Izard County – A warrant was issued on Dec. 10 for Shawn Michael Higginbotham, 33, who faces a charge of felony domestic battery following a harrowing series of events that left a woman severely injured.
According to the affidavit for arrest, officers responded to multiple calls reporting a woman being assaulted inside a car at Kennedy Park around 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. Witnesses stated that the woman managed to crawl out of the backseat of the vehicle and make her way to another car, which transported her to a local business for safety.
The victim’s injuries were extensive. Officers observed swollen eyes with purple and red bruising, injuries and swelling on both ears and hands, a scraped and bruised back, and a bite mark on her head. Despite the visible injuries, the woman initially declined medical attention, expressing concerns about work and the inability to secure a place at a domestic abuse shelter.
The affidavit revealed that the assaults began at the couple’s Izard County home on Saturday and continued until the incident at Kennedy Park on Monday. The woman told authorities, “she was sorry and that it was her fault because he said that she had disrespected him.”
After further evaluation at White River Medical Center, medical staff discovered the woman had suffered a brain bleed and several broken ribs.
Higginbotham’s bond was set at $150,000. The case has shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by victims of domestic violence, particularly in accessing shelter and resources.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and advocates encourage anyone experiencing domestic abuse to seek help by contacting local services or calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
