In the quiet community of Ammon, Idaho, a tragedy unfolded on September 28, 2020, forever altering the lives of those who knew and loved Larry H. Powell. A Caucasian male, at 68 years of age, Larry was a man known for his kindness, his willingness to lend a hand, and his love for his family and neighbors. He was a retired State of Idaho employee, a husband, father, and grandfather who found joy in simple pleasures like hunting, fishing, and riding his motorcycle.
His life, however, came to a violent and unexpected end within the walls of his own home.
The initial call to 911 painted a frantic scene: a man in a tan hoodie had shot Larry and fled. When Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the South Ammon Road residence, they found Larry deceased. The investigation quickly led them to two teenagers, Westley Jonathon Hightower and Daniel J. Wood. Hightower, who was the adopted son of Larry's wife, initially claimed the shooting was an accident. However, the narrative soon unraveled to reveal a premeditated plot.
As investigators delved deeper, a chilling story of manipulation and malice emerged. Hightower had enlisted the help of Wood, a homeless teen he had met only days prior, to carry out the murder. The motive, as Wood would later tell detectives, was a promise of money and a place to live at the Powell residence if he helped murder not only Larry but his wife as well. The two had even attempted to poison Larry in the days leading up to the shooting. On the day of the murder, Wood's role was to distract Larry while Hightower delivered the fatal shot.
The wheels of justice began to turn for the two young men. Westley Jonathon Hightower, who was just a day shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. His defense attorney noted concerns about his client's cognitive abilities, citing a fourth-grade reading level. Daniel J. Wood also pleaded guilty to his role in the murder, admitting to coercing and assisting Hightower in the act. He was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. For his part in the murder of his stepfather, Westley Hightower also faced a lengthy prison sentence, bringing a somber conclusion to a case that began with a senseless act of violence and ended with the shattering of a family.
