Former MPD officer convicted of kidnapping, murder while on duty, sentenced to 38 years

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A former Memphis police officer who pleaded guilty to the federal charges of kidnapping, shooting, and killing 30-year-old Robert Howard while on duty back in 2021, has been sentenced.

Patric Ferguson, 33, was sentenced to 38 years in prison following a federal court hearing on Monday.

Ferguson previously pleaded guilty to 5 of the 6 federal charges, including deprive civil rights, kidnapping, murder, and two counts of tampering with witness/victim/informant. The 6th charged was dismissed.

In 2021, Memphis police say a woman reported Howard, her boyfriend, missing on Jan. 6, 2021. His body was found days later by a bridge on the Wolf River.

Ferguson’s family members told Action News 5 that the couple had recently gotten back together after a breakup, and Ferguson, who was briefly seeing the woman in between, was not happy about it.

Investigators also uncovered evidence showing Ferguson purchasing cinderblocks, chains and padlocks at a local hardware store.

Detectives say they later obtained surveillance video capturing Ferguson shooting Howard while on-duty.

Investigators say Ferguson admitted to kidnapping and murdering Howard. They say Ferguson shot Howard while Howard was in the back of his police car.

Ferguson allegedly dumped Howard’s body and then moved it several times. Investigators say Ferguson admitted to enlisting the help of Joshua Rogers, a friend, in moving the body.

Rogers has since pleaded guilty to aiding Ferguson in the cover-up.

Former Memphis Police Director, Mike Rallings called Ferguson a “rogue cop” and says he’s consulting with the FBI to make sure Ferguson receives the harshest sentence possible.

Ferguson was hired by the police department in 2018.

He was a graduate of Shelby County Schools, received a college degree and had no history of criminal behavior.

On the state level, Ferguson is still charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He has not yet entered a plea, and a state trial has not yet been scheduled. His next court date is March 30.

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