Do you know who murdered Stanley Howard in 1986? On June 22, 1986, Stanley Howard, age 49, was stabbed to death while he slept in his residence in Merced, California. The attack occurred in the early morning while Howard was in bed with his wife; their ten-year-old daughter was asleep in the next room. The killer entered the home, retrieved a knife from the kitchen, and proceeded to attack Howard, who managed to struggle briefly and chase the assailant before succumbing to his injuries.
Despite various investigative efforts, the identity of Howard's killer remains unknown and the case is still unsolved.
Howard's death left a significant impact on his family, particularly his daughter, Rachel Howard, who later wrote a memoir titled "The Lost Night." In her book, she explores her father's personality, their complicated relationship, and her efforts to reconcile with his loss and the trauma of that fateful night. The memoir provides insight into the emotional aftermath of such violence and depicts the complexities of grieving and attempting to understand the past in the context of rural California in the 1980s. Despite extensive coverage in her memoir and investigative efforts by authorities, no clear answers have emerged regarding the motive or perpetrator of Howard's murder. The case remains an unsolved tragedy in Merced's history..
