On Wednesday, October 18, in Genesee County, Michigan, a search for a missing 60-year-old woman shifted gears into a homicide investigation. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson revealed the developments during a press briefing. The focal point of the investigation is the woman’s husband, believed to be implicated in her vanishing, who later took his own life.
Kelly McWhirter and her spouse, Steven Higgins, 57, were both initially reported missing on Tuesday, October 17. The trajectory of this case changed rapidly from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, turning from a mere missing persons inquiry to a full-blown criminal probe. As Sheriff Swanson stated during the briefing, “This is no longer a rescue. This is a recovery.”
Evidence pointing to a violent confrontation at a residence in Flushing, Michigan over the weekend was uncovered by investigators. Based on their findings, they concluded that either McWhirter or Higgins had sustained a serious injury leading to “significant blood loss.” Pursuing this evidence, officers located McWhirter’s car in Norwalk, Ohio. It appears that after the incident in Flushing, Higgins took her car to Ohio and then later returned to pick up his own vehicle in Flushing. Marks of a skirmish were evident inside her car, amplifying queries about what occurred.
The investigation then narrowed in on Higgins. After identifying and locating his vehicle, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop to engage him regarding the unfolding events. Sheriff Swanson described the subsequent scene, “There was a confrontation between the driver, later identified as Steven Higgins, and the officers trying to give verbal commands.” However, Higgins did not comply with the officers’ orders to exit his vehicle. The situation escalated and Higgins shot himself. Even though immediate medical attention was provided, and he was rushed to a hospital, his injuries proved fatal. Swanson remarked the following day, “This is a homicide investigation and our suspect is dead.”
Adding another layer to the unfolding story, Swanson divulged a personal link to the case, mentioning his acquaintance with McWhirter. She had been an integral part of the Sheriff’s office team, serving in a secretarial role, and was described as having a “beautiful soul.” Her uncharacteristic absence from work at the Board of Commissioner’s office the preceding Monday sounded alarm bells.
The ongoing investigation seeks to piece together the full sequence of events and aims to provide answers to the grieving families and the wider community.
