Police say hatchet was murder weapon

Kentucky State Police released more details Sunday about the slaying Saturday afternoon in Elizabethtown, including that the weapon used to kill Christian Higdon was a hatchet.

Jamie B. Wagers

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KSP spokesman Trooper Norman Chaffins said in addition to murder, Jamie B. Wagers, 24, of Elizabethtown is charged with a violation of an emergency protection order/domestic violence order. Wagers was obligated to avoid the residence at 130 Magers Drive, where Higdon was killed.

Chaffins said Wagers and Higdon, of Clarkson, were at the residence Saturday afternoon when Higdon was told to leave. When he didn’t, Wagers allegedly retrieved a hatchet from another room and hit Higdon in the head with it.

Higdon ran from the residence and Wagers followed, Chaffins said. Higdon collapsed in the yard of 45 Magers Drive, where a woman called the police using Higdon’s cellphone.

Higdon was pronounced dead at the scene from a blunt force chopping injury to the head, Chaffins said.

Wagers remains lodged in Hardin County Detention Center in lieu of a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Hardin District Court.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.