The trial is underway for a Louisville mother accused of shooting and killing her 10-year-old son in 2021.
Prosecutors said Kaitlyn Higgins admitted to the killing, which happened in April 2021 at a home on Algonquin Parkway. Court testimony Tuesday revealed disturbing allegations, including claims that Higgins attempted to perform an exorcism on her son before his death.
Police said they received a call the day of the incident from someone who reported seeing Higgins with a gun and a child wrapped in a blanket. Officers later found 10-year-old Kyan Higgins Jr. dead in the trunk of her vehicle.
According to prosecutors, Higgins told police she tried to cut out her son’s tongue. They also allege she was under the influence of methamphetamine when she taped the child to a chair, punched him and stabbed him before shooting him.
During opening statements, attorneys urged jurors to keep an open mind as they hear the evidence.
The case has also influenced proposed legislation in Kentucky. A 2025 bill aims to provide animal control officers with training to recognize signs of child abuse and neglect. Records indicate that Metro Animal Services had previously cited Higgins for animal neglect prior to the child’s death.
WAVE News reported it will continue covering developments in the trial throughout the week.