The brutal rape of an 81-year-old woman 36 years ago will not go to trial

Henrico prosecutors have learned that John Henry Howard Jr., the black man charged in the case in October 2008, has died in a Southside Virginia geriatric facility. Howard, 68 when he was arrested in connection with the rape, had been a professional boxer. But "Flash," as he was sometimes called, had a history of burglary arrests. He was arrested when a preserved DNA sample from the November 1974 attack was linked to Howard. He was arrested and jailed but ruled incompetent to assist in his defense. Howard eventually was civilly committed to the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Burkeville, according to Henrico Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Gerrard. Gerrard said he learned from the hospital in February 2011 that Howard had died in November 2010. The state Medical Examiner's office said Howard died of natural causes, specifically a pulmonary embolism.