In the early hours of Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, the life of 53-year-old Statesboro Police Department Advanced Patrol Officer Ian Huggins was tragically cut short in what investigators have described as a murder-suicide. Huggins, a male born in Trinidad, West Indies, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in his apartment at the Copper Beech Townhomes in Statesboro, Georgia.
Officers responded to the residence at approximately 2:36 a.m. following reports of possible shots fired. Upon their arrival, they discovered the gravely wounded Huggins. Moments after law enforcement entered the home, his wife, Rebecca Boyett Huggins, 46, took her own life with a single gunshot to the head. The couple had been married for less than two months, having wed on February 14, 2018.
Both Ian and Rebecca Huggins were transported to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, but lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. The Statesboro Police Department subsequently turned the investigation over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to ensure an impartial inquiry. While the investigation was ongoing, the Statesboro Chief of Police noted a 'volatile history' between the couple and expressed confidence that the evidence pointed to a murder-suicide.
Ian Huggins had joined the Statesboro Police Department in May of 2013 and was a respected member of the force, having received a 'Life Saving Award' and being a member of the Honor Guard. The incident left the local law enforcement community in mourning, with fellow officers shrouding their badges in his memory. He was a father to two children, a son and a daughter. The suspect in his death, his wife Rebecca, died at the scene, and therefore no arrests were made in connection with his murder.
