### "The Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard" Investigated by "48 Hours"

ATHOL, Idaho – The chilling mystery surrounding the death of Kendy Howard took an unexpected turn two years after her passing. On the night of February 2, 2021, former Idaho State Trooper Dan Howard made a frantic 911 call from his home, reporting that his wife had taken her own life. Struggling through tears, he conveyed the shocking scene he discovered: his wife, lifeless in a bathtub, a gunshot wound to her head.

Dan Howard recounted to authorities that he had been downstairs when he heard a noise from upstairs, only to find Kendy over an hour later, cold and unresponsive. The manner of death was initially reported as a suicide, but Kootenai County Sheriff's Detective Jerry Northrup and his team soon became suspicious. Key among their doubts was the unusual scenario of a nude woman shooting herself in a bathtub.

Evidence at the scene raised more questions. Broken glass and discarded clothing were found in the primary bedroom, while wet towels were scattered behind the bathroom door. Curiously, the tub water was still warm when investigators arrived, and a packed duffle bag of women's clothing was discovered at the bottom of the stairs. The shirt worn by Dan Howard was noted to have fresh deodorant stains.

Among the oddities, investigators found a load of laundry running in the dryer, almost completing its cycle. The timing of this detail became crucial. Detective Northrup observed that with only six minutes left on the cycle, the dryer must have started at 10:42 p.m., just one minute before Howard called 911.

These inconsistencies led the investigative team, with insights from medical and scientific experts, to develop a theory suggesting that Dan Howard might have been involved in his wife's death. After a meticulous investigation spanning more than two years, Dan Howard was arrested in April 2023 and faced trial for the alleged murder in March 2024.

The case has garnered significant attention, and "48 Hours," with correspondent Peter Van Sant, delves deeply into the perplexing details of what has become known as "The Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard." The episode airs Saturday, Sept. 28 at 10/9c on CBS and streams on Paramount+.