Witnesses claimed that a white utility van was in the area the day before. And the body had an appendectomy scar. And had delivered a child through Cesarean section, at some time.
Howland’s hands, feet, and head were reportedly never recovered.
Howland was not identified. Then the case went cold.
DNA science solves the case
Lt. Matt Schmutz of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department began looking into cold cases. And in 2015, he approached the Madison County Illinois Sheriff’s Office on Howland’s missing person case.
DNA testing was done in 2016. And it was finally discovered that the torso belonged to Howland of Alton, Illinois.
The probable cause statement claimed that in 2019 additional DNA testing was done. And it led to the identification of Clardy as the prime suspect in 2022.
Finally, on January 10, 2023, police interviewed Clardy. And he confessed to the 2004 murder. He also claimed to have dismembered her body. And Clardy admitted he abandoned the victim’s body parts throughout St. Louis County according to charging documents.
