How a former Idaho state trooper was arrested for his wife's murder

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Sneak peek: The Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard

Sneak peek: The Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard 03:10

Kendy Howard was recovered dormant successful her bathtub. While dispatched arsenic a suicide, clues astatine the country made Kootenai County authorities suspicious. Here's a look astatine the case:

A 26-year marriage

Dan and Kendy Howard Dan and Kendy Howard Brian Wilkins

Dan and Kendy Howard had been joined since 1994. By 2021, Dan Howard had gone from moving arsenic an Idaho State Trooper to moving successful the Alaskan lipid fields for 3 weeks astatine a time.

Kendy seeks divorce

Kendy Howard Kendy Howard Brian Wilkins

On Jan. 28, 2021, conscionable 5 days earlier she died, Kendy Howard picked Dan Howard up from the airdrome and told him she wanted a divorce. She described Dan's absorption to a person arsenic having been "not good." 

Dan Howard's telephone to 911

Dan Howard Dan Howard was erstwhile a Idaho State Police trooper. Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney

On the nighttime of Feb. 2, 2021, astatine 10:43 p.m., Dan Howard called 911, screaming Kendy had changeable herself. "She's successful the bathtub dormant ..."

The telephone was dispatched arsenic a suicide. 

Dan Howard astatine the scene

howard-bodycam.png  Kootenai County Sheriff's Deputy Miranda Thomas was 1 of the archetypal responders to get astatine the Howards' home. Kootenai County District Court

Kootenai County Sheriff's Deputy Miranda Thomas was 1 of the archetypal officers to arrive. Thomas said she witnessed Dan Howard screaming, crying and gagging. 

Kendy Howard recovered successful the bathtub

Howard bath  Kendy Howard was recovered dormant successful the bathtub with a gunshot coiled to her head. Kootenai County Sheriff's Office

Caption: Kendy Howard was recovered dead, bare successful the bathtub of her home, with a gunshot coiled to her head. Kendy's weapon was submerged successful the bathwater. 

A packed duffle bag

Duffle container  astatine  Howard location  Deputy Thomas noticed a packed duffle container filled with women's covering astatine the bottommost of the stairs astatine the Howard home.  Kootenai County Sheriff's Office

Thomas noticed a duffle container with what she said seemed to beryllium women's covering packed inside. "Was idiosyncratic readying connected leaving the house?" she said.

A hint connected the dryer

Dryer astatine  the location  of Kendy and Dan Howard When archetypal responders arrived to the Howard home, the apparel dryer was running. It was afloat of cleanable bath towels and mats.  Kootenai County District Court

Kootenai County Sheriff's Detective Jerry Northrup said that successful the dryer helium observed "bathmats and towels ... and they were inactive somewhat warm," which helium said led him to question erstwhile the rhythm had been started.

How did Kendy Howard truly die?

Kendy Howards's weapon  Kendy Howard's ain pistol which was recovered astatine the bottommost of the tub. Kootenai County Sheriff's Office

Kendy Howard's weapon was recovered successful the bathtub. Investigators said they would person expected to spot a batch much humor successful the bathtub if she had been live erstwhile she was shot.

Kendy's girl accuses Dan Howard

howard-brooke-wilkins.jpg Kendy Howard's daughter, Brooke Wilkins. CBS News

When Dan Howard called his stepdaughter Brooke Wilkins with the quality of Kendy's death, investigators said they could overhear Wi impeach Dan of sidesplitting her mother. Despite their suspicions, detectives said determination was not capable grounds astatine the country to apprehension Dan.

Dan Howard arrested

Dan Howard booking photograph  In April 2023, Dan Howard was charged with murder. He was besides charged with home artillery from an incidental 7 months earlier Kendy's death. Kootenai County Sheriff's Office

It took 2 years for prosecutors to physique their case. In July, 2023, Dan Howard was arrested and charged with Kendy Howard's murder. 

Dan Howard connected trial

Dan Howard Dan Howard astatine his proceedings for the execution ofn his woman Kendy. Pool

On March 4, 2024, the proceedings of Dan Howard began. The prosecution claimed Dan had killed Kendy by putting her successful a carotid restraint clasp – a maneuver helium had learned successful his instrumentality enforcement training. The defence maintained that Kendy's decease was a suicide. After 10 days of testimony, 62 witnesses, and conscionable implicit 8 hours of deliberations, a verdict was reached.

Dan Howard recovered guilty

On March 19, 2024, the assemblage recovered Dan Howard blameworthy of second-degree execution and home battery.

Life successful prison

Dan Howard sentencing proceeding  Dan Howard marque a plea for leniency astatine his sentencing. Pool

At Dan Howard's sentencing proceeding successful May 2024, Judge Lamont Berecz told him, "You killed a mother. You killed a grandmother. You killed a sister ... You snuffed that retired due to the fact that of your ain pride, greed, and anger." Dan Howard was sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole

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