Cayley Mandadi: The Murder of a University Cheerleader

True Crime Lounge
3 min readJun 7, 2024

Cayley Mandadi, a bright and promising 19-year-old sophomore at Trinity University, had her life cut tragically short in 2017. Her untimely demise and the subsequent legal proceedings have left a lasting impact on her family, friends, and the wider community. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and factual account of the events surrounding Cayley Mandadi’s death and the ensuing legal developments.

Cayley Mandadi Trinity University Cheerleader

The Life of Cayley Mandadi

Cayley Mandadi was a vibrant and active student at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She was passionate about her studies in communications and actively engaged in campus activities. Described as warm, trusting, and always smiling, Cayley had an infectious spirit that endeared her to those around her. She was a cheerleader and an active member of a sorority, effortlessly making friends and seemingly fitting in well with her peers.

The Tragic Incident

The tragic turn of events began on October 29, 2017, when Cayley was last seen alive at the Mala Luna Music Festival with her boyfriend, Mark Howerton, who was 22 at the time. Howerton later told police that Cayley had stopped breathing after they took party drugs and had consensual sex. He rushed her to a hospital, where medical teams made desperate attempts to…

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