This story originally appeared in the inaugural edition of the Owensboro Times quarterly newspaper.
On the evening of July 25, 1980, the quiet rural roads of Knottsville, Kentucky, becamethe scene of a tragedy that remainsunsolved more than fourdecades later. What started as an apparent house fire turned into a baffling murder mystery that continues to puzzle investigators, family members, and the community. The death of 24-year-old Terri Howell has left behind more questions than answers, with crucial evidence missing and key witnesses fading into history.
The discovery of Terri Howell’s body
At approximately 5 p.m., a volunteer firefighter traveling with his wife and mother-in-law spotted a house engulfed in flames. He quickly instructed his family to find help while he attempted to enter the burning structure. Through the thick smoke, he saw a body inside but was unable to reach it due to the intensity of the fire.
When firefighters arrived and extinguished the flames, they found the naked remains of a young woman beneath debris that had been deliberately arranged to fuel the fire. The victim was later identified as Terri Howell, but not until after she’d already been buried as a Jane Doe. The circumstances surrounding her death and the subsequent investigation left more gaps than answers, and her case remains one of the region’s most perplexing cold cases.
Howell’s last known moments
The night before her body was discovered, Howell was last seen with a woman named Janice Hastie. The two were at the Hasty Tasty, a restaurant on East 4th Street in Owensboro, when they encountered a man from Ohio County. Records show that Hastie claimed to know the man, who offered the two young women a ride home around 1 or 2 a.m. Witnesses described the man as a white male with brown hair, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, and a slender build.
Once inside the vehicle, the man drove east on U.S. 60, ignoring the women’s protests that he was going the wrong way. He accelerated, and Hastie, in a panic, jumped out of the moving car near Reid Road and walked back to town. Hastie last saw Howell screaming at the driver to stop.
Authorities conducted multiple polygraphs with Hastie, who passed them all. Over the years, her story remained consistent.
Howell’s body was later found in an abandoned house on Lanham Road, an area commonly known as a party spot. Her belongings were discovered scattered — her purse on KY 1389 and her bathing suit top near the house — and beer cans were recovered from the scene. While the purse and bathing suit top were checked for DNA, the results were inconclusive due to degradation over time. Nothing definitive came from the beer cans, which could have belonged to any number of people.
Initial investigation, sudden burial, and missing evidence
At the time of Howell’s death, forensic investigations were far less advanced than they are today. It was also standard practice at the time not to send bodies to a centralized medical examiner. Instead, the autopsy was conducted locally at Haley McGinnis Funeral Home on July 26, 1980, by medical examiner Dr. Charles Crumpler and Coroner Mike Everly.
According to the autopsy report, samples and photographs were taken, but none of these records can be found by investigators today. The report included details such as stomach contents, which matched what was reported as her last meal.
The autopsy concluded that Howell had not been sexually assaulted and that her cause of death was likely before the fire began. Without access to preserved evidence, though, modern forensic testing cannot be conducted to verify key details of her death.
Howell’s body was buried in Owensboro Memorial Gardens on July 26, 1980, or possibly the same day of the fire — it’s unclear which based on available records. The quick burial raised suspicions even at the time, especially considering she was interred before she was officially identified, a move today’s investigators call a highly unusual procedure. However, there is no clear evidence of intentional mishandling of the investigation.
Howell’s late mother, Ava Wortheam, unaware of her daughter’s death, filed a missing person report with the Owensboro Police Department after Howell failed to return home. By the time authorities connected the missing person case to the unidentified remains found in the fire, Howell had already been buried. Howell was identified using dental records and jewelry that was found on the body and identified by Wortheam on July 27, 1980.
Adding to the confusion, the burial was arranged and paid for by an unknown individual, and there is little documentation regarding the transaction. Her obituary, published July 28, 1980, said there was no visitation but there was a graveside service.
The case goes cold
By December 1983, investigative entries ceased, leaving Howell’s case nearly untouched for almost 30 years other than some evidence being sent for testing in 2004. In 2010, Detective Mike Pearre reopened the investigation. Current Sheriff Brad Youngman said Pearre’s work was crucial in advancing the case and is the foundation for how detectives are approaching the investigation today.
Pearre re-interviewed first responders and witnesses. He also interrogated first responders and firemen who had not previously been questioned about the scene. Their reports provided additional details that should have been documented at the time of the crime but were not.
Various leads were pursued, including sketches of potential suspects and reports of a light or pale blue two-door car with round headlights. However, narrowing down vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s proved difficult.
Several individuals were identified as persons of interest. One such individual allegedly told a family member that he knew who killed Howell, but before revealing the name he was found dead in a river under what today’s investigators say were suspicious circumstances. Another suspect, a convicted murderer, was rumored to be involved but he later died in prison. One suspect even included James Ray Cable, a serial killer who was active in the area at the time.
Within the same geographical radius of Howell’s murder, multiple other bodies were discovered around the same time. Investigators have considered the possibility that these deaths were connected, though no definitive links have been established.
Many suspects and sources have since passed away, and no concrete evidence has been found to support most theories.
Renewed efforts and barriers to breakthroughs
Renewed efforts in 2023 sparked new interest, with forensic specialists reviewing any remaining DNA. Law enforcement techniques have evolved significantly in the past 45 years, and many aspects of the case would have been handled differently with modern forensic science.
The state lab has determined that the samples are too small for effective testing. Law enforcement has also revisited fingerprint evidence, but no significant breakthroughs have been made. Forensic experts and state labs have indicated that exhuming the body would not yield any new results.
No photographs from the crime scene exist, and much of the physical evidence, such as burnt materials, is degraded beyond use.
Another significant issue in the case is the lack of witnesses stepping forward. Today’s investigators say bars and social spaces like the Hasty Tasty are typically full of people who observe interactions, yet no one from that night has come forward with information. Investigators speculate that fear, distrust of law enforcement, or other factors have prevented potential witnesses from speaking up. Investigators remain hopeful that new witnesses may come forward, particularly as attitudes toward law enforcement and cold cases shift over time.
Armchair detectives and social media discussions have further complicated the case over time as more theories and names have been introduced, sometimes muddying the waters rather than clarifying them. While some public speculation has been helpful, much of it is based on assumptions rather than facts. Unverified claims can divert resources, investigators said, making it harder for law enforcement to focus on concrete leads.
The continued search for justice
More than four decades later, Howell’s case remains one of Owensboro’s most prominent unsolved mysteries. Investigators hope that as forensic science advances and societal attitudes toward cold cases shift, new evidence or witness testimony will emerge.
Family members and local law enforcement continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward, reminding the public that even the smallest detail could be the missing piece in solving the case. Detectives continue to work the case as time permits, though resources remain limited.
The investigation has been likened to assembling a 10,000-piece puzzle with only 150 pieces available. Any new information could prove crucial in piecing together the truth about what happened to Terri Howell.
Unanswered questions
As the investigation continues, many critical questions remain:
- Who paid for Howell’s burial, and why was she interred so quickly?
- What happened to the evidence collected during her autopsy?
- Who was the unidentified driver that picked up Howell and Janice Hastie?
- Was her death premeditated, or was it a crime of opportunity?
- Could there be any remaining evidence that can be tested with modern forensic methods?
Anyone with information is asked to contact DCSO’s Jeff Payne at 270-685-8444. Callers can remain anonymous.
Information for this story was compiled using records provided by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and interviews with Sheriff Brad Youngman and Criminal Investigations Commander Jeff Payne.
