Why?
He may not have committed the earlier murders. Or there may have been inadequate evidence to convict him, and the jury honorably so determined.
When they charged Howell in 2006, prosecutors and detectives felt they had a strong case, based on evidence they had gathered and witness statements. One person picked Howell out of a police lineup, saying he had thrown Brewer’s burned purse in a dumpster. Other witnesses told police they heard confessions about the crime. One woman told detectives Howell had threatened her with a shotgun and said, "I'll do you like I did Tabby." According to court documents, the motive was money. Brewer had been awarded a $40,000 settlement from a car accident shortly before she disappeared. Police said she was unable to access the money because they were in a trust fund. Despite the case prosecutors built against Howell, the jury shocked the victims’ family members by finding not guilty of both murder counts.