Swanson [Spoilers]

[Linux.Blue]

weren't there leads though that he was there? like some paper or so talking about Howard being inside the library? it could go both ways, he could be alive and it was either a cruel joke, or someone else ended up in there and Howard left somewhere. or he simply is just dead.
But near the very end, they said one man, Ho-ward, was weak.

The only concrete reason I believe Howard is dead, is because so far, in both games, you don't see anyone actually alive. key word, see. you only hear. Not offending frictional, but do they know or care to have people alive and interact with you?
maybe a still frame cut scene may say otherwise about Howard and others