TROY, IL – A man from Illinois is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of murdering his mother by strangling her with a bungee cord, citing her relationships and financial decisions as motives.
Neil Howard, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Madison County jury on Monday. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before delivering a guilty verdict for the murder of 60-year-old Norma J. Caraker in September 2023.
Authorities were alerted to the crime scene in the early hours of September 13, when Troy Police Department officers responded to a 911 call from Howard, who reported finding his mother unresponsive in their home over 20 miles northeast of St. Louis. Upon arrival, officers discovered Caraker in bed with the cord secured around her neck. Attempted resuscitation was unsuccessful.
Howard initially claimed to investigators that he had seen an unidentified man fleeing the home and discovered his mother afterward. However, police found discrepancies in his account, noting the door had been locked from inside, leading to his arrest.
During the trial, Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager argued that Howard harbored resentment towards his mother’s lifestyle choices, which escalated under the influence of alcohol, culminating in her murder. Yager contended that anger over Caraker’s dating life and her unwillingness to provide him with money motivated the attack.
Judge Amy Maher, who oversaw the trial, will sentence Howard at a later date. He could face up to 60 years in prison. Howard remains detained in the Madison County Jail while awaiting sentencing.
State’s Attorney Tom Haine praised the detailed work of law enforcement, which he said was instrumental in the conviction. Haine noted the use of scientific and technological evidence was crucial in demonstrating the sequence of events leading to Caraker’s death.
Despite the conviction, Howard’s defense team, including attorneys Jeremy Sackett and David Fahrenkamp, intends to appeal. They point to issues they perceive with the investigation, including a lack of DNA testing on Caraker’s date the night of her murder. A crime lab technician testified that DNA present on the bungee cord and Caraker’s fingernails matched another man, not Howard.
Both Howard’s sister and fiancée expressed their belief in his innocence during the trial. Andrea Hall, Howard’s sister, remarked that the verdict was unexpected and criticized law enforcement for their immediate focus on Howard as the primary suspect.
The defense remains committed to proving Howard’s innocence in higher courts, arguing that the investigation was prematurely closed without exhausting other possibilities.