Body of Kelly McWhirter Possibly Located in Saginaw County

The body of a Flushing woman missing for 45 days may have been found in Saginaw County.

60-year-old Kelly McWhirter went missing October 14, along with her husband, 57-year-old Steve Higgins. Higgins was pulled over in a traffic stop on October 18, where he shot himself in the head in front of police. Police believe Higgins was responsible for McWhirter’s death as evidence of a crime was found in their home. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department has been asking the public, but hunters especially, to be on the lookout for anything suspicious that could indicate a location McWhirter might be buried. The investigation spanned Saginaw, Genesee and Shiawassee counties, all the way down to Norwalk, Ohio where McWhirter’s vehicle is believed to have traveled during her disappearance.

On Wednesday, Genesee Sheriff Chris Swanson said a hunter near the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in the Saint Charles area discovered a body while training his dog for bird hunting. Police say the clothing on the body match the description of clothing McWhirter was last seen wearing. Police say the body was badly decomposed but showed signs of significant trauma. An autopsy will determine the actual identity of the body and the cause of death.