The tragic fate of Howard Hamlin remains one of the most harrowing turns in Better Call Saul. Played by Patrick Fabian, Howard starts the series as an outwardly arrogant yet ultimately tragic figure caught in the crossfire of Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler's elaborate schemes. His shocking demise in the season six episode "Point and Shoot" changes the trajectory of the entire universe, while his widow, Cheryl Hamlin, faces an uphill battle for justice and closure. Understanding what happened to Howard and Cheryl requires looking closely at the psychological warfare waged against them and the lingering fallout after Lalo Salamanca pulls the trigger.
Jimmy and Kim targeted Howard not out of personal malice toward him alone, but to force a settlement in the Sandpiper crossing case and cash in on a multi-million dollar payout. They orchestrated a relentless smear campaign designed to destroy Howard's professional reputation. They planted fake evidence suggesting drug use, staged embarrassing incidents at public golf courses, and hired actors to sabotage his standing with judges and colleagues. This calculated campaign eroded Howard's credibility just as he was trying to prove himself following Chuck McGill's death and legal battles at HHM.
When Howard finally realizes he's being manipulated, he confronts Jimmy and Kim in their apartment. He exposes their petty cruelty and demands to know why they targeted him with such calculated malice. Just as the confrontation reaches its boiling point, Lalo Salamanca enters the apartment uninvited. Lalo, fresh from escaping Gus Fring's men and hiding out underground, has no stake in Jimmy and Kim's personal vendettas. Without a word of warning or hesitation, Lalo draws a silenced pistol and shoots Howard in the head, ending his life instantly. Howard dies an innocent victim of a ruthless cartel war he knew nothing about, reduced to a nameless body buried beneath the floorboards of the newly constructed superlab.
The immediate cover-up orchestrated by Mike Ehrmantraut paints Howard's death as a tragic suicide. Mike's cleaning crew stages Howard's car near the coast, leaving his shoes and wallet on the beach to simulate a desperate plunge into the ocean. For months, everyone outside the inner circle believes Howard suffered a mental breakdown and took his own life. This official narrative inflicts profound emotional damage on Cheryl Hamlin, played by Sandrine Holt, who knows her husband well enough to realize he would never abandon his life or commit suicide in such a reckless manner.
Cheryl refuses to accept the police report and confronts Jimmy and Kim at their shared office building. She voices her suspicion that something sinister occurred, noting that Howard's behavior leading up to his disappearance was entirely uncharacteristic and driven by outside pressures she couldn't yet prove. Jimmy and Kim stonewall her, maintaining a cold and defensive front while hiding behind lawyers and corporate insulation. They lie directly to her face, claiming that Howard had developed severe substance abuse issues and erratic tendencies at work, thereby tarnishing his memory even after his murder.
Years later, during the events of the series finale, Kim Wexler experiences a crisis of conscience. Haunted by guilt and facing civil liability, Kim signs a detailed affidavit confessing to her and Jimmy's role in the conspiracy against Howard. She drives to Albuquerque and hand-delivers this confession directly to Cheryl Hamlin. This legal document finally gives Cheryl the truth she needs to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against Jimmy and the surviving entities associated with him. While the confession doesn't bring Howard back, it clears his name of the drug-fueled falsehoods that Jimmy and Kim manufactured.
Howard's downfall highlights the devastating collateral damage caused by ordinary people drifting into the criminal underworld. He was a flawed man who tried to maintain dignity within a cutthroat legal system, but his flaws made him an easy mark for Jimmy and Kim's displaced resentment. Meanwhile, Cheryl's quiet perseverance underscores the human cost left behind when crime fiction ignores the grieving families of secondary victims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jimmy and Kim target Howard Hamlin?
Jimmy harbored a long-standing grudge against Howard due to past professional snubs at HHM, particularly regarding his brother Chuck's treatment. Kim joined the plot primarily to secure the multi-million dollar Sandpiper settlement funds quickly so she could pivot her career toward pro bono legal work.
Did Cheryl Hamlin ever get justice?
Yes, years after Howard's death, Kim Wexler delivered a signed, sworn affidavit detailing the entire conspiracy. This confession allowed Cheryl to pursue legal action and vindicated Howard by proving he was never addicted to drugs.
Where was Howard Hamlin buried?
Lalo Salamanca buried Howard's body beneath the concrete floor of Gus Fring's underground methamphetamine superlab, alongside Lior Insel, an unfortunate laborer caught in the crossfire. Their remains were later unearthed and properly laid to rest when the lab site was excavated.
How did the public find out about Howard's fate?
The public truth only emerged because Kim Wexler suffered a severe crisis of conscience and voluntarily confessed to the district attorney and to Cheryl Hamlin, detailing every aspect of the scam that ruined Howard's final weeks.
