Houston, TX– A Texas lawyer reportedly shot his adult son, mistaking him for an intruder, while they were at a lake house last weekend. He then cremated his son’s body on a pile of wood and trash, describing the incident as a “horrible accident,” according to law enforcement officials.
Michael C. Howard, 68, from Houston, was spending time at a lake house several hours away, close to the Toledo Bend Reservoir, with his son Mark Howard on Sunday when the tragic incident took place, as stated in a press release from the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, which was shared on Facebook by the local Sabine County Reporter newspaper.
On Sunday night, Mark Howard, who has Down syndrome, was on the property when his father reportedly confused him for an intruder.
“On December 2, 2024, a Deputy from the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office was contacted via public service by Michael C Howard,” the sheriff’s office said in its release. “Howard advised [to police] that he had ‘accidentally’ shot his own son.”
Michael Howard admitted that following the shooting, he transported his son’s body by placing it in the front-loading bucket of a backhoe tractor and took it to a secluded part of his land.
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According to police, that was the location of the cremation.
“[Michael Howard] placed the body on a wood/trash pile, which had been previously set up and then ‘cremated’ his son,” the sheriff’s office said, noting how deputies who responded were told by Howard that his son’s death was a “horrible accident.”
The remains were found after authorities executed the search warrant.
“All bones appeared to have been burned based on charring and the area they were found in, was heavy with soot and ash,” the sheriff’s office said.
Michael Howard faces serious allegations, having been taken into custody for murder and evidence tampering.
A Houston attorney operates a private law practice in the Heights area, focusing on various specialties including ethics-legal malpractice, family law, personal injury litigation, oil, gas and energy resources, as well as real estate.
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Documents indicate that in 1995, the Board of Disciplinary Appeals took action against Michael Howard following his no contest plea to a third-degree felony theft charge in Harris County. According to board officials, he received deferred adjudication and was placed on probation for one year, during which his suspension will remain in effect.
Michael Howard is still being held with a bond set at $20 million.
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