Michael Ball of Kitchener named as sole suspect in Howlett murder investigation
Posted Nov 21, 2013 10:46:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Waterloo Regional Police have charged Michael Ball, 22, of Kitchener in connection with the murder of Erin Howlett, 28, from Elmira.
Ball is charged with first-degree murder and indignity to a human body and is additionally charged with 34 unrelated criminal offences involving firearms, weapons and controlled substances.
Police say no further arrests are anticipated in the investigation.
With little emotion on his face, 22-year-old Michael Ball appeared before a judge on Thursday afternoon with a plaid shirt and light blue jeans. He waved having his charges read and was only in the courtroom for about 10 minutes.
Dane Howlett was one of the many members of Erin’s family that filled the courtroom.
He says this was a rough day for anyone who cared about Erin – especially when seeing Ball.
He felt, “a little bit of anger, and a little bit of despair at the same time because it makes things just that much more real.”
He tells 570 News, on multiple occasions he dropped Erin off at Ball’s house – which is the residence on Chestnut Street in Kitchener that police gathered pieces of large furniture from for forensic analysis. Dane says, all the turns in the investigation have been surprising.
“Someone like myself and my family, we don’t really see people in an automatic light of judgement…you don’t really think anybody is capable of things like this.”
Dane says he is unaware of what Erin’s relationship with Ball was like but that Erin wanted him to meet her brother.
He shares what the next steps for the Howlett family will be.
“We stick together and we get each other through these difficult times. It’s gunna be a long haul, we’ll do the best we can to support the process and stick with it.”
Dane adds, he and his family are extremely grateful for all the work from Regional Police throughout the ongoing investigation.
“We’re pleased that the case is moving forward, and we’re really pleased with the police and how they’ve conducted everything and treated our family. It’s been as good of an experience as it could be considering the circumstances.”
Michael Ball heads back to court November 26th for a bail hearing.
Howlett’s body was discovered in the Grand River near Riverbend Drive in Kitchener on July 5th.
Investigators will now focus their efforts toward working with Crown prosecutors and the forthcoming judicial process, while still welcoming any additional information from the public.
Homicide detectives can be reached at 519- 650-8500 ext. 8767 and anyone wanting to leave a tip anonymously may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Media scrum with Erin’s brother, Dane Howlett
