Kendy Howard: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?

Kendy Howard was living a happy and fulfilling life when it was tragically cut short due to her untimely demise. In the early morning of February 2021, the officials reached her home following a call, only to find her remains in the bathtub of her house in Athol, Idaho. This tragic incident left not only her family but also her friends and neighbors shocked. CBS’ ’48 Hours: The Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard’ focuses on how it was initially considered a suicide, but further investigation brought forth a chilling truth.

Kendy Howard’s Perfect Life Came to an End With Her Alleged Suicide

Kendy Howard was born on April 30, 1972, in the quiet town of Orofino, Idaho, to Janie and Wendell Wilkins. Growing up, she was absolutely adored by her older brother, Brian Wilkins. She spent her early years with her family in Kamiah before they eventually made their way to Lewiston when she was just 4. She was also very athletic and fiercely competitive, and she loved channeling this energy into youth track and dance classes. Over time, Kendy dove headfirst into the world of Gymkhanas, Omokasees, and junior rodeos before she started struggling to juggle between this and high school. Although she bid goodbye to Rodeo, her horse Poppy remained beside her for years.

As a teenager, Kendy began working in the restaurant industry and was among one of the original crew members when the Pizza Factory launched in her town. She then joined her mother and brother at Jilindas Café and soon became a favorite among her coworkers. After high school, her life became fuller when she welcomed her daughter Brooke with Jim Forsmann. However, life had some other plans as she soon fell in love with Daniel Charles Howard, AKA Dan, who she eventually married sometime in 1992. The duo welcomed their little son Wyatt Howard and eventually moved to Athol, Idaho. Here, Kendy started working at Kootenai Health and was also a proud 4H leader. Further adding joy to her life, she welcomed her granddaughter, Kenly, and ultimately became “the best grandmother.”

However, Kendy’s life was soon turned upside down when she was found deceased in her own home. On February 2, 2021, her husband, Dan, called 911 and informed them that his wife had shot herself. When the officials arrived at the scene, they saw him crying and walking out the front door. Investigators found Kendy upstairs in her bathtub with a gunshot wound in her head, and the gun was in the water. As they search around the house, they find broken glass in the bedroom, clothes thrown on the floor, and the washer running. Dan explains to the police how Kendy went upstairs to take a bath, and a short time later, he heard a “thud.” However, he did not go to check until after one hour, when he found his wife. The autopsy results determined her cause of death to be a gunshot wound, and a full-blown investigation was soon launched.

Circumstantial Evidence Pointed To Kendy Being Murderdered Rather Than Suicide

As the investigators spoke more with Dan, he reportedly informed the police that she had asked him for a divorce that night, which led to an argument. He allegedly claimed that she had pointed her gun to her head during this time. However, the officials became skeptical due to a few odd facts. Dan was freshly showered, and they found that the washer was turned on 1 minute after the 911 call. He became uneasy when they wanted to conduct a Gunshot Residue (GSR) test. This was a red flag for them because he was a former marine who later became an Idaho State Trooper. The officials allegedly thought he was being cautious because he knew this procedure could prove if he had pulled the trigger. Although the test came back negative, they were further alerted when Brooke angrily accused her father of killing Kendy over a call.

With no substantial evidence pointing towards a murder, the investigators focused on questioning Kendy’s friends and family. Her best friend, Michelle Lampert, reportedly informed that Dan was very controlling, and after a point of time, he had also become abusive. She further added that 7 months before this, they had a major argument, and he had physically assaulted her. Kendy was allegedly having an affair and had decided to divorce him and move out. Brian reportedly stated that when Dan figured out that she was having an affair with the real estate agent who was helping her to buy a new home, he became very angry. Four days before the alleged murder, Kendy’s mother had called the officials for a welfare check when she became concerned about getting a panicked call from her daughter.

Kendy Howard’s Killer Had Been Found Guilty on Murder Charge

When the law enforcement reached there, Kendy informed them that Dan was getting aggressive. Further investigation revealed that she had told her friend that on that particular early morning, she had woken up to him standing over her. He was allegedly wearing latex gloves and a pillow in her hand. Moreover, another expert analysis of the evidence brought new facts to light. Kendy’s remains had several bruises and a broken jaw, which indicated that she was brutally assaulted. The amount of blood that was present in the water at the crime scene was less than expected. This pointed out the fact that Kendy had already passed away when she was shot. All these pieces of evidence accumulated, and finally, on April 2023, he was arrested and charged with murder and domestic battery.

Dan had pleaded not guilty and was released on bail with an ankle monitor on him. In March 2024, he went to trial, and the fact that he and Kendy were fighting a lot over their finances came up. The prosecution also highlighted the domestic violence. In a shocking turn of events, he tried to run away but was arrested again at the airport. This time, his bail was revoked, and on March 19, 2024, he was found guilty of second-degree murder and domestic battery. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Daniel Howard is currently serving his sentence at Idaho State Correctional Institution in Boise, Idaho.