Trial Delayed for Missouri Man Accused of Killing His Mother

The trial date for a southeast Missouri man accused of killing his mother has been pushed back.

Neil Howland was in court Tuesday. The Southeast Missourian reports that New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland rescheduled the jury trial to Dec. 10.

Howland is charged with four felonies, including first-degree murder, in the August 2013 death of his mother, Cynthia Canoy of Scott City.

Authorities say Howland strangled his mother and set fire to her car with the body in it. He also faces animal abuse charges for allegedly putting two of her pet dogs in the car before setting it on fire.

Crews responding to a call about a car fire found Canoy's body. An autopsy revealed she was dead before the fire began.