An East Texas community is grappling with a tragic and disturbing incident involving a Houston-based attorney, who now faces charges for the murder of his 20-year-old son, who was also identified as having Down syndrome. The attorney, Michael C. Howard, is accused of fatally shooting his son, and then taking steps to cover up the incident by burning the remains on his property, as stated by the Sabine County Sheriff's Office and reported by KHOU.
Howard, who operates a private law practice in Houston Heights, told authorities he mistook his son for an intruder, leading to the fatal shooting incident which took place at their family property on Mount Sinai Road in Sabine County, after which he allegedly transported and cremated his son's body—burned body parts and bones were later discovered amongst heavy soot and ash, a grim finding that has shaken the local community and anyone following the case. The discovery was made after the Sheriff’s office obtained a search warrant, with the recovered remains being sent to the Medical Examiner's Office for further analysis, meanwhile, Howard remains detained on a cumulative $20 million bond for charges of murder and tampering with evidence according to ABC13.
The undertone of disbelief is palpable as the community and authorities try to piece together the events that unfolded on Howard's property. The Sabine County Sheriff's Office elaborated that Howard initially contacted them, claiming the shooting was a horrible accident, and subsequently revealed the location where he had taken his son's body to what he termed as 'cremation.'
Howard reportedly admitted to the shooting, and his actions have led to an investigation by deputies and the Texas Rangers, who found evidence supporting the tragic events. This case is set to explore complex issues involving family dynamics, legal ethics, and the criminal justice system.
Michael Howard's attorney has not responded to requests for comment. Eyewitness News is closely following the case and will keep the public updated as new details emerge and the legal process progresses for the Houston attorney facing charges for the violent act against his own family.
