FLUSHING, MI – The search for 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter, missing since October 14, has potentially come to a tragic end. Authorities in Michigan believe they have found her body, implicating her husband, Steven Higgins, in her murder.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson stated that a hunter, while training his dog, discovered a badly decomposed body with significant trauma in a wooded area near Ryan and Sharon roads in St. Charles, approximately 30 miles from McWhirter’s home. The clothes on the body matched what McWhirter was wearing when she disappeared. Formal identification will be made through dental records.
McWhirter’s husband, Higgins, 57, emerged as a suspect after deputies found blood and signs of a cleanup attempt at their home. On October 18, Higgins was located and fatally shot himself as authorities approached. In his truck, a bloodied body bag and shovel were discovered, but McWhirter was not found at that time.
The investigation into McWhirter’s disappearance covered over 300 miles across two states. Higgins reportedly drove McWhirter’s car to Ohio the day she went missing, and also did yard work miles away from their home shortly afterward.
McWhirter was a well-respected former secretary for the Sheriff’s Office and later worked for the board of commissioners. Sheriff Swanson described her as a “beautiful soul,” highlighting the profound impact of her loss on the community and her colleagues. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing closure in this heartrending case.
