How former Idaho state trooper Dan Howard was arrested for his spouse’s homicide

Kendy Howard was discovered useless in her bathtub. Whereas dispatched as a suicide, clues on the scene made Kootenai County authorities suspicious. This is a have a look at the case:

A 26-year marriage

Dan and Kendy Howard had been married since 1994. By 2021, Dan Howard had gone from working as an Idaho State Trooper to working within the Alaskan oil fields for 3 weeks at a time.

Kendy seeks divorce

On Jan. 28, 2021, simply 5 days earlier than she died, Kendy Howard picked Dan Howard up from the airport and instructed him she wished a divorce. She described Dan’s response to a pal as having been “not good.” 

Dan Howard’s name to 911

On the evening of Feb. 2, 2021, at 10:43 p.m., Dan Howard known as 911, screaming Kendy had shot herself. “She’s within the bathtub useless …”

The decision was dispatched as a suicide. 

Dan Howard on the scene

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deputy Miranda Thomas was one of many first officers to reach. Thomas mentioned she witnessed Dan Howard screaming, crying and gagging. 

Kendy Howard discovered within the bathtub

Caption: Kendy Howard was discovered useless, bare within the bathtub of her residence, with a gunshot wound to her head. Kendy’s gun was submerged within the bathwater. 

A packed duffle bag

Thomas observed a duffle bag with what she mentioned appeared to be girls’s clothes packed inside. “Was somebody planning on leaving the home?” she mentioned.

A clue on the dryer

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Detective Jerry Northrup mentioned that within the dryer he noticed “bathmats and towels … they usually had been nonetheless considerably heat,” which he mentioned led him to query when the cycle had been began.

How did Kendy Howard actually die?

Kendy Howard’s gun was discovered within the bathtub. Investigators mentioned they might have anticipated to see much more blood within the bathtub if she had been alive when she was shot.

Kendy’s daughter accuses Dan Howard

When Dan Howard known as his stepdaughter Brooke Wilkins with the information of Kendy’s dying, investigators mentioned they might overhear Wi accuse Dan of killing her mom. Regardless of their suspicions, detectives mentioned there was not sufficient proof on the scene to arrest Dan.

Dan Howard arrested

It took two years for prosecutors to construct their case. In July, 2023, Dan Howard was arrested and charged with Kendy Howard’s homicide. 

Dan Howard on trial

On March 4, 2024, the trial of Dan Howard started. The prosecution claimed Dan had killed Kendy by placing her in a carotid restraint maintain – a maneuver he had discovered in his regulation enforcement coaching. The protection maintained that Kendy’s dying was a suicide. After 10 days of testimony, 62 witnesses, and simply over eight hours of deliberations, a verdict was reached.

Dan Howard discovered responsible

On March 19, 2024, the jury discovered Dan Howard responsible of second-degree homicide and home battery.

Life in jail

At Dan Howard’s sentencing listening to in Might 2024, Decide Lamont Berecz instructed him, “You killed a mom. You killed a grandmother. You killed a sister … You snuffed that out due to your individual pleasure, greed, and anger.” Dan Howard was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole.