Man found guilty in 2021 New Orleans axe murder case
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A man has been found guilty of second-degree murder following a trial for a New Orleans axe murder that occurred in March of 2021.
According to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, on the outset of the case, the victim, 39-year-old Liz Quackenbush, was found dead in her home in the 1400 block of Desire Street following a 911 call from the uncle of Quackenbush’s boyfriend, Preston Higgs.
Houma police searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ armed robbery suspect
In the call, Higgs’ uncle reportedly described how “Preston hit his girlfriend in the head with a weapon, that she was dead, and that the incident occurred on the previous day,” leading authorities to the scene where the murder weapon was found.
Four months later, in July, Higgs was arrested in Indiana following an 18-week nationwide manhunt led by the United States Marshals Service.
4 arrested, 1 wanted in LaPlace aggravated burglary case
Quackenbush was reportedly a “beloved” chemistry teacher at New Harmony High School in New Orleans, where she was known for creating the Outdoors Adventures program that focused on using nature-themed experiences to help students grasp science and math.
The guilty verdict for Higgs was announced on Friday, Aug. 30 following a three-day jury trial in Criminal District Court Section E.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
Latest Posts
NHC monitoring 3 tropical disturbances in the Atlantic | Tracking the Tropics
21-year-old killed in Auburn officer-involved shooting; SBI investigating
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
