Illinois – In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community, 46-year-old N. Howard has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his 60-year-old mother, N. Caraker, in September 2023. The court found that Howard, intoxicated and angry, strangled his mother with a bungee cord after a long-standing conflict over her romantic relationships and her refusal to give him money.
The sentence was handed down by Judge A. Maher on Tuesday, with the ruling making it clear that Howard will serve the full prison term—without eligibility for early release.
A Mother Killed in Her Own Bed
According to prosecutors, the violent incident occurred in the early hours of September 13, 2023, inside Caraker’s own home. Howard, heavily intoxicated, reportedly flew into a fit of rage after his mother returned home from a date. His anger, they said, had been building for weeks, fueled by resentment over her dating life and refused financial support.
“He got drunk enough that he couldn’t take it anymore,” said Assistant State Attorney L. Yager. “Then he wrapped that cord around her neck and he pulled, until she stopped breathing.”
The murder weapon—a bungee cord—was still tightly wrapped around Caraker’s neck when police arrived at the scene.
Howard’s 911 Call and Inconsistent Story
Around 1:30 a.m., Howard himself called 911, claiming his mother was “unresponsive.” When officers reached the home, they found Caraker lying in bed, unconscious and not breathing. Howard claimed to have seen an unknown man running out of the home just before finding his mother.
However, the story quickly fell apart. Investigators noted that the sliding glass door was locked from the inside, and there were no signs of forced entry. Howard, who was visibly drunk, was soon taken into custody after giving conflicting statements and failing to explain the circumstances of his mother’s death.
Trial, Evidence, and Sentencing
The weeklong trial concluded in February, with the jury returning a guilty verdict for first-degree murder after only three hours of deliberation.
Although prosecutors had requested a minimum 45-year sentence, Judge Maher settled on a 30-year term, citing various aspects of the case. The judge emphasized that Howard’s violent past, including previous arrests involving family members, played a key role in the decision.
DNA Controversy and Defense Claims
Notably, Howard’s sister A. Hall and her fiancée testified in his defence, saying they believed police acted too quickly in arresting him. His attorneys, J. Sackett and D. Fahrenkamp, pointed to DNA evidence found on the bungee cord and under Caraker’s fingernails, which reportedly matched a man she had dated that night, not Howard.
They also criticized law enforcement for allegedly delaying the collection of that man’s DNA sample for over a year. The defence has already announced plans to appeal the verdict.
Despite the defence’s arguments, prosecutors stood firm, stating that the motive, physical evidence, and Howard’s shifting accounts of the incident left little doubt about his guilt.