Wilkinsburg man accused of beating woman to death in Plum

Allegheny County Police have accused Shawn Higgins of beating his girlfriend to death in Plum on Saturday.

Higgins, 62, of Wilkinsburg is charged with criminal homicide in connection to the death of Jacqueline Pryber.

Police in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, initially located Pryber’s body in the passenger seat of Higgins’ truck on Monday, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

The body was covered with several blankets and two duffle bags, the complaint said.

Washington Township Police had received a tip from two unnamed township residents acquainted with Higgins, according to the complaint. Higgins had called one of the individuals to say he had beaten Pryber to death and had nowhere to go, the complaint said.

Detectives from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office requested the aid of Allegheny County Police for the investigation.

Allegheny County Police spokesman Jim Madalinsky said Higgins was taken into custody in Washington Township without incident. He was transported to Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville to be evaluated as a precaution.

During police interviews, Higgins said he was homeless and had been living out of his truck with Pryber, who he had known for about four years, the complaint said.

He said he was angry with Pryber because she was taking money from him and seeing other men, according to the complaint.

On Saturday, the two were in Higgins’ Chevrolet pickup on the 9000 block of Saltsburg Road in Plum. Higgins said Pryber was drinking whiskey and doing drugs, according to the complaint.

Higgins then began punching Pryber in the face so badly that blood and tissue was “all over the inside of his truck,” police said. Higgins said Pryber, who used a portable oxygen machine, didn’t put up much of a fight, the complaint said.

Higgins drove around with Pryber’s body for several days, police said.

He disposed of evidence, including a stained towel and Pryber’s phone, in Monroeville and Wilkinsburg, the complaint said.

Pryber was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m. by the Westmoreland County Coroner’s office. Police noted in the complaint that the interior of Higgins’ truck was covered in “red-brown staining.”

Higgins’ preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 5 in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. He was denied bail and remains in the Allegheny County Jail.