Hearing continued for Brownsville man
A preliminary hearing for a Brownsville man charged with homicide for allegedly running over his wife with his car in Menallen Township last month was continued Wednesday. Trooper John F. Marshall said Ronald Lee Higinbotham, 44, of 603 Spring St. was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with criminal homicide in the death of Carmen L. Higinbotham, also of Brownsville. According to Marshall, the charges were filed after Ronald Higinbotham used his car to run over his wife following an argument at 11:59 p.m. June 21 on Route 40 near the intersection with Searights Road.
A new hearing date has not been scheduled.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner Marisa Springer pronounced Carmen Higinbotham, 30, dead at the scene at 12:59 a.m. Sunday.
Deputy Coroner Jessie Langer said an autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht revealed that Carmen Higinbotham died from multiple injuries to her head and abdomen.
She said the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.
District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said that investigators learned that the couple had “ongoing marital problems” prior to the incident.
Marshall said while police were investigating at the scene, police received a phone call from Ronald Higinbotham, advising officers that, “he might have killed his wife.”
State police forensic investigators later discovered Carmen Higinbotham’s blood and other evidence on Ronald Higinbotham’s Hyundai Tiburon.
Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said that the autopsy revealed that she was run over after being struck by the car.
Ronald Higinbotham remains in the Fayette County Prison without bond.