Alert Featured Man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2023 McDowell County shooting death of Marion man Mike Conley May 30, 2025 May 30, 2025 Updated May 30, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save After a two-week trial, a McDowell County jury found a man guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Marion man in November 2023.kAm%96 42D6 DE6>D 7C@> E96 562E9 @7 y:>>J {66 r@@=[ cf[ @7 |2C:@?] y6776CJ p==6? w:88:?D H2D 4@?G:4E65 @7 E96 >FC56C]k^AmkAm%96 EC:2= =2DE65 EH@ H66<D 2?5 6?565 :? 4@?G:4E:@? @? uC:52J[ |2J ab[ 244@C5:?8 E@ :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> E96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46]k^Am Jeffery Allen Higgins FILE PHOTO kAm%96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ ;FCJ 56=:36C2E65 7@C 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 2? 9@FC 27E6C E96 EC:2= 2?5 7@F?5 w:88:?D 8F:=EJ @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C]k^Am kAm%96 6G6?ED E92E =65 E@ E96 >FC56C 3682? H96? r@@= 8@E :?E@ 2? 2C8F>6?E H:E9 2?@E96C A6CD@? 2E 2 C6D:56?46 @77 u2:CG:6H #@25 :? |2C:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46] %96 :?5:G:5F2= 42==65 w:88:?D 7@C 2 C:56] w:88:?D 2CC:G65 2E E96 9@FD6 2?5 3682? 2C8F:?8 H:E9 r@@=] w:88:?D 2?5 r@@= 925 ?6G6C >6E AC:@C E@ E92E 52J] w:88:?D 2?5 E96 @E96C :?5:G:5F2= 6G6?EF2==J =67E E96 C6D:56?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46]k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here Railroad conference in Morganton focuses on passenger trains, rebuilding from Helene McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Siena almost pulls off all-time March Madness upset against Duke kAm%9C66 52JD =2E6C[ r@@= H2D 2E E96 D2>6 u2:CG:6H #@25 C6D:56?46 H96? 96 3682? 2C8F:?8 H:E9 E96 A6CD@? 96 H2D 7:CDE 2C8F:?8 H:E9] %96 :?5:G:5F2= 282:? 42==65 w:88:?D 7@C 2 C:56] w:88:?D 2CC:G65 2 76H >:?FE6D =2E6C 2C>65 H:E9 2 h>> 92?58F?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J] w:88:?D 5C@G6 3J 2?5 J6==65 2E r@@=] r@@= H2=<65 E@ w:88:?D’ ECF4<] %96 D46?6 H2D 42F89E @? 2 9@>6 D64FC:EJ 42>6C2[ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 D2:5]k^Am kAmr@@= 2AAC@24965 E96 A2DD6?86C D:56 @7 w:88:?D’ ECF4< 2?5 3682? 2C8F:?8 H:E9 E96 A2DD6?86C] w:88:?D 3682? E@ J6== 2E r@@=] r@@= E96? H2=<65 2C@F?5 E@ E96 5C:G6C’D D:56 @7 w:88:?D’ ECF4<] w:88:?D AF==65 @FE 9:D 8F? 2?5 D9@E 2E r@@= EH:46] w6 >:DD65 H:E9 E96 7:CDE D9@E[ 3FE E96 D64@?5 D9@E 9:E r@@= :? E96 324< @7 E96 E@A @7 9:D C:89E D9@F=56C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J] %96 A@:?E @7 :>A24E 2?5 A2E9 @7 E96 3F==6E :?5:42E65 E92E r@@= H2D 5F4<:?8 2?5 EFC?:?8 2H2J H96? 96 H2D 9:E] %96 3F==6E EC2G6=65 E9C@F89 r@@=’D D9@F=56C[ :?E@ 9:D 496DE[ 2?5 E9C@F89 9:D 962CE 2?5 =F?8D] w6 E@@< 2 76H DE6AD 2?5 4@==2AD65 :? E96 5:E49 @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 C@25[ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J D2:5] r@@= H2D 5625 H96? E96 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD 2CC:G65 2E 23@FE ?@@?[ }@G] h[ a_ab]k^Am kAmp7E6C E96 ;FCJ 7@F?5 w:88:?D 8F:=EJ @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C[ yF586 %6DD2 $6==6CD D6?E6?465 9:> E@ =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6]k^AmkAm“%96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ E92?< $96C:77 #:4<J qF492?2? 2?5 E96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 7@C 2== @7 E96:C 92C5 H@C< :? :?G6DE:82E:?8 E9:D 42D6[ 2?5 H@F=5 A2CE:4F=2C=J =:<6 E@ C64@8?:K6 2?5 E92?< r2AE] $92?@? $>:E9[ E96 =625 :?G6DE:82E@C :? E96 42D6[ 7@C 9:D 565:42E:@? 2?5 E:C6=6DD 677@CED :? =625:?8 E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?[” C625D 2 DE2E6>6?E 7C@> E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46] “%96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 H@F=5 2=D@ =:<6 E@ E92?< E96 72>:=J @7 y:>>J r@@= 7@C E96:C DFAA@CE 5FC:?8 E96 EC:2= 2?5 7@C E96:C 962CE76=E 2?5 D:?46C6 DE2E6>6?ED 5FC:?8 D6?E6?4:?8]”k^Am kAmuC:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J @7 r@@= >@FC?65 9:> 2D 2 >2? H9@ 6?;@J65 9F?E:?8[ 7:D9:?8 2?5 96=A:?8 @E96CD]k^Am Jimmy Lee Cool PHOTO FROM WESTMORELAND FUNERAL HOME kAm“y:>>J 2=D@ 6?;@J65 H@C<:?8 H:E9 H@@5 2?5 H2D G6CJ D<:==65[” 9:D @3:EF2CJ D2:5] “w6 H2D 2 >2? E92E 925 2 962CE @7 8@=5 2?5 H2D 2=H2JD H:==:?8 E@ 96=A @E96CD] y:>>J =@G65 9:D 72>:=J[ 3FE 9:D D:DE6CD H6C6 >@DE 562C E@ 9:>]”k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter During an investigation that spanned a year and six months, investigators conducted interviews and awaited medical records, the release said. Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified The person has not been publicly identified as of 2 p.m. Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here “It doesn't do anything good for anybody involved." Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school In the search, officers found 203.5 grams of cocaine, two guns (a .38-caliber revolver and a .22-caliber long rifle) and $2,186. Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant An arrest warrant said the lieutenant had a cut to the head that required stitches. Watch Now: Related Video Trump promises 'bigger majorities' for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party DHS officials give update to Congress as travel delays worsen AP DHS officials give update to Congress as travel delays worsen Indiana TSA agent turns to food bank as paycheck stops during government shutdown Indiana TSA agent turns to food bank as paycheck stops during government shutdown - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War Recommended for you
Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter During an investigation that spanned a year and six months, investigators conducted interviews and awaited medical records, the release said.
Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified The person has not been publicly identified as of 2 p.m.
Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here “It doesn't do anything good for anybody involved."
Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school In the search, officers found 203.5 grams of cocaine, two guns (a .38-caliber revolver and a .22-caliber long rifle) and $2,186.
Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant An arrest warrant said the lieutenant had a cut to the head that required stitches.
