On Wednesday, October 18, in Genesee County, Michigan, what began as a search for a missing 60-year-old woman took a dark turn into a homicide investigation, as disclosed by Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson during a press conference. Authorities suspect that the woman’s husband was involved in her disappearance and subsequently took his own life.
Kelly McWhirter, the woman in question, and her husband, Steven Higgins, 57, were both reported missing on Tuesday. The investigation into their disappearance escalated quickly, shifting from a simple missing persons case to a criminal investigation by Wednesday morning. During the press conference, Sheriff Swanson clarified, “This is no longer a rescue. This is a recovery.”
Indications of a violent confrontation at a home in Flushing during the weekend were discovered by investigators. They deduced that either McWhirter or Higgins had suffered an injury causing “significant blood loss.” The evidence trail then led authorities to McWhirter’s vehicle located in Norwalk, Ohio. It is believed that Higgins drove the car to Ohio after the altercation and later returned to Flushing for his vehicle. Signs of a struggle were evident inside McWhirter’s car, further raising questions about the incident.
With the primary focus now on locating Higgins, police eventually succeeded in tracking down his vehicle. A traffic stop was initiated to question him regarding the investigation. According to Sheriff Swanson, a tense standoff ensued between Higgins and the officers. He elaborated, “There was a confrontation between the driver, later identified as Steven Higgins, and the officers trying to give verbal commands.” Higgins, however, refused to exit his vehicle. In a subsequent series of events, Higgins shot himself. Although he was promptly transported to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, as reported by WNEM. Following this, Swanson stated on Thursday, “This is a homicide investigation and our suspect is dead.”
Further, revealing a personal connection to the case, Swanson shared that he had known McWhirter personally. She had served for several years as a secretary in the Sheriff’s office and was remembered as a “beautiful soul.” Lately, she had been working at the Board of Commissioner’s Office and, given her consistent attendance, her absence from work on Monday raised concerns about her well-being.
The incident underscores the complex dynamics of human relationships. Investigations continue to uncover the complete sequence of events and to hopefully bring closure to the concerned families and the community.
