On August 2, 1974, Marjorie Evelyn Wyatt Howie, a 49-year-old white woman residing in Atlantic Beach, Florida, was found murdered in her home. She had been strangled with a nylon stocking, and her television set was stolen. The crime was attributed to Paul John Knowles, a serial killer known as "The Casanova Killer," who was responsible for a series of murders across multiple states during 1974.
Marjorie Howie was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and had lived in the Beaches area of Florida for 21 years after relocating from Richmond, Virginia. She was an active member of the St. Johns Catholic Church in Atlantic Beach and the American Association of University Women. At the time of her death, she was survived by her husband, Samuel T. Howie; two daughters, Mrs. Ann Hankinson of Venice, Florida, and Mrs. Jean Stoll of Neptune Beach, Florida; a brother, Thomas O. Wyatt; and two grandchildren.
The investigation into her murder revealed that Knowles had taken guns belonging to Marjorie's husband and a television, which was later used to link him to the crime. Family members noted that, despite having her hands tied behind her back, Marjorie managed to remove her wedding rings and hide them in the shag carpet, an act interpreted as a final attempt to protect her valuables.
Paul John Knowles was eventually apprehended in November 1974. While being transported by law enforcement in December 1974, he attempted to escape and was shot and killed by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent.
Marjorie Howie's death was one of several committed by Knowles during his cross-country crime spree. Her murder, like many others, was marked by sudden violence and theft, leaving a lasting impact on her community and family.
