She wanted a life she believed his money could fund. When he found out she'd been shoplifting, she decided he needed to be gone.
Background
Michael Joseph Howell, 50, relocated to a large cabin in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, following his divorce in the late 2000s. His 17-year-old daughter, Crystal Brooke Howell, lived with him, and the two appeared to have a stable relationship in the years leading up to February 2014.
The Murder
On February 24, 2014, after her father confronted her over a shoplifting incident, Crystal shot and killed him at close range with a shotgun while he slept on the couch, later telling investigators she had been planning the killing for some time, driven by a desire to live independently and use her father's money to fund a party lifestyle.
Concealing the Crime
Crystal disposed of physical evidence from the scene, including the couch itself and the spent shotgun shell, and placed her father's body in a container that she moved into a shed on the property. She told friends her father had died by suicide out of state, and several of them moved into the cabin with her for roughly a month while his body remained undiscovered nearby.
Arrest and Conviction
Crystal was eventually arrested and charged in her father's murder. She was convicted and sentenced to prison for his death.
FAQ
Why did Crystal Howell kill her father?
She told investigators she wanted to live independently and use his money to fund a party lifestyle, and had been planning the killing for some time.
How long did she conceal the crime?
About a month, during which she told friends her father had died elsewhere and hosted them at the cabin while his body remained hidden on the property.
How old was Crystal Howell at the time?
17 years old.