Halfway through their studies at the University of Idaho, the students had decided to move off campus and into a share house. WARNING: Some readers might find the details in this story distressing Jury deliberations began after more than a week of testimony but the panel couldn’t agree on a verdict and the trial ended in a mistrial.The five young women at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, were living the kind of lives Americans kids can't wait to begin.

Hunter also brought Birchum’s criminal record and when questioned about it he began to plead the fifth.

The trial took a turn when Mandadi’s ex-boyfriend Jeff Birchum took the stand.ĭuring his cross-examination, Hunter challenged Birchum’s account of events that he claimed to see at the Mala Luna Festival.īirchum did confirm that what he initially told police was different than testimony he gave to a grand jury and the testimony he was currently giving. Howerton’s attorney, John Hunter, claimed there were mistakes made in the investigation and that the bruising she had was not from Howerton but from hospital staff as they rendered life-saving measures such as CPR. In 2019, Howerton’s trial began, and at first many thought it would be an open and shut case, but it didn’t turn out that way. The investigation into her death revealed that the couple had a tumultuous relationship and that Mandadi had told friends she was scared of Howerton and wanted to break up with him.įour months after her death, Howerton was charged with murder. It was ruled she died from blunt force trauma to the head. Mandadi was declared brain dead and died two days later.Īn autopsy report stated the only parts of Mandadi’s body without injury were her back and the back of her legs.

He said after noticing she wasn’t breathing he drove to the nearest hospital, which was in Lockhart.Īccording to reports at the time of the incident, Mandadi arrived at the hospital nude from the waist down and was covered in bruises. Howerton said Mandadi passed out after complaining of not feeling well. He said they made up as they were driving out of town toward Houston and stopped at a gas station to have what he called “rough sex.” Howerton told police that the two had been arguing about her ex-boyfriend and left the festival.

The sleeping murders