Listener, in this episode of Obscura, we examine a harrowing 9-1-1 call from a Detroit police sergeant determined to end his life by “suicide by cop.” The tragic standoff unfolds with raw dispatch audio, revealing how a degenerative illness and mounting despair lead to a violent confrontation that injures two officers and ends in a fatal shooting. Join us as we shine a light on the darkness within these tapes—exploring the heartbreak, the high stakes, and the haunting aftermath for everyone involved.

On February 4, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., an individual called 911 to report a woman with two children walking in the middle of Alta Sierra Drive, near Gibboney Lane. The caller reported that as she was driving out of her street, she saw a loose dog as well as a woman with two kids. The caller indicated she asked the woman if it was her dog and “she was really weird about it”.

A property manager spots two teens entering the Park De Ville Apartments. This area of Houston is considered particularly dangerous. It has a crime safety score of F. The stretch of road includes a payday loan business, a run-down self-serve car wash, and you can see the garbage strewn sidewalks from google maps. The Property manager calls 911 to report the break in and Officers are dispatched.

In this episode of Obscura, we examine the tense chain of events that began with a routine traffic stop and ended with a fatal confrontation. On May 12, 2020, 37-year-old Gregory M. Howe, already on law enforcement’s radar following a concealed firearm charge earlier that month, was pulled over for a seatbelt violation. A sudden attempt to flee kicked off a high-speed chase through Daytona Beach, Orange City, and Deltona, ultimately ending in Howe’s driveway. There, he leveled a multi-colored shotgun at a detective and fired, prompting several officers to return fire. Howe was struck multiple times—around 28 by some reports—and pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind lingering questions and a sobering reminder of how a single traffic stop can escalate into tragedy.

Listener, I want to warn you that this episode gets really, really disgusting at certain points. But not quite dark enough to be Black Label. When I research for an episode, I like to follow information to its natural conclusions. Sometimes this can take you to some disturbing places. Understand that going into this episode. Things are going to get pretty gross at points. You’ve been warned.

On December 17, 2015, around 4:00 am, firefighters responded to a house fire on Sumac Street in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Once there, they found the body of a man in the house and contacted police. These charred remains. So damaged from burns and stab wounds. The victim's mother would run screaming from a courtroom at the first site of the autopsy photos three years later.

On December 17, 2015, around 4:00 am, firefighters responded to a house fire on Sumac Street in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Once there, they found the body of a man in the house and contacted police. These charred remains. So damaged from burns and stab wounds. The victim's mother would run screaming from a courtroom at the first site of the autopsy photos three years later.

On December 17, 2015, around 4:00 am, firefighters responded to a house fire on Sumac Street in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Once there, they found the body of a man in the house and contacted police. These charred remains. So damaged from burns and stab wounds. The victim's mother would run screaming from a courtroom at the first site of the autopsy photos three years later.