MICHIGAN, USA — A Michigan sheriff announced on Facebook Wednesday he believes the body of Kelly McWhirter, a Michigan woman who went missing in October, has been found.
Genessee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said McWhirter's ex-husband, Steven Higgins, is believed to have killed her. Swanson previously said during the weekend of Oct. 14, Higgins was driving McWhirter's car and at some point stopped at a truck stop in Ottawa Lake, Mich., about 10 minutes north of the state line.
"We believe that that body is of Kelly McWhirter. There was significant trauma to the body. There were clothing matches that indicate the last known clothing that Kelly had on that day on Oct. 14," he said. "We are working hard to confirm that identity. DNA testing and dental records, that takes days."
Swanson said the sheriff's office was alerted to the body, which has not yet been identified, by a hunter training his dog in St. Charles, Mich, about 45 minutes northwest of Flint.
Authorities began the homicide investigation last month after Higgins was considered a suspect.
According to CBS News Detroit, "investigators found Higgins' cellphone broken and thrown into a ditch in Montrose, [Mich.,] and they also found McWhirter's phone broken and thrown into a ditch across the street from where they found Higgins' phone."
"Additionally, a body bag, shovels and other landscaping tools were found in the back of a Ford F-150 that belonged to Higgins. There was also a significant amount of blood and contaminants in the body bag."
During a traffic stop and confrontation with authorities in Montrose on Oct. 18, Higgins shot himself.