area on his property. There, he set up a pile of wood and other burnable material and "cremated" his son according to what he thought his son would have wanted. Additionally, it appears that the shooting scene was "washed" with a water hose. Howard maintained that the entire incident was a horrible accident.

This bizarre crime has left the community in shock. The actions of Howard show a complete disregard for life and the law. The fact that he went to such lengths to cover up the crime by burning the body and cleaning the scene only adds to the severity of the situation. Such a heinous act is difficult to comprehend and raises many questions about the mental state of the accused.

Investigators are now looking into possible additional charges, including the desecration and mishandling of a corpse, as well as other charges related to tampering with the scene of a crime. Howard is currently in custody at a Sabine County jail with a bond set at $10 million per charge. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this case will be and how it will impact the community.

Details of the Victim

Mark Howard, despite his disability, was a hardworking individual. He had managed to hold a job and contribute to society. His family and friends were deeply affected by his sudden and tragic death. The fact that he was targeted in such a way makes the crime even more heartbreaking.

His mother, Howard's wife, and his two other children were not at home during the shooting. This has added another layer of complexity to an already tragic situation. The community is coming together to support the family during this difficult time.

Previous Police Calls

There have been previous police calls from the Howard property. One such call came just two days before the alleged shooting, on Friday, Nov. 29. Howard told police that he had a trailer stolen. This raises questions about whether there were any underlying issues or patterns that may have led to this tragic event.

The sheriff's office investigator is looking into these previous calls to see if they provide any clues or connections to the shooting. It is possible that there were warning signs or incidents that could have been addressed before this tragic outcome.