Did a former Idaho state trooper use his training to stage his wife's death?

Did a former Idaho state trooper use his training to stage his wife's death?

Kendy Howard, a 48-year-old wife and mother, was found dead in her bathtub with a gunshot wound to the head. Evidence at the scene led investigators to take a hard look at her husband, a former Idaho state trooper. Did he have the know-how to get away with murder?

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
4/5
Bias Level
3/5
Analysis Summary:

The article is mostly accurate, presenting the central question of the "48 Hours" episode. The primary claims regarding Kendy Howard's death and her husband's former profession are supported by the provided sources. However, the article's framing inherently introduces a degree of bias by focusing on the husband's potential guilt.

Detailed Analysis:
  • Claim:** Kendy Howard, a 48-year-old wife and mother, was found dead in her bathtub with a gunshot wound to the head.
    • Verification Source #1: Supports this claim.
    • Verification Source #2: Supports this claim, mentioning the "Bathtub Murder of Kendy Howard."
    • Verification Source #3: Supports this claim.
  • Claim:** Her husband was a former Idaho state trooper.
    • Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, identifying Dan Howard as a former Idaho state trooper.
    • Verification Source #3: Supports this claim.
  • Claim:** Investigators took a hard look at her husband.
    • Verification Source #1: Supports this claim.
    • Verification Source #3: Supports this claim, implying suspicion towards the husband.
  • Claim:** Did he have the know-how to get away with murder?
  • This is a framing question, not a factual claim. It introduces a bias by suggesting the husband's guilt.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
  • Verification Source #1, #2, and #3 all confirm the core facts of Kendy Howard's death and her husband's former profession as an Idaho state trooper.
  • Verification Source #1 mentions that prosecutors say Dan Howard used a restraining technique he learned.
  • Verification Source #4 mentions closing arguments in the trial of the former Idaho trooper.
  • Verification Source #5 is irrelevant to the claims in the article.
  • The main bias stems from the framing question, which assumes the husband's potential guilt and focuses on his skills as a law enforcement officer as a potential means to commit the crime.