A man from Batesville is facing eight felony charges for the rape and severe beating of his girlfriend at a house in Izard County. Thirty-three-year-old Shawn Michael Higginbotham is being held in the Independence County Jail on charges from both Izard and Independence counties involving violence against the same victim. The woman identified Higginbotham as her boyfriend while being interviewed by Batesville Police following the attack in Izard County.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, the incidents there happened over a three day period from Dec. 6-9 at a house in Horseshoe Bend. The victim told investigators the physical attacks started with Higginbotham striking her in the face and head multiple times with a closed fist. She said after the blows, she started going in and out of consciousness. She says Higginbotham then placed her on the floor and braced himself against the doorway and bathroom counter while he stomped on her. The victim said her left eye was swollen shut and she couldn’t see and the pain was so intense, she was unable to move.
She told investigators that Higginbotham then got a knife and threatened to kill her with it. When he left the room, she was able to grab some mascara and write a message on the bathroom mirror telling her children she loves them, afraid it was the last message she would ever communicate to them.
The victim says Higginbotham returned to the bathroom and raped her twice. She was still incapacitated due to the injuries and was still in and out of consciousness.
She says at some point, Higginbotham gave her some food to eat, but she was unable to chew due to her jaw being injured. She begged Higginbotham to take her to the hospital, but he refused because he said if he did he would go to jail.
On Dec. 13, Izard County investigators interviewed Higginbotham who had already been arrested in Independence County. Higginbotham admitted to causing the injuries to the victim, but said the four sexual encounters that weekend were consensual. Higginbotham admitted to being physically abusive in the past but said he couldn’t think of anything the victim did that caused her to be beaten as badly as she was that weekend.
Investigators reviewed the victim’s medical records which indicated she had multiple rib fractures; a subarachnoid hemorrhage (which is bleeding between the brain and the tissue covering the brain) with loss of consciousness; and severe hematomas on the right orbital, left orbital, on or behind both ears, left jaw, throat, left arm, right ribcage, right hip, left knee and right foot.
Higginbotham was arrested in Batesville on Dec. 9 after police received a call about a female being hit and thrown into a car.
During questioning, the victim told officers Higginbotham had beat her up, hit her on the head and thrown her into the car. He then bit her on the head. She was able to escape and got into a car with another female who took her to a nearby store.
Officers asked if she need medical attention and she said she couldn’t afford to miss work. She said she had been calling shelters to get away from Higginbotham but they were all full. She then said she was sorry and it was her fault because she had disrespected him.
The victim also said she had been trafficked by her ex-husband and Higginbotham was a friend from home who was supposed to be helping her, but he was hurting her.
While being treated at White River Medical Center, a nurse asked the victim what her pain level was and the victim said she didn’t know because she had gotten used to it.
In Izard County, Higginbotham is facing four counts of rape and one count each of kidnapping, first-degree domestic battery and aggravated assault on a family or household member. His bond on those charges is $500,000. He also faces a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender.
In Independence County, Higginbotham is facing a felony charge of second-degree domestic battery. His bond on that charge is set at $150,000.
He has three convictions out of Poinsett County for charges that include battery and theft of property.
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