Nancy Howard Appears In Court To Divorce Husband John Howard Who is Accused Of Hiring Someone To Kill Her

Sept. 19, 2012. (ABC)

By RYAN OWENS
Sept. 20, 2012


One month after being shot in her driveway, allegedly by a hitman hired by her husband, a Texas woman appeared in court to face her estranged husband.

Nancy Howard walked into a Denton, Texas, courtroom Tuesday to move forward with her request for a divorce from her husband, John Howard.

Prosecutors say John Howard, a successful accountant who sang in a church choir, had a secret life and paid a series of alleged hitmen over $100,000 to kill his wife so he could be with his mistress in California. Nancy Howard was shot in the driveway of her Carrollton, Texas, home on August 18.

The mother of three was in a coma for days after the bullet destroyed her left eye and lodged in her lung.

"I prayed through the whole incident and called on God to save me, and he did. He carried me through," Nancy Howard told ABC News affiliate WFAA Tuesday as she walked into court.

John Howard admits to the affair that lasted four years, but denies having anything to do in his wife's shooting and has pleaded not guilty to criminal solicitation.

John Howard's attorney, Arch McColl, told ABC News that Nancy Howard really doesn't want a divorce.

"He has three beautiful children, a long marriage with a lovely wife who does not want to divorce him. She's indicated that in writing," said McColl.

Nancy Howard refused to answer any questions about her marriage outside the courtroom with reporters, but she's obviously moving forward with it by showing up in court Tuesday.

"I am thankful. Thankful that I have life. Thankful that God has given me life. That's going to be a great future," Howard told WFAA.

Frank Howard, 52, attended the hearing still wearing his wedding band, hoping to reconcile with his wife. "I think they've got a possibility of doing that. I think they're both people of strong faith; he's been very active in his church for 30 years — 25 or 30 years — he sings in the choir," said McColl.

Howard is also being hauled into court by a defense contractor that he used to work for. The company is accusing Howard of embezzling millions from contracts in the Middle East to finance his alleged secret life.

Police say the alleged plot to kill Nancy Howard began in 2009, just weeks before the shooting. The alleged hitman, Dustin Hiroms, was arrested on July 13 for traffic violations and the passenger in the car was identified as Jason Rendine, according to the affidavit.

The police stop occurred a half mile from the Howards' Carrollton, Texas, home.

Hiroms told officers he had come to Carrollton to get money from his uncle, who lives on Bluebonnet Way. Rendine mentioned it was the fifth house and that a Lexus was supposed to be parked outside, according to the affidavit.

After officers questioned the two men, they changed their story and said they were in town to meet with an investor named John who hired Hiroms as a hit man.

Hiroms was arrested for traffic offenses and was released two days later, according to the affidavit.

On Aug. 24, Billie Johnson, who is Hirom's stepfather and was being held at Denton County Jail on unrelated charges, contacted investigators with information about the alleged plot.

Johnson told police he was contacted by Howard three years ago and was offered money to have Nancy Howard killed.

"Johnson advised that over the past three years he has had numerous contacts and conversations with Howard regarding the contract killing of his wife," the affidavit stated.

After Hiroms was arrested on the aggravated robbery charge, he admitted to police he had met and received money from Howard, but denied having any role in the aggravated robbery of Nancy Howard, the affidavit stated.

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I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So this lying, cheating husband is an "active member of the church with strong faith but he admits embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars AND had a four year affair and bought the "mistress" a house? " GMAB!!! I am so sick of these people that try to use their so-called faith as an excuse for getting away with murder. And, she doesn't want a divorce after she's disfigured for life?

Sept. 12, 2012

The 52-year-old Texas man accused of hiring a hitman to kill his wife is now facing new allegations of embezzlement from a former employer.

Frank Howard was arrested Aug. 26 and charged with solicitation of murder for hiring 19-year-old Dustin Hiroms to kill his wife, according to prosecutors. Howard's wife, Nancy, was shot in the face on Aug. 18 in the driveway of their Dallas-area home. Howard survived but was left severely injured and lost her left eye.

A few days after the shooting, Howard awoke from her coma and filed for divorce. Howard claimed her husband confessed to a three-year affair with a woman in California, according to court filings. Frank Howard allegedly lavished his mistress with an $800,000 home, a condo in Lake Tahoe and $500,000 for expenses including her daughter's education.

Howard is now being hauled into court by a defense contractor that he used to work for. The company is accusing Howard of embezzling millions from contracts in the Middle East to finance his alleged secret life.

Howard's attorney Arch McColl calls the charges against his client preposterous, but did say that Howard had an affair that is now over.

Police initially caught wind of the alleged plot weeks before the actual shooting when Hiroms was arrested on July 13 for traffic violations and the passenger in the car was identified as Jason Rendine, according to the affidavit.

Hiroms told police he lived in Van, Texas, and was coming to Carrollton to collect money from his uncle. Hiroms changed his story multiple times and said he was not looking for his uncle, but an investor named John. Hiroms then told the arresting officer a startling revelation that he was a hit man and "he was working for a guy named John…" according to the affidavit filed in Denton County, Texas.

On July 15, Carrollton Police received information from a sergeant in Van that Rendine had been talking about a "hit" that Hiroms was hired to perform and received $30,000 from an unknown male.

On Aug. 22, Rendine and his wife, Stephanie Delacerda, were arrested on drug charges in Bossier City, La. After her arrest, cops seized $14,900 in cash and a Wells Fargo checkbook. Delacerda told investigators that she had a "business relationship" with Howard. She said Howard put $35,000 in her account for a "business transaction," and later changed her story and told investigators she was compensated for sex with Howard.

Two days later, a Denton County investigator was contacted by an inmate who said they had information about a shooting that occurred six days prior in Carrollton. The affidavit identifies the inmate as Billie Johnson, Hiroms' stepfather. Johnson told investigators that Howard approached him three years earlier to have his wife killed.

Later that day, Denton County investigators received a letter from the FBI about Stacey Serenko, Johnson's wife and Hiroms' mother. Serenko confirmed Johnson's story and said that Howard stressed the murder "had to look like an accident." According to the affidavit, Howard gave Johnson and Serenko $85,000 along with pictures of his wife.

On Aug. 24, Hiroms was arrested on aggravated robbery charges, but denied any involvement in the shooting, and admitted that Howard contacted him to kill his wife. Hiroms said Howard gave him approximately $80,000 in wire transfers and cash, according to the affidavit.

"They're not professional killers, they typically botch the job, and then they want to talk about it--either bragging or being completely careless in who they share the information with," said ABC News legal analyst Brad Garrett.

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Not sure if this man's name is John or Frank?


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