On December 25, 2017, the body of Howard Neal Cannon was discovered in Red Bank, Tennessee. The circumstances surrounding his death left him unclaimed, and efforts to identify next of kin initially proved unsuccessful. With a NamUs ID of UCP4896, Howard Neal Cannon became a case of interest as authorities sought to connect the dots of his life and death.
Howard was born to parents Hilda Spriggs Cannon and Gerald Neal Cannon, both of whom passed away before him. Hilda died on March 9, 1998, and Gerald on June 8, 2000. With no known siblings, Howard found himself without immediate family ties, complicating efforts by the authorities to locate any next of kin. Eventually, he was approved for a VA burial due to his eligibility, which afforded him the dignity of a final resting place at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is laid to rest among fellow veterans.
Despite the challenges in tracing Howard's kinship connections, the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office handled the case. With agency case number RW17-306, the office continued its efforts to discover any connections that might provide closure or details about Howard's life leading up to his untimely demise. Although his direct next of kin were never located, the medical examiner's office remained a dedicated agency ensuring that Howard Neal Cannon was given a proper and respectful interment.
Date Found: 12/25/2017
