Gary, Indiana – The family of Breanna Howell is grappling with an unimaginable loss and a desperate need for answers after the young woman was found dead on the morning of March 19, 2025, at the Willows Apartments on Clark Road. For Howell’s loved ones, the tragedy is compounded by a haunting silence from the last person known to have seen her alive, leaving them to piece together the final moments of her life while pleading for justice.
Myonnha Prince, Breanna’s sister, recounted the last time Howell was seen alive with a heavy heart. She explained that their brother had dropped Breanna off at the apartment of Jaequan Washington, a man she had been spending time with, on the evening of March 18. It was a routine drop-off, with no indication of the horror that would unfold hours later. The next morning, at around 8:00 a.m., the family’s world shattered when they received a call informing them that Breanna’s lifeless body had been discovered. The news was a gut punch, the kind that leaves a permanent mark on those left behind.
Speaking to Channel2 NOW, Prince shared the family’s frustration and growing suspicion as they tried to make sense of the situation. She revealed that after Howell’s death, Washington cut off all contact with the family. Phone calls went unanswered, text messages were ignored, and, in a move that struck the family as particularly callous, Washington allegedly scrubbed his social media accounts of any trace of Howell—photos, posts, anything that tied them together. To the family, this sudden disappearance, both physical and digital, only deepened their belief that something sinister had occurred.
While the Gary Police Department has not released an official cause of death, pending the results of an autopsy, the Howell family is convinced that Breanna endured a brutal end. Prince described a chilling detail: the last photo they have of Breanna, taken before her death, showed unmistakable signs of violence. Her lip was busted, her face swollen, and there was evidence of a head injury. These injuries, Prince said, were a prelude to the fatal wounds that followed—two gunshots, one to the back and one to the chest. “We don’t know exactly what happened that night,” Prince said, her voice steady but laced with pain, “but we do know that my sister was beaten before she was shot and killed. Now, we just want justice for Breanna.”
The family’s anguish is palpable as they navigate this nightmare. They have reached out repeatedly to Washington and his relatives, hoping for an explanation or, at the very least, a willingness to cooperate with authorities. Their pleas have been met with silence. They have publicly urged Washington to turn himself in, to provide clarity in a case that has left them with more questions than answers. For now, the investigation remains active, but police have not yet named Washington as a suspect, leaving the family in a agonizing limbo as they await official updates.
Breanna Howell’s death has sent ripples through the tight-knit community of Gary, a city no stranger to hardship but fiercely protective of its own. The Willows Apartments, a modest complex on Clark Road, has become the focal point of a tragedy that has sparked conversations about safety, trust, and the fragility of life. Residents have expressed shock at the incident, with some recalling Howell as a familiar face in the area, known for her quiet demeanor and warm smile. Her loss has left a void, not just for her family but for those who knew her in passing.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working to determine the sequence of events that led to Howell’s death. Detectives have been canvassing the apartment complex, speaking with neighbors, and reviewing any available surveillance footage that might shed light on that fateful night. The process is meticulous, but for Howell’s family, it feels agonizingly slow. They are holding onto the hope that someone—whether Washington or a witness—will come forward with information that could bring closure.
The Howell family has made a public appeal for anyone with knowledge of the incident to step up. They are urging the community to contact the Gary Police Department with even the smallest detail that might help. In a city where trust in institutions can sometimes waver, this case has become a rallying cry for collective action, a plea for justice that transcends the personal and speaks to a broader need for accountability.
For Myonnha Prince and her relatives, the days since Breanna’s death have been a blur of grief and determination. They are committed to keeping her memory alive, to ensuring that her story does not fade into the background noise of a busy news cycle. Breanna was more than a victim, they say—a sister, a daughter, a person with dreams and a future that was stolen from her. As they wait for answers, they cling to one unwavering goal: justice for Breanna, no matter how long it takes.