Also, coroner confirms accidental construction fatality

This article is brought to you by Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region.

On Friday, October 3, 2025 at approximately 1:06 p.m., the Howard County Coroner was dispatched to St. Vincent Hospital Emergency Department, Kokomo, regarding a death investigation of an inmate from the Howard County Jail. The inmate, identified as Allen Ray Booher, age 68, of Kokomo, had been transported by Correctional Officers after experiencing difficulty breathing.

An autopsy was performed on October 6, 2025, by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary cause of death is complications of neoplasm of the lungs as well as post-obstructive pneumonia. Final determination is pending toxicology and lab results. Foul play is not suspected.

This case remains under investigation by the Howard County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Howard County Coroner’s Office.

Coroner confirms accidental construction fatality

On Monday October 6, 2025, at approximately 3:32 p.m., the Howard County Coroner was dispatched to 400 E 00 NS (State Road 22), Kokomo, regarding a construction worker that died in a crash involving a school bus and another vehicle.

The decedent has been positively identified as Aaron Macias Esparza, a 31-year-old male from Logansport, Indiana. An autopsy was performed on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary cause of death is multiple blunt force injuries. The manner of death is accidental. Toxicology and lab results are pending.

This case remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police and the Howard County Coroner’s Office. The Howard County Sheriff’s Office is assisting as well with crash scene reconstruction.