Howard was last seen in Orlando, Florida on July 8, 1998. He and a friend, Vincent Morgan, borrowed a friend's car to drive to the Winter Garden, Florida home of a friend, Conchita Latrice Slayton. Neither of them have ever been heard from again.

In June 2002, Slayton was charged with the murders of both men. Authorities found bullet casings and blood spatters from them in her home. In February 2003, Slayton lead authorities to a wooded area in Lake County, Florida where she said she'd disposed of the men's bodies. A three-day search turned up no evidence, however, and the outcome of the murder cases against Slayton is unknown. Howard and Vincent have never been located, but foul play is suspected in their cases due to the circumstances involved.