Minnesota man serving time for killing his mother is murdered in prison

March 23, 2021

RUSH CITY, Minn.– A former rural Dalton, Minnesota man who was in prison for the murder of his mother nearly ten years ago has been killed in prison.

The Department of Corrections says 56-year-old James Howard (pictured) was murdered by his cellmate at the prison in Rush City. He was found with face and head injuries.

Howard was serving a murder sentence for an April 2011 attack on his mother, Barbara, at a home the two shared. Investigators say she was struck on the head with a machete and several of her fingers were nearly severed as she fought back.

Howard claimed that he was hoping to end her suffering from cancer and diabetes.

Howard was scheduled for release in 2034. The inmate accused in his death was supposed to be released in May.