Crowe is charged with murder
By Terry Murry on Friday, October 1st, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PORTLAND – Skylar Faith Crowe, 22, who was arrested by Umatilla Tribal Police Wednesday night and jailed early Thursday morning is no longer in Umatilla County and has been taken into federal custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland is charging her with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Richard Higheagle at his residence on Willow Drive in Mission.
Court documents indicate that Crowe confronted Higheagle at his residence and accused him of molesting her when she was a child. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Rex Shark stated that she said she had been drinking at the time of the stabbing.
While investigators for Umatilla Tribal Police were interviewing witnesses, it was learned that Crowe drove herself to the police department. She was found seated on the curb outside the building. After she had been examined by medical personnel due to a panic attack, she signed a consent form to speak without an attorney present.
She told Shark that when she accused Higheagle, he denied it and an altercation ensued.
“She said she pulled the knife out of her hoodie pocket and stabbed him in the chest,” Shark wrote in his affidavit. “She admitted that she intended to kill him. She stated she was remorseful that she had killed him.”
Prior to submitting his affidavit and arrest warrant to the court, Shark had it reviewed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaclyn Jenkins, who was formerly the chief deputy district attorney for Umatilla County.
“AUSA Jenkins advised me that in her opinion the affidavit and complaint are legally and factually sufficient to establish probable cause to support the issuance of the requested criminal complaint and arrest warrant,” Shark stated.
