A 34-year-old Kansas man, Luke Anthony Howard, is currently in custody in Clay County, Missouri, with a bond set at $5 million. He is awaiting extradition to Johnson County, Kansas, where he is accused of murdering his mother, Valerie Howard, 63, and his aunt, Joyce Austin, 71. The alleged crime occurred after Howard received an eviction notice from the two women with whom he had been living.
Court records reveal that Howard appeared at a pharmacy in Liberty, Missouri, approximately 30 miles from his Lenexa, Kansas, residence on February 12. Pharmacy staff noticed blood on his clothing and he expressed a desire to surrender to the police. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Howard reportedly confessed to the double homicide.
The Lenexa police were subsequently dispatched to the home of Valerie Howard and Joyce Austin, where they discovered both women dead from gunshot wounds. Approximately a dozen shell casings were found in the same room. On the same day, Austin’s son contacted the police to inquire about his mother’s welfare, informing them that Howard was a gun owner.
The court documents also provide a timeline of events leading up to the alleged crime. On February 10, police were called to the Lenexa home following a reported physical altercation between Howard and his mother. During the call, she informed the police that she and Austin had barricaded themselves in their rooms to avoid Howard, who had previously displayed violent behavior towards them in 2021.
Later that day, Austin contacted the police again, alleging that Howard had threatened her and was behaving erratically. She disclosed that Howard had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she wanted him to vacate the premises.
The following day, Howard called the police himself, alleging that Austin had threatened him with a gun. He later withdrew this claim. He also reported that he was being evicted from the house, a fact that Austin confirmed, stating she had given him a 30-day notice. During this call, mental health officials from Johnson County visited the home and questioned Howard about his possession of firearms. He denied having any, and a subsequent search did not reveal any guns in the residence.
Howard remains in custody in Clay County, Missouri, with his bond set at $5 million, as he awaits an extradition hearing.