Found Deceased MI - Kelly McWhirter 60 (husband Steven Higgins 57, shot himself), foul play suspected, veh of int 2009 dk gry Ford F-150, Flushing, Oct 2023

[Unalienable Rights]

Genesee County Sheriff needs help finding a missing endangered couple

Authorities were looking for 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter and 57-year-old Steven Higgins, who were reported as missing and endangered from the Flushing area.

www.abc12.com

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is asking the public for help finding two people from Flushing.

More at link.
(driver's license photos. He may be clean shaven. If seen call 911.)

Sheriff: Suspect shoots himself; investigators still looking for estranged wife believed to be victim

The suspect in what Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is calling a high-profile case shot himself in the head Wednesday morning, Swanson said.

www.wnem.com

FLUSHING, Mich. (WNEM) - Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is urging the public to be on the lookout for a missing and endangered couple in a “high-profile” case.

In a live Facebook video Tuesday night, Sheriff Swanson said 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter and her husband 57-year-old Steven Higgins, both from Flushing, have been missing for several days and investigators have reason to believe foul play is involved.

More at link.

Couple goes missing from Genesee County, foul play involved: Sheriff

"We've been working this high-profile missing person case all day today," said Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. "We need to find these two individuals. They have been missing for several days and we believe that foul play is involved."

www.fox2detroit.com

"We have active investigators in our county and beyond, looking for them as well as the missing F-150," the sheriff said.

More at link.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Updated:

Grizzly development in missing couple search in Genesee County after violent confrontation

During a traffic stop amid a missing person investigation, a 57-year-old man shot himself early Wednesday. His wife, a 60-year-old longtime employee of the sheriff's office, has still not been located.

fox2detroit.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said police found 57-year-old Steven Higgins of Flushing early Wednesday, Oct. 18. He shot himself around 4 a.m. on Elms Road in Montrose in front of an officer, according to a video update released to Facebook. Higgins is a suspect in the disappearance of his wife 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter.

“Kelly is a beautiful soul,” Swanson said. She is a recording secretary for the Genesee County Board of Commissioners and is a former secretary of the sheriff’s office. “I have designated every available resource to find where she is,” he continued. “We have more assets coming in today.”

https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/missing-man-shoots-self-police-search-for-his-wife-18433024.php

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Just after 3 a.m. Wednesday, a Saginaw County resident who had seen the briefing on the case recognized the 2009 gray Ford F-150 truck that belonged to Higgins.

Once they conducted a traffic stop, a confrontation between Higgins and authorities ensued. Higgins then shot himself in the head.

Authorities searching for missing Michigan woman; husband is now a suspect

After 48 hours of searching for a missing and endangered Genesee County couple, the status of the case has changed. The woman's husband is now a suspect.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Knox]

My thoughts are with Kelly's loved ones. I hope they don't have to wait long for confirmation of what the Sheriff intimates happened to her

 

[Knox]

Investigators said they found blood both in her vehicle and in their home, but the two were nowhere to be found.

Then, Wednesday morning, Oct. 18, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said a tip led officers to Montrose where they stopped Higgins but he shot himself in the head when confronted by police.

On Wednesday night, Swanson said Higgins had died from his gunshot wound.

Investigators said based on cell phone data, the search for McWhirter stretches from the Montrose area to Norwalk, Ohio. Investigators believe Higgins may have removed McWhirter from a vehicle around the Montrose area, or somewhere along I-75 or US-23. The sheriff’s office believes Higgins could have been driving either McWhirter’s white Hyundai Tucson or his Ford F-150, stopping somewhere along this path to remove McWhirter.

Community members hope missing Flushing woman will be found safe

A suspect has been identified, a car has been found, but a local woman is still missing.

www.wnem.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Talk to Steve occasionally. You know, he’d always be out mowing his lawn. A lot. Did a lot of yard work. I only met Kelly once,” Luchenbill said. “We didn’t see her a lot. She was inside a lot. Only a couple times getting the mail we’ve seen her.”

Neighbors of missing woman, suspect react to continued search

The search for 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter of Flushing continues, and police have named her former husband as their chief suspect.

www.wnem.com

Her husband, Steven Higgins, is on a ventilator and is scheduled to be transported to Ann Arbor on Thursday morning for organ donation.

Records indicate Higgins spent Saturday and Sunday at a residence in Norwalk.

Search continues for missing Flushing woman

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - Investigators are still searching for the woman they say could be gravely injured after the missing man shot himself early Wednesday.

www.abc12.com

 

[Seni]

Search for Kelly McWhirter transitions to homicide investigation

Investigators believe 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter of Flushing has died and the search for her transitioned to a homicide investigation.

www.abc12.com

(....)

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said the case has transitioned to a homicide investigation based on the discovery of evidence. Authorities found a shovel, tools and a body bag in the pickup truck of 57-year-old Steven Higgins.


Higgins was McWhirter's husband and was reported missing and endangered with her on Tuesday evening. The shovels in his truck had fresh dirt on the end and the body bag appeared to have a significant amount of blood inside.


(..)

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Missing woman case now probed as a homicide, Genesee Co. sheriff says

“We treated this as a suspicious situation, possible homicide, from the get-go," Chris Swanson said Thursday.

www.detroitnews.com

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office shifted its investigation of a missing woman to a homicide case now that her husband, a suspect, is dead.

Law enforcement is now aiming for a recovery, not rescue, of Kelly McWhirter, a 60-year-old Flushing resident missing since Saturday and presumed dead, Sheriff Christopher Swanson said in a press conference Thursday.

McWhirter’s husband, Steven Higgins, shot himself in the head on Wednesday when alerted officials identified his 2009 Ford F-150 truck and initiated a traffic stop.

Higgins, who died before Thursday's briefing, remains the prime suspect...

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Investigators are keying in on routes between the two areas — along Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 23 — with the thought that he may have dumped her body either on the way down or the way back. They are also searching the Tall Timber Trail in the Prescott area of Ogemaw County, about 95 miles north of their home.

Local ABC affiliate WJRT reported the Sheriff’s Office received a tip on Thursday that Higgins visited a friend on Tall Timber Trail in the Prescott area of Ogemaw County between noon and 9 p.m. Tuesday and did some yard work.

Missing person's case becomes a recovery operation after body bag found in husband's truck

Cops in Michigan are frantically searching for a 60-year-old woman after a body bag was recovered in her now-dead husband's truck and a significant amount of blood was found in their home.

lawandcrime.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Domestic violence issues spotlighted after woman’s disappearance

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office’s search for Kelly McWhirter, a 60-year-old woman who disappeared, has turned into a recovery mission.

www.wnem.com

**********
TV5 has also learned more about Steven Higgins, the primary suspect and McWhirter’s estranged husband, and his long arrest record.

It dates back to 1983 with arrests for breaking and entering, unarmed robbery, and receiving and concealing stolen property, as well as gun violations.

In 1991, he was arrested and convicted of felonious assault with strangulation, and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. He got out nine years later.

Since then, he was arrested at least twice for breaking and entering, as well as carrying a gun without a permit.

A friend and colleague of McWhirter’s said the news caught her by surprise.

*******
More at link.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Sheriff believes potential murder weapon has been found in case of missing Flushing woman

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. – Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson believes that a possible murder weapon in the disappearance case of Kelly McWhirter has been recove

midmichigannow.com

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. – Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson believes that a possible murder weapon in the disappearance case of Kelly McWhirter has been recovered.

********

 

[Knox]

Domestic violence issues spotlighted after woman’s disappearance

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office’s search for Kelly McWhirter, a 60-year-old woman who disappeared, has turned into a recovery mission.

www.wnem.com

**********
TV5 has also learned more about Steven Higgins, the primary suspect and McWhirter’s estranged husband, and his long arrest record.

It dates back to 1983 with arrests for breaking and entering, unarmed robbery, and receiving and concealing stolen property, as well as gun violations.

In 1991, he was arrested and convicted of felonious assault with strangulation, and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. He got out nine years later.

Since then, he was arrested at least twice for breaking and entering, as well as carrying a gun without a permit.

A friend and colleague of McWhirter’s said the news caught her by surprise.

*******
More at link.

Did she know about his history I wonder?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Authorities find possible weapon in Genesee Co. woman's death

The weapon was recovered at an Ogemaw Co. home where suspect Steve Higgins went Tuesday, officials said.

www.detroitnews.com

Authorities found a possible murder weapon while investigating the homicide case of Flushing resident Kelly McWhirter.

McWhirter has been missing since Oct. 14 and is now presumed dead as law enforcement has shifted its investigation from a rescue to recovery...

Investigators received a tip on Thursday. A caller said Higgins had spent nearly 10 hours at her home in Ogemaw County on Tuesday, Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said in a press conference Friday...

Investigators recovered the potential murder weapon, which causes blunt force trauma, in the caller's Ogemaw home. Swanson said he won't confirm the weapon while authorities are still testing it over the weekend, adding they still can't compare the piece to the body or possible wounds...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I haven't found any updates on the missing (presumed dead) woman for at least a week. Has anyone seen an update on the search? Are authorities still searching for McWhirter?

 

[LouLou74]

Possible Murder Weapon Found in McWhirter Disappearance - 94.5 The Moose

As the investigation into the disappearance and potential murder of a Flushing woman continues, police believe a...

www.945themoose.com

Police say he did some yard work for the woman, but when she later learned police were looking for him, she told him to leave while pointing a shotgun at him.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“The tip that said, ‘possible gravel site for Kelly McWhirter,’” Swanson said, reading the letter. “‘Dead end of Melcher Road to north end for Ryan Road to Prescott; west side; fresh dirt; three by six; made by a shovel, perhaps, near this place; wheelbarrow,’ I mean, this is so specific, that they were intentional.”

Police get letter in search for missing Flushing woman, encourage author to come forward

The Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous letter on Oct. 26 with specifics of a location in the county, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said during an update briefing on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

www.mlive.com

 

[Unsolved]

“The tip that said, ‘possible gravel site for Kelly McWhirter,’” Swanson said, reading the letter. “‘Dead end of Melcher Road to north end for Ryan Road to Prescott; west side; fresh dirt; three by six; made by a shovel, perhaps, near this place; wheelbarrow,’ I mean, this is so specific, that they were intentional.”

Police get letter in search for missing Flushing woman, encourage author to come forward

The Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous letter on Oct. 26 with specifics of a location in the county, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said during an update briefing on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

www.mlive.com

This article has a copy of the tip - JMO for some reason I think it was written by a female (maybe the way some of the "E"'s look?):

Sheriff searching for person who sent anonymous tip in search for Flushing woman’s body

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is searching for the person who submitted an anonymous tip in the search for Kelly McWhirter’s body.

www.wnem.com

 

[Knox]

That's a pretty specific tip, has LE searched the area yet?

 

[Megnut]

This article has a copy of the tip - JMO for some reason I think it was written by a female (maybe the way some of the "E"'s look?):

View attachment 457549

Sheriff searching for person who sent anonymous tip in search for Flushing woman’s body

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is searching for the person who submitted an anonymous tip in the search for Kelly McWhirter’s body.

www.wnem.com

I hope that, by publishing this letter, LE hasn't inadvertently put the writer at risk.

JMO