DIX, IL – A woman from Illinois has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated DUI charges following the death of her husband, whom she ran over while intoxicated outside a Dollar General.
Melissa Howes, 54, admitted her guilt in court this week for the September 2024 incident that resulted in the death of her husband, Jeffrey Howes, 49. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported the fatal encounter occurred at the Dollar General located at 101 S. Main St. in Dix, a small rural community.
Authorities revealed that Melissa Howes intentionally ran over her husband after first shoving him to the ground. Captured on surveillance footage from a nearby apartment complex, the video shows her backing up her vehicle before accelerating forward, striking her husband and causing his death.
As part of her plea agreement, Howes will serve 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The reasons behind Howes’s actions remain unclear, with officials citing her intoxication as the primary factor. After the collision, emergency services tried desperately to save Jeffrey Howes, who was taken to a local hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The sheriff’s office noted signs of alcohol impairment observed in Melissa Howes at the scene. Following a thorough investigation, she was arrested and charged with aggravated DUI involving death. Her arrest concluded at the Jefferson County Justice Center.
When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered Jeffrey Howes trapped beneath the vehicle. Local accounts described the scene as a “person vs. car” incident. A sheriff’s deputy, assisted by a bystander, used a jack to lift the vehicle, allowing responders to attempt resuscitation on Jeffrey Howes, who was suffering cardiac arrest.
As of Tuesday, Howes remains detained at the Jefferson County Jail, pending her transfer to the state Department of Corrections.