Texas man claims he shot his son after mistaking him for an intruder, then sets the body on fire

HOUSTON (AP) – A father has been charged with fatally shooting his adult son with Down syndrome in an East Texas home after claiming he mistook him for an intruder and then later set his body on fire in, what authorities Thursday described as a “bizarre crime.”

Michael C. Howard, 68, a Houston attorney, told investigators he was at a home he owns in Sabine County Sunday night when he accidentally killed his 20-year-old son, Mark Randall Howard, with a shotgun , Sabine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy JP MacDonough said at a news conference.

Howard didn’t call the sheriff’s office until Monday afternoon, about 17 hours after he used a backhoe to take his son’s body about 2 miles away to a remote area of ​​his more than 2,500-acre property and placed the body. on a wood scrap pile and then “cremated” him, MacDonough said. Howard and his son had arrived at the home in Sabine County — located about 170 miles (274 kilometers) northeast of Houston — either Thursday or Friday, authorities said.

Deputies found body parts and bones in the trash pile and sent them to the Jefferson County medical examiner’s office.

Howard told investigators it was all a “terrible accident.” MacDonough said Howard told investigators he “cremated his son in accordance with what he felt his son would have wanted.”

“It’s a bizarre crime wherever you are, just because of the nature of the event,” MacDonough said. “Mr. Howard committed this act and in furtherance of it burned the body and cleaned the crime scene, which as an investigator I would take as evidence of nefarious intent or purpose.”

Howard’s son had been diagnosed with Down syndrome but was functioning well and had a job, MacDonough said.

Two days before the shooting, authorities responded to a call from Howard reporting the theft of some property, including a large lawnmower and a trailer. MacDonough declined to say whether the thefts might have played a role in Howard thinking his son was an intruder.

Howard remained jailed in Sabine County on bonds totaling $20 million after being charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Authorities said additional charges could be filed.

It was not immediately known if Howard had an attorney to speak on his behalf.