Kevin Howard
Appearances
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
I remember, like, I was like, what the fuck, serious?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
You know, they told us my kid was deceased. And then right away I was like, well, did you guys get him? And they were like, yeah, it was some tweaker from Butte. And in my mind, I was like, just like happy that they apprehend, you know. So and I just, you know, I gave the cops a hug and I was like, thank you guys or whatever. You know, I'm glad that you guys were there.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
And the contrast of them with Micah, like Sunny, who's appears to be like a, you know, like hateful person or whatever. And then Micah, who's this like, you know, hippie child or whatever that like loves everybody and all that.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Right. Yeah, Americans are dumb like that. They just they need, you know, like the big villain and the kind, sweet hearted victim or whatever. So it's like it's you're twisted, you know, it's like one hand that's really sad. And you think of like all the other people that no one cares about. It's like because Micah is this young, beautiful, talented woman, people care about her.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
We're definitely yin and yang, like, if it was just me, like I'm going to be, no one's going to like me. No one's going to talk to me. I'm going to piss everyone off. And, and it's, I'm not going to get anything accomplished by myself. Whereas Krista is the complete opposite. Everyone is going to want to talk to her. Everyone likes her, you know?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So it's, I think it's, it's nice to sneak in a couple like, you know, right hooks or whatever that maybe knock some sense into some people without them even realizing it. And then, she's going to be able to make it so everyone isn't just seeing this angry, like Debbie Downer type dude that hates everything.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
It makes for a very difficult relationship, though, because you never really agree on anything. So it's like she accepts that I'm wrong and I accept that she's wrong in our own minds, you know what I mean? And we're starting to learn that neither one of us are really wrong,
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
And she's like totally just like manipulating the shit out of the sheriff or deputy. Like she's crying and oh my gosh, I don't know what's happening. And that sheriff's like, oh, it's so letting her smoke cigarettes. Like she's not thinking like if this was a native woman, she would be stuffed and cuffed like immediately.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
And I'm like, LaPaka, what the hell? Like, this is a potential crime scene, and he's letting her move items from the vehicle.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Yeah, it was, like, shocking. Like, if you just think about the fact that it took us seven months to get to square one.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
When you're handing it to him, I was like, oh, Micah's just freaking just pissed off right now. Like she would not like this at all. And I like said that out loud. Shouldn't have done it, but in a joking manner, I guess. But I really did feel that way. Like Micah was like, no, no, don't give it to him.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
If it was to go to trial, La Parca and Lake County would have had, and the Montana Highway Patrol would have had to
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
presented to the world exactly how they investigated this case um any halfway decent attorney would have been able to pick apart their so-called investigation and evidence yeah that's so interesting like would you say you wanted the state to lose i mean absolutely which is kind of probably sounds ridiculous so i mean it you know micah is gone there's nothing that's going to ever bring her back um
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So I would sacrifice Micah's personal justice for a big picture justice, you know what I mean? Like, that would be a very easy sacrifice for me personally.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
I came into the house to eat something, and Micah was in her room, and she comes, like, bolting out, like, hey, bro, if someone murked me, you'd forgive them, right? And I just remember, like, what are you talking about, weirdo? And she's like, well, you would, right? And I was like, I don't know, would you want me to? She said, well, yeah. And I was like, well, then, yeah, I guess.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
To me, it was, like, some dumb thing she would say, and then later she's dead by the hands of someone else, and I was like, Tripped me out, you know. I had to forgive that Sunny White right away. Like, and I did, you know.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Like if you knew Micah, probably the most stubborn person I know, like she would just fight tooth and nail over the dumbest thing to the bitter end.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
What does justice look like to this family? To me, the whole point of this trial would be to discourage future freaking homicides. So my concern is, and I know that Micah would feel the same way, is these other Aryan nations, we've had an influx of these groups moving here. recently, they need to see these hard numbers. So there's got to be, like, 40 years is like, oh, shit, that's my life.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
We just played right into their hand. It was best case scenario. to get the family to be okay with a slap on the wrist. So I felt dirty.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Like, I did feel her relief. I think that she was really trying to ignore my vibe, which, and I totally understand, like, she deserves all the credit, and she's taken on the weight of this way more than I have.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So, as you've all heard, Micah was, you know, quite a special person. As a parent, typically we teach our children. I think in my case, I learned a lot more from her than I taught her.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
I have no choice but to honor her wishes and forgive Mrs. White for her heinous act. But, you know, growing up on this res, I've lost other family members in similar ways that didn't receive justice. And so for that, I cannot forgive. And until there's a change that's made, I hold Lake County responsible. I hold this court responsible.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
The same lead investigator of the Highway Patrol, Wayne Beaver, stonewalled Mina's mom and basically intimidated her to just back down and let things go. So we are not receiving justice today. Even though we're all here thinking we are, you guys are pacifying us in an effort to continue about your discriminatory practices. She will be granted parole. She's a white lady with two young children.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Why wouldn't she? That's the way the system works.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Thank you, Your Honor. And I hope that it's not the plea deal. I hope that we go to trial and we see exactly how this investigation took place, how we as a family were forced to investigate our own daughter's death. What kind of nonsense is that? You guys need to do better. I mean, how many families do you know personally, James, that have not received justice?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Absolutely. And not to just to expose the...
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
You can make the change, Your Honor. You can start the change.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
And it had the names of the kids and all that?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
In a sense, justice prevailed, you know. It's the best we can hope for.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Like we were always warned as kids, like, yeah, watch out, like Nazis and stuff, they'll intentionally just, that's how they get away with killing Indians. They just run them over on the side of the road and... So to me, it was like, holy shit, this is real. This is what happened. You know, she was murdered.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
He told us on the phone, oh, everything I touch turns to poo.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
I'm just thinking, like, that's not what you want to hear. It would be funny if it was, I guess.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
I mean, to be honest, it's just strange that if she was in fact charged, why is she not in jail?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Well, I mean, if the other person was in violation of the law as well, wouldn't Mike be charged with intoxicated on a roadway and then the other person be charged with vehicular homicide because she was intoxicated driving, operating a vehicle.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So Micah's toxicology, though, came back where she was impaired.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Well, right. I guess my concern would be, like, that's kind of your justification for her not being currently... in jail would be Micah's potential intoxication.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Anything and everything to get, like, the total grasp of the situation. Like, for instance, if it is a white supremacist, maybe it was an intentional...
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
hit and run so now all of a sudden it's deliberate homicide and we're we're not investigating it as such what is it that you're i mean it's about her children's names arian and nation i can't tell you how to name your child yeah but if you if you name your kids arian and nation chances are you're an affiliate look at it as the
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Well, then you shouldn't look at it as Micah was drunk on the side of the road. So we don't, we treat it to me.
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So can we hold on to it until you get the warrant?
This American Life
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
So I guess I'm confused as to, that's our property. That's my property. That wasn't on the scene.