Broyles Avenue remains have been officially identified

There is now confirmation of the identity of the remains found on a property off Broyles Avenue.

The McCracken County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that those remains found back in December of 2025 belong to Dillard Howery, the father of David Howery, who once lived on that Broyles Avenue property. Coroner Amanda Melton said on Tuesday that after what was described as extensive forensic analysis, including the use of DNA testing, a positive identification was made on the skeletal remains.

The elder Howery had been missing since 2015, according to the investigation, but the sheriff's office said that no missing persons report was ever filed.

A forensic pathology team from the University of Tennessee came to Paducah to recover the remains. Sheriff Ryan Norman told West Kentucky Star at the time that they were confident enough that it was the elder Howery that prosecutors issued charges for the younger Howery.

Detectives had been following up on the investigation of David Howery in relation to an animal cruelty case. Child sexual abuse material was also allegedly located on Howery’s phone.

In addition to the charges of abuse of a corpse and failure to notify of a death, Howery was served with charges of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. The warrants were served at the McCracken County Regional Jail, as Howery has been in custody since April of 2025.

Norman indicated that there could be federal charges relating to the concealment of Dillard Howery’s death due to possible benefits fraud.

While no more information is being released, the circumstances of Howery’s death are still under investigation. A graveside service with military honors is being planned for Dillard Howery, and the public will be invited to attend.