Second person arrested in connection with murder of Scott City woman

BENTON, Mo. -- A second arrest has been made in connection with the murder of Scott City resident Cynthia Canoy.

Tiffany Warner, 24, of Jackson and girlfriend of accused murderer Neil Howland, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Warner is being charged with felony tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Warner was arrested at the circuit court while appearing for another case in which she was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Warner posted a $15,000 bond and an arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Howland is charged with first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with evidence and knowingly burning, all of which are felonies.

On Aug. 7, crews responding to a car fire off County Road 323 discovered a body in the car and called the sheriff's department. Sheriff Rick Walter activated the SEMO Major Case Squad for an investigation. Because of the condition of the body, authorities did not release the victim's identity until Aug. 14 because they awaited confirmation through DNA tests. An autopsy showed Canoy died before the fire.

Howland is charged with killing Canoy by strangling her with a dog leash. Howland transported her body and two of Canoy's dogs to a field near the county road and set the vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence, according to a probable-cause affidavit signed by Lt. Jerry Bledsoe of the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Howland 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 stemming from a May 18 incident in which Canoy and her husband, Jerry Canoy, told police Howland had threatened them with a machete and firearms, and they feared for their lives.

Walter said Warner was identified early on in the investigation as a person of interest in the crime, according to a news release.

skluesner@semissourian.com

388-3648

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO

Scott City, MO