Authorities say a Spencer County man has been charged in the fatal weekend shooting of an Evansville woman whose death was the start of a bizarre series of incidents that included a wreck, a second shooting and a police chase that ended in southwestern Dubois County.
28-year old Michael Damien Howell of Dale is in custody at the Warrick County Jail. His charges there include felony counts of attempted murder, robbery, auto theft, resisting law enforcement and criminal recklessness.
His bond was set in Warrick County at $15,000 cash. If Howell’s released, he’ll go to Vanderburgh County where he would be held without bond. In Vanderburgh County, Howell is charged with murder and two counts of intimidation.
Warrick County deputies found 30-year old Beverly Karns of Evansville, shot dead in a wrecked vehicle on Indiana 68 near Scales Road on Saturday afternoon.
The Warrick County Coroner’s Office said Karns died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe she was shot in Evansville earlier on Saturday.
Authorities believe Howell drove into Warrick County and wrecked on Indiana 68. Karns’ body was thrown from the truck during the wreck.
Howell shot 74-year old Charles Scales of Tennyson, who was a witness to the accident. Warrick County deputies say Scales was waiting for police to arrive at the scene of the wreck. Scales was treated and released from a hospital.
The Warrick County Sheriff’s Department says while deputies were en route to an accident on Indiana 68, there was a call from a resident in the same area saying a man ran up their driveway with a gun and stole one of their vehicles.
They say the man took the vehicle and led deputies on a pursuit through Spencer, Warrick and Dubois counties before surrendering in Holland.
