He Says He Mistook His Son For An Intruder Before Shooting Him. Deputies Say He Burned The Body.

A Texas attorney was arrested earlier this week for allegedly killing his own son after mistaking him for an intruder, Sabine County authorities announced at a press conference Thursday.

Michael Howard, 68, was arrested on Monday on charges of murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his 20-year-old son, Mark Howard, lead investigator JP MacDonough told reporters on Thursday.

The shooting happened on the evening of Dec. 1, when Michael Howard told deputies that thought his son was ”an intruder at his property,” MacDonough said. The investigators said the Howard property had experienced burglaries in the past, with the most recent incident happening just days before the shooting.

Michael Howard placed his son’s body in the loading bucket of a backhoe tractor and drove it to a remote area, where he burned the remains in a pile of wood that was “previously set up,” according to MacDonough. The father told deputies that he felt his son would have wanted to be “cremated.”

MacDonough said Michael Howard called authorities approximately 17 hours after burning the body to report the shooting.

Investigators searched the Howard property and determined that the scene of the killing had been washed using a water hose, according to MacDonough. He said that Michael Howard’s efforts to burn his son’s remains and clean up were, to him, “indicative” of “nefarious purposes.”

Mark Howard’s charred remains were taken to the Jefferson County medical examiner’s office, where they are awaiting autopsy. MacDonough said the victim, who had Down syndrome, was “high-functioning” and held a job.

MacDonough told reporters that Michael Howard lives in Houston where he works, but used the massive property as a “weekend” home. The victim’s mother and siblings were elsewhere at the time of the shooting, but his mom was interviewed by detectives as part of the investigation.

According to the Texas State Bar, Michael Howard is a Houston-based attorney whose practice areas include legal malpractice; family law; personal injury; real estate; and oil, gas and energy resources. He had his license suspended for one year after pleading no contest to third-degree felony theft in 1994.

Also speaking at the press conference was Sabine County District Attorney, Paul Robbins who said his office is seeking a grand jury indictment and may also pursue other charges. Robbins said he’d been in contact with Michael Howard’s attorney.

The Sabine County District Clerks office did not immediately respond to HuffPost when contacted by email.