California man charged with attempted murder of pregnant wife

Authorities have criminally charged a California man after he allegedly tried to strangle his pregnant wife to death in Idaho, according to the sheriff’s office.

Key Takeaways:

• Robert Seviano Howell was arrested for attempting to kill his pregnant wife.

• While at Celebration Park in Idaho, the California man is alleged to have sent his five children away from the family car before he got into the back seat with his wife and strangled her. Thinking she was dead, he walked to the Snake River for an unknown amount of time before returning to the car to find his wife gone.

• His wife had escaped and found help from park staff, who called 911.

• When police found Howell, he admitted to attempting to kill his wife.

• He is being held on a $2 million bond while his wife is in the hospital in critical condition, and the children are in the custody of the state. The health status of the preborn baby is unknown.

The Details:

On January 16, 2026, police arrested 32-year-old Robert Seviano Howell from Orangevale in Sacramento County on attempted murder charges. He was detained on a $2 million bond, the Canyon County Sheriff's Office in Idaho stated. 

The assault happened at Celebration Park along the Snake River — about 43 miles southwest of Boise — on the same day Robert Seviano Howell was arrested. According to the sheriff’s office, Howell admitted to trying to kill his pregnant wife, as deputies approached the scene.

READ: Study: Pregnant women more likely to die by homicide than by maternal illness

Howell first sent his five children, with ages ranging from one to 14, away from the family vehicle, then got into the back seat and tried to choke his pregnant wife to death.

When Howell thought his wife was dead, he left her there and walked to the river’s edge for a time. Upon returning, he found her gone; she had escaped to seek assistance from park staff, who immediately dialed 911.

Howell claimed no prior argument or disturbance catalyzed the attack. According to CBS News, police say he conceded to making a "deliberate attempt to kill the victim and end her life." 

Officials reported that the victim — a 33-year-old woman also from California — remains in critical condition at a Boise hospital. The status of her preborn baby was not yet available at the time of reporting. 

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue commented:

"Domestic violence is one of the most horrific crimes we encounter because it strikes at the very heart of safety and trust. This case is tragic. A woman was nearly killed by someone she trusted. It is our sincere hope and prayer that she fully recovers from this horrible experience. Unfortunately, a family unit has been destroyed. This is the true face and tragedy of domestic violence."

Sheriff Donahue praised park staff, EMS responders, and deputies for their swift response, noting that the case underpins domestic violence’s devastating ramifications. 

“No one should ever have to endure this kind of pain, and we will continue to fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves and bring awareness to this massive issue,” he said. 

Law enforcement officials verified that Idaho health and welfare authorities have taken custody of the five children. 

A preliminary hearing has been arranged for Howell for the morning of January 28 at the Canyon County Courthouse.

The Bottom Line:

Statistics show that pregnant women face increased risks of domestic violence, and homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant women.

“Having a baby should be a time of joyful anticipation, yet pregnancy increases the risk of violence, inflicted by the very person the woman relies on for love and support,” stated Viki Ferlauto, Executive Director of Counseling Services at NewBridge Services.