I got a letter from a guy who says a woman listed on Charley, Dawnia Howard, is his ex-wife. They divorced back in the seventies and he Googled her name to see if he could find a Facebook page or something for her, see what she’d been up to all this time. He found out she’d been missing for the past 25 years, probably killed by another ex-husband.
Nasty shock it was for him.
The suspect, Richard Clinton Howard, subsequently wedded, bedded and murdered another wife, Cora. He is in prison for her murder, but I just learned that he’d up in parole in January. After ten lousy years. I hope the parole board realizes he’s the prime suspect in Dawnia’s case as well.
The Charley Project Blog 
Wow!!! Poor guy – what a way to find out about your ex.
newsok.com has an article over missing Jimmy Don Robinson
A pretty vile murder, if I remember correctly. On the other hand, they had no common friends/family back in the day who could have told him this and saved him that particular grief? Goodness.
live5news.com has an article about Brittannee Drexel apparently new ifo has surfaced along with more persons of interest in her diappearance.
Don’t you get tired of ex husbands/boyfriends killing the women?? Sooo sad for these women. Seems like they are killed when leaving the abusive life….seems like there is no end to this sad situation.
I agree with you totally. However, I’ve said before (somewhere else) and I will say it again…how many women (young, or otherwise) have to die before we GET it? Total frustration. Don’t go off with someone, don’t get involved/have children with someone, etc, that is abusive!!! I’ve been there and got out before I got dead (excuse the language). Learn, and live to tell others.
Unfortunately the abuser rarely if ever shows his true colors right away. It often comes on gradually, while at the same time he isolates the victim from her sources of support, until she feels completely alone and without resources besides her snake of a husband/boyfriend.
It seems to me that the blame is the abuser’s, not the victim’s. In fact, the majority of such victims that are killed, are killed AFTER they finally decide to leave him for good.
I read an interview with Margaret Cho recently where she said she had googled the name of this guy she worked with years ago and had a huge crush on at the time. She found out he had gone to jail for murdering his wife. Um… scary. Also would make me worry about my taste in men, if I were her.
Sounds like something she used in her stand-up comedy routine.
Just a couple of months ago at a weekend BBQ, I saw a female friend (Brenda) from high school who was visiting. She was saying that she was wondering what ever happened to a boyfriend of hers from her teenage years (named William Rush Pennington). We checked facebook and couldn’t find him.
Later, when I got home, I googled the name “William Rush Pennington”, and found that in Dec 08, he had been murdered in an assisted living facility in Adelanto CA. He was stabbed multiple times by a fellow resident. I am sure it is the same guy because his age indicated was consistent with the WRP that we knew.
Needless to say, Brenda was shocked by that news.
I am not trying to blame any victim. A victim is a victim. I just think sometimes, we as women could be smarter, that’s all. It is a never ending cycle that drives me nuts, but I really don’t understand why people put up with it.
She was taken from the home in the middle of the night. A little bit of information that seems to be forgotten.
I am Dawnia’s Daughter and would be interested in talking to this “ex-boyfriend”…
Would you like me to write him with your contact info?
I am now offering a 10k reward leading to an arrest and conviction in my mother’s case. Contact is 4099268393.
Stormy I think the person that you are wanting to talk to you already know. He helped you get a job in the industry you are in now. I’m not going to expose his name here, but you can call me if you’re not sure who it is and I’ll tell you.
I am Dawnia’ son, I was there in this disappearence, and as of today there are no new leads, any new information, or if anyone just wants the straight story on this case they can contact me between four and five PM central time at 918-253-7890. Due to the amount of interest in this case this number will only be kept active for a short period of time, and needless to say it does not reference back to my home address, so dont even try.
Really, I’ve been waiting decades…..Shawn
I’m very very sorry for your pain. I’m Cora Jeans 1/2 sister- Erin My Mother Sue was Cora’s biological Mother. I do feel your pain- We search for years for Cora- we are very grateful Rick finally confessed to murdering her- so at least we couldn’t give her a place to rest – Cora Jean was a beautiful person/sister. I think & believe as we always have Rick knows what happened to your Mother- I think he’s the person you need to talk too.
Yes … Thank you
I am Dawnia’s youngest sister. My nephew, niece, sister and I have been waiting 3 decades to know more than speculation on what happened that night so many years ago. This is still considered a cold case file. To John Doe- your menacing threats to Shawn are considered threats to myself as well. If you actually have information or know something- please do tell. I too have been waiting to hear…….. Kathleen
Once again any new leads please feel free to call me. To those that feel they need to place threats or things of the such I’ll make it a little easier on you. Please feel free to mail any corrspondence to my home address. Shawn L Volkmann 49163 County Road 642, Jay Oklahoma 74346. Phone number 918-527-5496. This is a perm address and I live in the middle of nowhere.If it needs to be any easier I will provide the blueprints to my home the access codes to the security system and a full description of all my trucks, all the way down to the tag numbers. I am growing tired of waiting for someone, I know who made the threat so lets dance.
glad to see these are monitored now. Please allow this to print.
They’ve always been monitored. After the threat I actually called the cops myself but couldn’t reach anyone who seemed to care.
Seems that people forget that the surviors of crimes like this suffer every day of their lives. Not one day has gone by in 30 years that this hasn’t crossed my mind. It’s actually enough to drive one insane if it contenues long enough. I have a current ip address on my threat and know who is responsible and will soon take care of it.
Is there any way to remove the threats posted? I don’t like seeing this when I access this site, not to mention it may help bring this person who likes to talk big out into the open.
I can remove it. I allowed it to go up in the first place because I wanted you to be aware that someone was threatening you. I’ll take it down now.
I went to High school with Jodie. She would come over to visit me with her baby Shawn. The love she had for her children was incredible. I remember her happy that she was to marry. She broke it off hands down because the groom took Shawn for a haircut. I still believe that Richard Clinton Howard has something to with Jodie’s death & disappearance. He killed Cora and got caught. To this day there has been no justice for Jodie and her children Shawn and Stormy.
Funny thing there crickett, I remember you
I am Dawnia Jo’s (Dodie) ex #2 that found out about this case via my google in an attempt to locate her and saw the shocking news as to her disappearance and possible murder by her ex # 3 Howard being the prime suspect. I want this case reopened and brought to a successful conclusion and bring closure to her family, especially her children, Shawn and Stormy. I married Dodie back when Shawn was about 2 years old. We were only married about 8 months. I am both saddened and angry that this case is still, after all this time, a cold case. She was not deserving of this at all, nor her family having to deal with this for all these years.
I agree-
I am Cora Jean’s youngest half sister. Yes! I do so hope someone reopens this case in Texas. I know he killed his first wife. I’m sorry you had to learn of her death that way. I hope they can find more proof & put him away or to death before he does this again. I miss her so much & think of her every day. It was very very hard on our Mother. I have all of her personal or what was left after Rick destroyed/burned most of her belongings) a photo album of her friends family . Just a few things our Mother-Sue grabbed from her home right after Cora went missing..we buried her ashes on our farm in Mich. alongside her brother Billy- as was her wish. I’m sorry for your loss- She is at rest among angles now…
Erin, Thank you. Dawnia Jo did not deserve to parish at Howard’s hand as he told his brother he had. It is my prayer that he remain behind bars the remainder of his life there in Michigan at the very least. The San Antonio Police Dept. (Texas) was unable to prove the case against him at the time and it is a cold case with them and she is still considered a missing person. No remains were ever found. Although he confessed to his brother he had killed and dismembered her body, the investigators could not find any evidence to confirm the confession. So he was freed. I am truly sorry for your loss. Had he been convicted of murdering Dawnia Jo he wouldn’t have been able to murder again in Michigan.
I am Cora Jean’s youngest half sister. Yes! I do so hope someone reopens this case in Texas. I know he killed his first wife. I’m sorry you had to learn of her death that way. I hope they can find more proof & put him away or to death before he does this again. I miss her so much & think of her every day. It was very very hard on our Mother. I have all of her personal or what was left after Rick destroyed/burned most of her belongings) a photo album of her friends family . Just a few things our Mother-Sue grabbed from her home right after Cora went missing..we buried her ashes on our farm in Mich. alongside her brother Billy- as was her wish. I’m sorry for your loss- She is at rest among angles now… Rick is living in San Antonio now..as of Jan anyway.
I knew Dodie from when she was a little girl up until she was murdered. I am sure it was murder there is no other explanation. I cannot believe that Rick has gotten away with this for so long. Even more i cannot believe he killed his 2nd wife and is now back in San Antonio with a FB page.
She was a sweet girl. Shawn has had to deal with this more than anyone as he was about 12 yrs old or so and was not treated fairly afterwards.
Stormy I have not seen you since you were a baby but it cannot be easy for you knowing your father could do such things.
I wish this would get resolved.
Barbara Finger, are you saying Howard was released from Michigan State Prison? That he was paroled and back in San Antonio? He even has a Face Book page?
Yes, he is back in San Antonio. And he lives protected by his daughter Stormy.
I am sorry to hear that, but understandable, Stormy is protecting her father. When we talked she said she tended to believe his side that he had nothing to do with Dawnia’s disappearance. She was only a baby at the time and for some unknown reason after her disappearance instead of Dawnia’s blood family taking Stormy and her brother in, they were cared for by Howard’s family. I found that strange. At the time I knew Dawnia Jo she and her family were pretty tight with one another. Her grandmother was the patriarch of the family. In fact, it was her grandmother who had to give her blessing for us to marry at the time. There are quite a few things about Dawnia’s family that Shawn has told me about his mother’s family that warrant further investigation.
I just wanted to mention that after twenty five years I have returned to Texas. I hate that i am here. I hate that law enforcement won’t do their jobs. I hate that I live with this. Seems like society has taught me to hate.
I am sorry for how you feel Shawn. I am the guy who was married to your mom before this Howard fella was. You were still a very little boy then and I doubt you would even remember me. But I do want you to know that I am pushing for her case to be taking out of the cold case files and reopened. If not by the city P.D., who currently have the case, the County Sheriff’s Dept.’s Homicide. This Howard needs to pay for his actions. Had he been able to be prosecuted back then he wouldn’t have been free to kill again with his next wife up in Michigan. Unfortunately the only thing they had back then on the case was his confession he made to his brother (hearsay evidence). They were never able to prove any physical evidence that would match this confession hearsay to be able to nail Howard for it. So he was released only to marry and murder again. If there’s anything I can do for you let me know.
Shawn- I’m so sorry for your loss and do know a little of your feelings of hate for Howard.. I am Cora Jean’s (Howard’s 2nd wife in Mich. who he murdered) sister. I’ve always known he was to blame for your Mothers death. He does have to pay and you need to find some kind of peace. Please don’t let your hate destroy you. Then Howard has won. He will have to pay/answer for what he has done to my sister and your mother one day..and that hell will be worse then anything we can do to him on this earth. I do hope and pray they reopen her case soon .. before he does this again to another victim/family.. Keeping you and your family in prayer & thought.. Sincerely, Erin
Sent from my iPhone
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Here’s something interesting, everyone was wearing baby blue tuxes. How’s that for memory cowboy?
There is a bit of incorrect information here Stormy was taken by the howards, I was put into a group home for the remainer of my childhood while the estate was raided by other family members
Baby Blue Tuxs? Sounds like our wedding. You remember that Shawn? Wow! Wish I had the pics of our wedding. Mine got lost in Hurricane Rita.
My family has a lot of info on this case. I know for a fact Richard’s children are involved in making sure no one solves Dawnia’s case. As sad as it sounds I think her children are involved in his cover up and getting him out of prison. Not that I blame them. They were so young when she went missing and Dawnia’s family had nothing to to do with finding her or taking care of her children, where Richard’s was.
Yes..sadly he can be very convincing.. I believe he has them convinced he had nothing to do with their Mothers death for many years now. He is a very sick person. I’m a firm believer in what comes around comes back around.. & he’ll get what’s coming to him some day.
I just hope it’s not at the expense of other persons life.
I can not believe the State of Michigan let this killer out to have the chance to kill again! The one thing about murder though is that there’s no statute of limitations on it. In this case, Dawnia’s case needs to be reopened, especially now that Howard has returned to Bexar County. the only way for there to be a true closure as to Dawnia Jo’s death is that the one responsible be finally brought to justice for it!
This is not true please contact me 4093325475
Strange…they were all wearing baby blue tuxes when Rick married my sister
Cora Jean…my brother Billy stood up with Rick..he died shortly after they were married in a fire. That was when I meet Cora Jean for the first time in my
life in the hospital in Kalamazoo,Mich.
I was a sophomore in HS but, I remember when I met Rick for the first
time there was something about him I
didn’t trust..He is the devil in disguise.
He told Cora that Dawnia was a drug addic and was high on cocaine and neglected her children and no one cared that she was missing or even
If she was dead. I remember him saying to my mother that her family was glad she was gone/dead. He is a cold SOB. A jeckel & hede. He killed all of Coras houses and her beloved animals though
her body down first then threw her horses and the rest of her animals on top of her and concreted them in. He would just sit on top of his wood pile while police searched and searched for Cora and had this sick look on his face and would laugh this evil laugh… he did this over & over…you tell me he’s not a sick sick – SOB..
I meant horses)
Also Rick (while Cora’s body laid
A few hundred feet from him.)
Slept each night in a coffin in his garage. Cora Jean bought that farm from her Mother who
raised her & after Rick was in prison he got ahold of a crooked lawyer and sold the farm illegally.. luckily my mother & Cora’s real father found out.. & my Mother gave the $ to him. He’s the low of the lowest..
My mother was good friends with Dodie’s grandmother. I knew Dodie since she was about 4.
I was at her wedding to Rick and I think her 2nd narriage. Her grandmother had died by the time this happened. Rick stayed in the house her grandmother left her until her dad cane and ran him off. He toik the baby with him.
Billy Joe (her dad) was not in their life. I only met him once and I was pretty young. Her grandmother would have kept the kids if she could have. I know nothing about her mother
BUT I moved from San Antonio to Llano, Texas. Guess who lives here. That’s right Rick Howard and Stormy is here too.
Both Rick and Dodie were using speed. Rick was dealing it.
I never saw her neglect or abuse her children. Her house was always clean and neat.
I was told he took the baby to Michigan. Obviously she ended up back in SA. Probably when he went to prison
I am convinced he did it and so is most everyone else that was around back then. I hope I never run into him here but there are only 3300 people here so I may already have
Justice for Dawnia!