Houston attorney Michael C. Howard is accused of killing his son, who had Down syndrome, after investigators discovered charred human remains in a remote area of Howard's property.
Howard told law enforcement he mistook his 20-year-old son, Mark Randall Howard, for an intruder on his rural East Texas property Sunday night. He has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence, KHOU reported.
According to the Sabine County Sheriff's Office, Howard shot Mark with a shotgun, then used a backhoe to transport his son's body to a remote area. Once there, investigators allege he burned his son's remains on a trash pile. Deputies found burned body parts and bones, including a jawbone with teeth, after obtaining a search warrant.
The sheriff's office reported that Howard waited 17 hours to report the incident and that the scene had been washed with water, suggesting tampering. The victim was described as high-functioning and employed.
Howard remains in custody on a $20 million bond as investigators consider additional charges.
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