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Slain Odessa Man's Friend Reaches Out From Virginia

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

When John Beebe heard Lawrence Higgins had been killed, he was devastated.

Beebe, who lives in Virginia, was friends with the Odessa horseman for at least 10 years. They knew each other from betting – Beebe works at a Maryland racetrack, and Higgins bet there. Beebe said he even had visited Higgins in Florida.

Beebe heard a theory on how Higgins might have been slain – that possibly a hit man killed Higgins over horseracing debts. Beebe said he called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and relayed the theory and that a detective told him "nobody kills anybody … over gambling debts because if you kill somebody, you don't get paid."

Higgins, 61, was found dead in his Odessa home Oct. 10 by a business associate, Hillsborough County investigators said.

Deputies have remained largely silent about the circumstances of Higgins' death since his body was found, and they have not released details of their investigation. They say the slaying doesn't appear to have been the result of a robbery.

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office concluded the death was a homicide, with "trauma to the upper torso," after Higgins was found in his home at 11523 Trotting Down Drive. The sheriff's office hasn't released details on what caused the trauma.

There was no evidence of a break-in at Higgins' home, deputies say.

Records show that Higgins owned a few businesses, including Icarus Aircraft Inc., an advertising agency that used blimps to carry airborne messages.

He was a racehorse aficionado who told Bloodhorse.com that he bet more than $1 million a year on the sport at Tampa Bay Downs.

He also owned several horses. Among his thoroughbreds was Bodgiteer, which raced at Suffolk Downs in Boston and was named New England Horse of the Year at that track in 2007, according to ThoroughbredTimes.com.

Tampa Bay Downs spokeswoman Margo Flynn has said Higgins was well-known and well-liked.

His family could not be reached today.

Beebe said he spoke with Higgins days before the slaying. He told Higgins about some of his life issues, and Higgins empathized and discussed issues of his own, including difficulties he had after his wife left him, Beebe said.

"He ended the conversation by saying, 'When you come down this winter, I hope we're doing better,' " Beebe said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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