An Indiana man is in prison after allegedly murdering his girlfriend’s stepfather, who the suspect claimed was a child molester.
The investigation began early Sunday, when first responders battling a fire at a home in Linton, about 90 miles southwest of Indianapolis, discovered the body of 64-year-old James “David” Higar in the bathroom, with apparent stab wounds to his neck and shoulder. Authorities also discovered a dead dog.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit from the Indiana State Police, a witness told troopers that a friend of his, Brandon Criss, 39, came to his house earlier that night “covered in blood.”
Criss allegedly showed him a photo of a man who appeared to be deceased and was “bragging that he just killed David Higar.” The photo showed a man who appeared to be “laying naked on a bathroom floor, bloody, beaten, and wounded,” according to the affidavit. Criss also allegedly admitted to setting Higar’s house on fire.
Higar’s nephew told cops his uncle and Criss had been “at odds with each other” and that Criss had previously threatened to kill “any of [his fiancee’s] family [that] came over to where he was staying,” according to the affidavit.
As officers searched for Criss, dispatch received a call from a woman who said Criss approached her son at a nearby gas station and asked him to take a Carhartt jacket and knife that Criss had because he “thought he killed someone,” according to the affidavit.
Officers went to the gas station and found Criss, who was wearing brown boots with red stains. They took him to the Linton Police Department for an interview.
After receiving his Miranda warnings, Criss stated that he had been drinking for the majority of the day and had argued with his girlfriend before going for a walk.
He informed cops. Higar “gives him rides and helps whenever he needs it,” according to the affidavit. Criss claimed he didn’t do anything to harm the victim and didn’t understand why he was arrested. He suspected that someone was setting him up.
“Where’s the physical evidence?!” Criss allegedly said. “It is hearsay. They are lying to me. People are trying to set me up. I’ve got a lot of haters in this town.”
However, a photo in Criss’ cellphone’s “deleted photos” folder told a different story, according to the affidavit: it was allegedly the picture of Higar’s body that Criss had shown to his friend earlier in the night.
When detectives confronted Criss with this information, he changed his tune.
“This was a hate crime against David Higar,” he reportedly stated. “He is a child molester who committed a hate crime.” I do not want to be in a state prison. If I have to spend the rest of my life in prison, I want it to be federal prison. If this is a hate crime, I will take it to the federal level.”
Detectives later spoke with Criss’ girlfriend, who told them that he had been sexually assaulted as a child and that he “hated child molesters even though she thought he and Higar were close,” police wrote. She stated that while Criss is not typically violent, he becomes aggressive when drinking alcohol.
The affidavit did not explain why Criss preferred federal prison or provide any additional information about his allegations against Higar.
Police arrested Criss on charges of murder, arson, and animal cruelty. He remains in the Greene County Jail without bond. His next court date is scheduled for November 5.
