Scott County murder case reset for next month

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Accused murderer Neil Howland made his first appearance Tuesday at the New Madrid County Courthouse after being granted a new venue.

The case was reset for reappearance Feb. 11 to allow Howland's defense time to look through discovery documents just received by public defender Amy Commean from the Scott County Prosecutor's office.

Howland is charged in connection with the death of his mother, Cynthia Canoy of Scott City.

Howland appeared in front of Circuit Court Judge Fred Copeland of New Madrid on Tuesday after being granted a change of judge and venue by the Missouri Supreme Court in October.

Howland is charged with first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with evidence and knowingly burning -- all felonies. He faces two additional class D felonies of animal abuse. Along with allegations he strangled his mother and torched her body in her car, Howland is accused of putting two of her pet dogs in the vehicle before setting it afire.

On Aug. 7, crews responding to a car fire off County Road 323 discovered a body in the car. An autopsy showed Canoy died before the fire.

Howland is charged with killing Canoy by strangling her with a dog leash. Police say Howland transported Canoy's body and two of her dogs to a field near the county road and set the vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

He was arrested Aug. 9, two days after his mother's body was found, on charges of third-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a May 18 incident in which Canoy and her husband, Jerry Canoy, told police Howland had threatened them with a machete and firearms.

While in jail on those charges, Howland was charged with Cynthia Canoy's murder.

Howland's girlfriend, Tiffany Warner, was indicted on charges of tampering with evidence in connection to Canoy's death.

skluesner@semissourian.com

388-3648

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO

New Madrid, MO

Scott City, MO

County Road 323, Kelso, MO