A Florida man who managed to evade capture for almost 16 years by faking his own death has been caught in Indiana. Gary Wayne Howard, aged 74, allegedly told the authorities he had hoped to die before being apprehended.
Howard was apprehended on Thursday by U.S. Marshals at his residence in the Indianapolis area, having gone missing since he staged his death in 2010.
As he was taken into custody, he reportedly said, “I was hoping to die before you caught up to me,” which certainly leaves an impression.
In 2007, he was convicted in Pinellas County of 22 counts of possession of child pornography, leading to his classification as a lifelong sex offender in Florida.
After violating his probation in 2010, Howard fled Florida for Indiana. Authorities believed he had committed suicide after abandoning his rental car near Mousey Lake in Kentucky, an act they described as a calculated attempt to stage his own death.
Following his disappearance, a warrant for his arrest was issued in March 2011, prompted by his failure to register as a sex offender. The warrant indicated that he was to be brought to court in Clearwater, Florida, to face the charges.
Investigators learned that Howard had numerous relatives in Indiana, which he appeared to rely on to live undetected. Surveillance revealed his whereabouts, leading to his arrest as he exited his home.
Currently, Howard is being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail, located about 260 miles southwest of Indianapolis. He faces multiple charges from various agencies and may be extradited to Florida, where he could face prison for violating probation and multiple counts for failing to register as a sex offender.
Additionally, he faces charges under Indiana’s Adam Walsh Prosecution Case, a federal initiative aimed at safeguarding children from sexual exploitation and violent crimes.
U.S. Marshal William Berger Sr. remarked on the determination of law enforcement to ensure that fugitives are brought to justice. He emphasized that escaping the law is futile, as justice ultimately prevails.
