LIBERTY, Mo. – A distressing family ordeal ended tragically when a Kansas man, after being served an eviction notice, allegedly murdered two family members and then drove 30 miles to surrender himself in Missouri. Luke Anthony Howard, 34, is facing charges for the deaths of his mother and aunt in their home in Lenexa, Kansas, before he was apprehended by authorities in Liberty, Missouri.
Howard is accused of killing Valerie Howard, 63, and Joyce Austin, 71, after a complicated series of events reportedly triggered by a demand that he leave the home he shared with the victims. Currently detained in Clay County, Missouri, with a bail set at $5 million, Howard awaits extradition to Johnson County, Kansas, where he faces murder charges.
The revelation of the double homicide occurred when Howard entered a pharmacy in Liberty with blood-stained clothes, alarming the onlookers. He informed the pharmacy staff that he wished to turn himself in to the police. Responding officers were told by Howard of the killings, and subsequent investigations by the Lenexa Police Department led to the discovery of the women’s bodies, each with fatal gunshot wounds.
The relationship between Howard and his family members had been visibly deteriorating. Law enforcement had previously been called to the residence on February 10 following a report of a physical altercation. Valerie Howard had told police that she and Austin felt the need to lock themselves in their rooms for safety, a measure prompted by prior threats from Howard who had a history of erratic behavior, including a similar incident in 2021.
During this distressing period, Austin also contacted the police, characterizing Howard’s behavior as erratic and threatening. She expressed concerns about his mental health, stating that he had bipolar disorder, and voiced her desire for him to vacate the residence.
On a subsequent day, Howard himself called the police claiming Austin had brandished a gun at him, a claim he later withdrew. He confirmed the eviction notice yet denied possession of any firearms during a mental health check conducted by authorities at the scene.
Evidence gathered at the murder scene included about a dozen shell casings found scattered in a single room, suggesting the violence was contained within that area of the home. This discovery lent grisly detail to the already somber findings of the police.
As Howard remains in custody, the case underscores deeper issues concerning mental health and the safety measures available for individuals and families in crisis. The community and the families involved are now left to reconcile with the pain of their loss and the unsettling nature of the events that unfolded. This case adds to an ongoing dialogue about the intersections of family conflict, mental health, and gun violence, highlighting critical areas for societal attention and legal consideration.