INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A Kansas City man is currently facing second-degree murder charges for the tragic death of his ex-girlfriend back in September of 2023. The man, identified as Charles Smith-Howell, was initially considered a person of interest in the case when his ex-girlfriend, Ebony Duncan, first went missing and was later discovered deceased.
Following a thorough investigation, Smith-Howell is now being formally charged with the murder of Duncan, alongside multiple additional charges such as tampering with evidence, armed criminal action, abandoning a corpse, and unlawful use of a weapon. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office officially filed these charges on July 17, based on compelling evidence connecting Smith-Howell to the crime scene.
Court documents unveiled that DNA evidence linked Smith-Howell to Duncan’s murder, as blood found inside a vehicle he was operating was positively identified as belonging to her. Moreover, cell phone records established that the two individuals were together on the day Duncan went missing, adding to the mounting evidence against Smith-Howell in the case.
Duncan was last seen leaving her workplace at Sunterra Springs, a nursing home in Independence, around 6 p.m. on September 6. Surveillance footage captured her conversing on her phone and subsequently entering a silver Chrysler 200, which drove off, marking the last known sightings of Duncan before she disappeared.
As suspicions surrounding Smith-Howell intensified, co-workers and family members revealed crucial details to investigators. Reports indicated heated arguments between Duncan and Smith-Howell, with concerns raised about his behavior and alleged threats towards her safety. The discovery of Duncan’s body in a wooded area later in October further solidified the case against Smith-Howell.
Authorities meticulously tracked phone records and movements of both individuals, uncovering a trail of evidence that led investigators closer to solving the mystery behind Duncan’s tragic fate. Smith-Howell’s actions, interactions, and connections with Duncan were scrutinized, piecing together a timeline of events that implicated him in her murder.
With the case unfolding further, new revelations emerged — shedding light on the events leading up to Duncan’s death and the subsequent cover-up attempts. Smith-Howell’s girlfriend at the time also provided crucial insights, corroborating key details and implicating him in the crime, thus strengthening the prosecution’s case against the accused. The intricate web of evidence, testimonies, and forensic findings painted a somber picture of a relationship gone awry and a life cut short by senseless violence.
As Smith-Howell remains in custody at the Caldwell County Detention Center, awaiting trial for the grave charges leveled against him, the community grapples with the repercussions of this tragic loss and the pursuit of justice for Ebony Duncan.