The "chameleon" killer: Thirteen years of silence in the murder of a Ft. Myers mother

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — For most, thirteen years is measured in milestones: graduations, weddings, and the birth of grandchildren. But for the family of Laura Howard, it is a thirteen-year void defined by a locked door, a cold trail, and the haunting face of a man that police can’t find.

In 2013, Laura Howard—a gifted pianist and beloved mother known for creating "magic" for her children—was found dead in her Fort Myers home. Today, Southwest Florida investigators and Howard’s family are renewing their plea for answers, centering their search on a man they describe as a "chameleon."

To her daughter, Cassandra Mador, Laura was a woman who turned the ordinary into the extraordinary.

"She gave us a beautiful childhood filled with excitement and joy and magic," Mador said. "She made friends with whoever she came in contact with."

That vibrant life was cut short thirteen years ago. When Laura’s son, Greg, went to visit her home, he found the house strangely fortified. Investigators would later discover a gruesome scene: Laura’s body was found in a bathtub, so badly decomposed that a cause of death remains undetermined.

The house had been methodically sealed—windows shut and doors locked—in what detectives believe was a cold-blooded effort to delay the discovery of the body, giving her killer a massive head start.

The Man with Many Names

While many cold cases suffer from a lack of suspects, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers says this case is different. They are confident they know who killed Laura Howard. The problem is finding him.

The man, who went by the alias Simon Storm, is believed to be Robert Kuehn.

According to Greg Howard, he first heard about his mother dating the man about four months before her death. What started as a relationship quickly soured into a "rocky" living arrangement. "It just seems like he had become an annoyance in her life," Greg recalled.

Trish Routte of Crime Stoppers describes Kuehn as a master manipulator who successfully isolated Laura from her support system. In the days leading up to her death, her family noticed a sudden, uncharacteristic shift into a deep depression.

"He’s a scam artist, he’s a chameleon, he’s dangerous," says Routte. "He knows how to talk the talk."

A Ghost on the Run

The closest authorities came to capturing Kuehn was shortly after the murder on Florida’s East Coast. As police closed in, Kuehn reportedly leaped from a second-story window and vanished.

He left behind a chilling collection of items: Laura Howard’s birth certificate and her marriage license. He hasn't been seen since.

"It's been 13 years, and he's a ghost," Greg Howard said. "I would like to find the guy if he's still alive... I want answers."

For Greg, he has doubts that Kuehn is still alive but just as there’s been no proof of life there’s been no proof of death.

As the years pass, the pain for Laura’s children has evolved into a different kind of grief—one of missed opportunities. Cassandra Mador now has children of her own, grandchildren Laura never got to meet.

"My daughter turned and asked me, 'Do you think she would have liked us?' And it’s just... yes," Mador said. "She would have loved to have been a grandma."

Beyond the personal loss, there is a lingering fear for the public. Mador worries that a "chameleon" like Kuehn has simply moved on to a new target. "The worry that he’s doing this to somebody else... what other victims are there?"

If you know anything about this case of Kuehn’s whereabouts contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477)