In the quiet city of Rochester, Minnesota, a heart-wrenching story unfolded on November 23, 2014, forever changing the lives of a local family. Nine-year-old MacKenzie Marie Higgins, a bright and loved elementary school student, became the victim of a shocking act of violence. A Caucasian female, MacKenzie was known for her love of her teachers, friends, and family. She enjoyed playing outside, especially in the snow, and golfing with her father and grandfather.
Her curious nature was evident in her love for learning new things and reading.
That Sunday afternoon, while MacKenzie was on a weekend visitation with her father, 49-year-old Bradley James Higgins, the unthinkable occurred. At his brother's home, where he had been living in the basement, Bradley fatally shot his daughter before turning the gun on himself. The tragic discovery was made when MacKenzie's mother, Pam, arrived to pick her up at around 4 p.m. Relatives who were upstairs in the house at the time of the incident called the police after hearing noises from the basement.
The investigation into the deaths of MacKenzie and her father revealed a troubled history. Rochester police confirmed that they had previous contact with Bradley Higgins and that he had been suffering from mental illness. He and MacKenzie's mother had been divorced for four years prior to the incident. In the wake of the murder-suicide, the Stewartville School District, where MacKenzie was a student, activated its crisis plan to support students and staff grappling with the loss of the young girl. No other suspects were sought in connection with MacKenzie's death, as authorities concluded it was a murder-suicide perpetrated by her father, who was the sole person responsible.
