8 News Now
January 9, 2015
The family of an accused killer begged the victim’s family for forgiveness Wednesday night.
“Please forgive my son. He’s not a demon. He’s not a monster. I’m going to miss my son just like the family is going to miss their mom. Please, please forgive us. Forgive my son for taking your family from you. I am so, so sorry,” said Ron Howard, father of accused murderer, Jerry Howard.
Kathy Shines was found stabbed to death behind a Las Vegas bar Saturday morning. Metro Police arrested 24-year-old Jerry Howard for her murder.
Officers said Shines was alive when she was thrown into a dumpster, and she died after crawling out. Her body was found Saturday morning in the 3300 block of Nellis Blvd.
According to Metro Police, it was two of Howard’s loved ones who turned him into authorities. They told detectives he was staying with his ex-girlfriend Melissa Stephens.
“I asked him about the pictures, and he just broke down in tears and said, ‘I didn’t do this, and you know me better than this,’” Stephens said.
Stephens said her and Howard had a violent relationship, but she didn’t fear him, nor did she ever think he could be capable of such a brutal and violent crime.
Jerry Howard’s father said his daughter was the one who told him she saw a picture of her brother on a flyer.
“She was like, ‘Dad,’ and I said, ‘What’s going on?’ She was crying when she said, ‘That’s Jerry.’ I was like, ‘What?’ Again, she said, ‘That’s Jerry.’ After that, I just broke down and started crying. I couldn’t believe that it was my son who did this,” Howard said.