Executive Summary
- Gary W. Howard, 76, a convicted sex offender from Florida, was arrested in Indianapolis after 16 years as a fugitive.
- In 2010, Howard absconded from probation and staged his own suicide in Kentucky to evade law enforcement.
- A multi-agency U.S. Marshals investigation tracked him to an Indiana neighborhood where he was living with family assistance.
- Upon his arrest, Howard reportedly told authorities he had hoped to die before being captured.
A 76-year-old convicted sex offender from Pinellas County, Florida, who was presumed dead after staging his own suicide 16 years ago, has been apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Indianapolis, Indiana. The fugitive, Gary W. Howard, had been on the run since 2010 after absconding from state probation.
Howard was originally convicted on 22 counts of possession of child pornography in Pinellas County. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, he disappeared in 2010, and an investigation at the time pointed to a staged suicide. Authorities found a rented vehicle near Mauzy Lake in Morganfield, Kentucky, with evidence suggesting the act was premeditated to mislead law enforcement.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Howard had family in the Indianapolis area who may have assisted him in maintaining a low profile. A collaborative effort between the U.S. Marshals from the Western Kentucky district and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force successfully tracked Howard to the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis.
Marshals approached Howard on a front porch and arrested him without incident. During the investigation, he reportedly told officials, “I had hoped to be dead before you caught up with me.” William Berger Sr., U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida, praised the effort, stating, “This arrest exemplifies the tenacity and determination of Deputy U.S. Marshals and our task force partners to bring every fugitive to Justice.”
Howard’s capture concludes a 16-year manhunt that spanned multiple states. He now faces legal proceedings related to his flight from justice. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law regarding any new charges.