Hi my name is Noella Howard. My son Marchello Howard was struck and killed by a drunk hit and run driver on Oct 1, 2004. You have a picture and a link to his page on the daily victims name page....however I would like it if you could add his picture to the memorial page...He is truly loved and missed by his family and all of his friends. He was an awesome young man. The guy who hit him is still awaiting trial...his date is set for Feb 22 2005.

In a follow-up letter, Noella wrote what so many have agonized. "I pray every night that these monsters stop their senseless acts....drunk, sober or whatever....I ask myself WHY? Why don't they stop......these are people that they are killing...but most of all innocent children. I love and miss my son so much. My heart breaks daily....as does the rest of my family and community."

(Noella - you honor us by sharing this photo of your beautiful child. Visitors - please save our children by not drinking and driving!!)

For a website devoted to Marchello, please visit Remembering Marchello Howard

I have an update for you. On Tues May 2nd, Theodore Mathew Morris III, pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence, and felony hit and run. He will be sentenced on June 14th, 2005 to 15 years 8 months to life. He will be elgible for parole in 7 years 10 months, and depending on his conduct in prison, he may not ever get out.
I feel a little safer for the time being, knowing that this type of person is off the streets. Let's just hope that other people open their eyes to the darkness of drinking and driving, and end this senseless act.
Noella Howard

Teenager was struck while walking home from football game
By Ray Huard
San Diego Union-Tribune Staff Writer
June 15, 2005

Photo by Peggy Peattie (picture and article copyright of San Diego Union Tribune)

EL CAJON – The mother of a 14-year-old Spring Valley boy killed by a drunken driver in October looked at the man who ran down her son and said he was "every bit of darkness and every monster" her children ever feared.

"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the image of seeing my son's lifeless body laying on the cold ground while the emergency response team did everything they could possibly do to bring my baby back to life," Noella Howard told a Superior Court judge yesterday.

Letia Howard (right) was joined by her boyfriend, Steve Gonzales, and cousin Jocelyn Howard yesterday at the sentencing of Theodore Matthew Morris III, who killed her teenage brother in a hit-and-run crash Oct. 1.

Sobbing during much of her testimony, Howard recalled the last minutes she spent at the hospital with her son, Marchello Howard.

"I did not want to leave his side because I knew that it was going to be the last time I would see my son's beautiful face."

Minutes later, Judge Herbert J. Exarhos sentenced 30-year-old Theodore Matthew Morris III to a prison term of 15 years, eight months to life for the Oct. 1 hit-and-run death of the boy.

"Every parent's nightmare came true for this family Oct. 1 of last year," the judge said.

Prosecutor Joe McLaughlin said, "I don't think there is any sentence that will truly reflect justice in this particular case."

The judge said "in my years on the bench, I've seen way too many of these" drunken driving cases.

As a judge, Exarhos said, he can't stop people from getting drunk.

Theodore Morris was sentenced yesterday to 15 years, eight months to life in prison for the Oct. 1 hit-and-run death of Marchello Howard.

"All I ask is they don't drive, stay out of the car, stay off my roads," Exarhos said. ....

(Letter to this site)
I am just thankful that the hard part is over. Now my family and I can move on with our lives, and begin healing this wound that this man has opened up....We were the wound....he was the salt. Now we are in the process of closing that wound....Thank you for your wonderful site. May god Bless you and everyone who has any reason to visit this site. Hopefully they are not a victim.
Thank you
Noella Howard