A guy from Illinois was found guilty of first-degree murder for the September 2023 death of his mother.
According to a statement from the Madison County, Illinois, State’s Attorney’s Office, Norma J. Caraker was murdered at her Troy, Illinois, home by her 46-year-old son Neil Howard because he disapproved of her dating.
According to the statement, on September 13, 2023, he murdered his 60-year-old mother just after she went on a date.
During the week-long trial, Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager informed jurors that Howard “wrapped that cord around her neck and he pulled, until she stopped breathing.”
Yager provided proof of Howard’s animosity toward his mother’s romantic life.
According to the Belleville News-Democrat, he told jurors, “This defendant had had enough of his mother.” Howard, according to Yager, was upset that his mother was seeing someone else and “not giving him money.”
According to the State’s Attorney’s statement, Yager stated, “[Howard] got angrier and angrier and angrier, until he got drunk enough that he couldn’t take it anymore.”
According to her obituary, Caraker was the widow of the former mayor of Troy and a former waitress.
The part of the obituary that reads, “Norma never met a stranger, loved and took care of many family and friends,”
Customers she had served on were among the well-wishers who wrote remarks in the obituary; one of them said that Caraker’s tips enabled them to raise money for research into multiple sclerosis.
David Fahrenkamp, Howard’s defense lawyer, informed the News-Democrat that an appeal would be filed.
According to the outlet, he stated, “I don’t argue things that I don’t believe in.” “I think this case is valid. I think Neil is real.
According to the News-Democrat, the defense contended that little attention was paid to other potential suspects.
A state’s attorney’s office representative told PEOPLE, “The jury returned its verdict, and it’s guilty,” in response to the defense’s assertion.
According to the News-Democrat, Howard’s other sister and other family members were seated behind prosecutors in court, while one of his sisters testified in his favor.
Howard faces up to 60 years in jail and will be sentenced at an undisclosed date, according to the State’s Attorney’s office.
