Robert Howard, 30, of Memphis was reported missing by his girlfriend on January 6, 2021. Investigators identified on-duty Memphis police officer Patric Ferguson, 29, as a person of interest after learning Howard had been dating Ferguson’s ex-girlfriend. Howard’s body was recovered from the Wolf River on January 10 after it was reportedly weighted with cinder blocks, chains and padlocks.

Ferguson was fired from the police department and arrested along with 28-year-old Joshua Rogers. Ferguson faced state charges including first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, and evidence tampering; a federal indictment added civil rights, kidnapping and weapons counts. Rogers was charged with being an accessory after the fact, abuse of a corpse and fabricating evidence. The case devastated the community and the victim’s family, who described Howard as a peaceful and loving father.

If anyone knew Robert Howard, his routines, or saw a squad car in the Mark Twain Street area on January 6, 2021, please come forward with information.