KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — A former Idaho State Police (ISP) trooper accused of murdering his wife more than two years ago has been released on a property bond, according to court records.
Daniel C. Howard, 57, was arrested on April 21, 2023, in connection to the 2021 murder of his wife, Kendy Howard. He reportedly turned himself in after Kootenai County prosecutors obtained a warrant for his arrest. Nearly eight months later, court filings show Howard was released from jail on a property bond on Tuesday.
Court filings show Howard's property bond was accepted by the court on Dec. 8. His release was filed on Tuesday.
A property bond is a bond that uses the estimated value of a piece of property, such as a house, in order to pay for someone to get out of jail before their trial. In Idaho, the value of the property has to be in the amount of the bail and anticipated collection costs. Howard's bond was previously set at $1.5 million.
Howard is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection to the death of his wife. On Feb. 2, 2021, Howard called police and reported his wife shot herself. When police responded and began investigating, it was determined the fatal gunshot wound on Kendy Howard was not self-inflicted.
Howard resigned from ISP in 2014 after he was suspended amid investigations into his alleged criminal activity in Bonner and Kootenai counties, according to our news partner, the Coeur d'Alene Press.
In May 2014, Howard was charged with first-degree stalking, aggravated assault and malicious injury to property. Those charges stem from Howard's reaction to learning his wife had allegedly been having an affair with their Athol neighbor.
After Howard learned about the affair, he reportedly confronted the man at work. During the confrontation, court records state Howard accused the man of committing the "ultimate betrayal" and was "extremely agitated," according to the Coeur d'Alene Press.
Howard continued harassing his neighbor. The alleged harassment and property damage began shortly after the confrontation, with Howard accused of following his neighbor on multiple occasions in his patrol vehicle and stealing guns and mail.
The man eventually moved out of the Athol home and began living in Washington, "partially out of fear" of Howard and the harassment continuing.
Howard reportedly shot and killed a woman while on duty in 2011. The shooting was later determined to have been justified.
Howard's release conditions include wearing an ankle monitor, according to documents. He is expected to go to trial on March 4, 2024. According to court records, the trial is expected to last three weeks.
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