Victim's son reacts to cold case arrest

By Ryan Dean

KSDK -- When NewsChannel 5 first met Matt Higginbotham in October 2008, he just learned that human remains were found on property his mother used to own in Annada in Pike County. Police had asked him to submit DNA because the remains may be his mother's.

"I didn't know whether to jump for joy or break down in tears," he said then.

Seven months after that interview, Higginbotham knows that the remains are his mother's and his stepfather, 57-year-old Douglas Howery, has been charged with first-degree murder.

"When I knew the cuffs were on him I was elated, I mean absolutely elated. Vindicated, because justice was being done," Higginbotham said.

According to police documents, Betty Ann Howery was killed sometime in late February 1992. The documents state that she was very emotional and upset about Douglas taking all the money from their bank account.

The statements allege Douglas was having an affair and the woman he was having an affair with was two months pregnant when Betty Ann went missing. They believe he was the last to see her alive.

Now that the remains have been and an arrest has been made, Higginbotham continues experiencing a range of emotions, chief among them sorrow. Not for only for his mother, but for Douglas Howery's two kids, both of whom are under the age of 18.

"I feel bad getting pleasure out of this happening and my mom being vindicated and justice being done," Higginbotham said. "I feel bad that I enjoy that when there's some kids that are going to be devastated and whose lives are going to be ripped apart as a result of it."