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Dan Howard is behind bars at the medium-security Idaho State Correctional Institution Medical Annex in unincorporated Ada County, Idaho. He is serving a life term after the murder of his wife, Kendy Howard.
The body of Kendy Howard was found dead in the bathtub of her home in Athol, Idaho, on February 2, 2021. At first, it was a case of suicide, but on closer investigation, some inconsistencies indicated foul play. It was found eventually that she was murdered, and Dan Howard was charged and convicted of the crime.
This article discusses where Dan is today, what happened between him and his wife, and the crucial facts surrounding the case, as presented in an episode of 48 Hours that aired on CBS on September 28, 2024.
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The crime and early investigation
On the night of February 2, 2021, Dan Howard dialed 911, reporting that his wife Kendy shot herself in her head. Upon their arrival, the first responders found Kendy lying in the bathtub with a gunshot wound in her head and pistol plunged into the water.
The whole scene appeared to be suicide at first glance but had some very peculiar features which raised suspicion about the death. There was a duffle bag stuffed, a dryer running full of clean towels, and Dan was fresh from the shower.
Detective Jerry Northrup noticed inconsistencies that did not match the suicide. There was too much blood for a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moreover, autopsy results showed that Kendy was strangled before being shot. Such findings were incompatible with the conclusion that it was a suicide and signified a crime.
Dan Howard's arrest and trial
Evidence kept piling against Dan Howard as the investigation deepened. It was through friends and family members that it was found that Kendy had wanted to leave Dan, thus giving the motive for the murder. Dan's conduct during the night of Kendy's death was also found to be suspicious.
He claimed to be very distressed but still did not cry and seemed calm. Dan knew about crimes, crime scene procedures, and practices as a former state trooper. The detectives believed he staged the scene to be a suicide.
Three years after Kendy's demise, Dan was accused of murdering her. The prosecution happened due to discrepancies at the scene and dubious conduct on Dan Howard's part.
The case went to trial, where the defense argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that Dan had nothing to do with the wife's killing because he loved her so much. Yet, the prosecution painted a robust case with a motive that could not be ignored and the staged crime scene.
Where is he now?
Dan Howard is currently serving his life sentence at the medium-security Idaho State Correctional Institution Medical Annex in unincorporated Ada County, Idaho. Dan was convicted in March of 2024 of second-degree murder and domestic battery.
The court sentenced him to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole on the murder conviction, plus a consecutive ten years for domestic battery.
Dan Howard's case exemplifies the intricacy and problems associated with criminal investigations. Initially, it was deemed to be suicide, but deeper probing and investigation of all other possibilities led to a different story altogether. Episode 2 of season 38 of 48 Hours on CBS delves into the case in detail and sheds light on the evidence and the legal battle associated with the murder.
