Kellie Higdon, aged 36, was found dead on May 27, 2016, in Houston, Texas, after what appeared to be a case of domestic violence that escalated into homicide. Her body was discovered alongside the banks of Brays Bayou. The investigation revealed that her death followed the filing of domestic violence charges against her boyfriend, who retaliated after his attempts to reconcile and prevent the charges from moving forward were unsuccessful.
Jarvis Earl Hickerson was arrested and later convicted of capital murder. During the trial, evidence showed that Hickerson tried to manipulate Higdon into dropping the charges, including proposing to her. When this failed, he fatally attacked her in her apartment and disposed of her remains in a secluded area. Two months after her disappearance, authorities found Higdon's body in a shallow grave in Montgomery County. Hickerson's call records and surveillance video played a crucial role in his conviction.
After the arrest, Hickerson was released on bond but was rearrested following further criminal behavior, including tampering with his GPS monitor and assaulting another woman. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing Higdon in retaliation for her standing up against his abuse.
