MURDERED: Kala Williams & Heather Higgins
Kala Williams was 20 years old when her family stopped hearing from her. Weeks later, her body was discovered dismembered in the woods with the DNA of a possible suspect on her body and items from the crime scene. Yet, the DNA evidence hasn’t been enough to charge him in Kala’s case – or the disappearance of another Spokane woman two years prior.
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Timeline:
September 27, 2010
September 27, 2010
Heather Higgins is reported missing by her mother, Jackie.
April 2, 2012
April 2, 2012
Kala is reported missing by her brother.
May 13, 2012
May 13, 2012
Remains are found in Spokane, WA, which are later determined to be Kala Williams.
July 25, 2012
July 25, 2012
Police interview Robert Davis in connection with Kala’s murder.
June 21, 2014
June 21, 2014
Another woman reports that she was attacked by Robert Davis.
April 2017
April 2017
The WA Department of Health launches an investigation into the ME office that did Kala’s autopsy.
2024
2024
Robert Davis is released on parole.
Spokane, WA
Where Kala Williams’ body is found.
Please contact the authorities if you have any information about these cases:
Spokane Police Department
If you know something about the disappearance of Heather Higgins or the murder of Kala Williams, please contact the Spokane Police Department at 509-456-2233.
Washington State Attorney General
To contact the Washington State Attorney General and ask for a review of Kala and Heather’s cases, click on this link.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Megan Fridenmaker.
- The Spokesman Review: The Kala Williams Cold Case. Accessed January 28, 2025. https://www.spokesman.com/timelines/kala-williams-murder-case/
- Still a Mystery: Depths of Depravity (Season 3, Episode 5). Aired April 13, 2021. Accessed January 17, 2025.. https://www.discoveryplus.com/video/still-a-mystery/depths-of-depravity
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): ALERT: Spokane Police Search For Missing Woman. Published April 10, 2012. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/alert-spokane-police-search-for-missing-woman/article_f2a4e688-8a7d-5bd5-bcb0-1484340562f4.html
- KREM2 (Spokane, WA): Spokane Police search for missing woman, by KREM Staff. Published April 10, 2012. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-police-search-for-missing-woman/293-168982224
- Spokane Examiner (Spokane, WA): Spokane Police searching for missing woman Kala Williams. Published April 11, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/13E14D98D42A5698
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): UPDATE: Body Found Off Of Highway 195 Identified. Published May 13, 2012. Updated May 23, 2022. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/update-body-found-off-of-highway-195-identified/article_d2d1249e-94e1-572d-907e-00c1b5432276.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): Children find human remains, from staff and wire reports. Published May 14, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/584346797/
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): Body is missing woman; police suspect homicide, by Meghan M. Cuniff. Published May 15, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/15/body-missing-woman-20-police-suspect-homicide/
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Detectives investigating homicide, police correct missing person report, by KREM.com. Published May 16, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/13ED47EA6A63E9D8
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): KHQ EXCLUSIVE: Father Of Kala Williams Talks About His Daughter. Published May 16, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/khq-exclusive-father-of-kala-williams-talks-about-his-daughter/article_dab801ab-a691-52cb-9d67-16e9f103630b.html
- KXLY (Spokane, WA): Text message sheds light into Kala Williams final days, by Annie Bishop. Published May 17, 2012. Updated January 13, 2023. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.kxly.com/news/local-news/text-message-sheds-light-into-kala-williams-final-days/article_093ac2b2-f559-5b80-befb-a839da0a9f4c.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): New details in Kala Williams homicide. Published May 21, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sirens/2012/may/21/new-details-kala-williams-homicide/
- KXLY (Spokane, WA): Sources: Murder victim found dismembered, by Jeff Humphrey. Published May 22, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via Internet Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20120525080341/http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/Sources-Murder-victim-found-dismembered/-/101214/13660576/-/cha3pmz/-/index.html
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Extra detectives assigned to open Spokane homicide cases, by Katie Utehs & KREM.com. Published July 19, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/140268920393F078
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Spokane Major Crimes out of overtime dollars, by KREM.com & Ashley Korslien. Published July 24, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/1404641208B5C838
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): POLICE SEEK HELP IN HOMICIDE CASES Deaths of two women still under investigation, by Chelsea Bannach. Published August 29, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/140F810C7A7491B0
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): Spokane Police Detectives Need Your Help To Identify Sleeping Bag From Homicide Scene. Published July 11, 2013. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-police-detectives-need-your-help-to-identify-sleeping-bag-from-homicide-scene/article_2669beaa-f97b-52a4-a759-8e3c939baef7.html
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Detectives looking for information about murder scene sleeping bag, by KREM.com. Published July 11, 2013. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/1477FB2812DFD538
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): KHQ Investigates: Spokane serial killer in the making?. Published March 20, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/khq-investigates-spokane-serial-killer-in-the-making/article_7dcc5235-8032-5c1c-927b-f4905190d34e.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): Investigation into possible Spokane serial killer in the making continues. Published March 21, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/investigation-into-possible-spokane-serial-killer-in-the-making-continues/article_dc4a71f9-d6d7-511b-8557-08afa9d9cf56.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): POLITICAL INFIGHTING BETWEEN OFFICIALS LEAVES TWO HOMICIDE CASES UNSOLVED – Dispute centers on autopsy results; man linked to killings not charged, by Thomas Clouse. Published March 22, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/1634992D759573F8
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): DEADLY MARGINS – The deaths of two women touch three mothers, who ask why a primary suspect hasn’t been charged, by Thomas Clouse. Published April 30, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/16417291963FDCA0
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): STATE OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO OFFICE – Complaint seeks review of Medical Examiner death rulings, by Thomas Clouse. Published April 30, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/16417291ABD4F280
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Investigation launched into two doctors with Spokane Co. Medical Examiner’s Office, by Lindsay Nadrich. Published May 1, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/1642263B50A1E770
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): Two Spokane County medical examiners under investigation. Published May 1, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/two-spokane-county-medical-examiners-under-investigation/article_d7a4ff3f-76db-5149-af92-d1658e89e941.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): Spokane County Commissioners stand by Medical Examiners under investigation. Published May 2, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-county-commissioners-stand-by-medical-examiners-under-investigation/article_e08be72c-8007-5799-8a26-c903ff5d0a61.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): No wrongdoing found by Spokane Medical Examiners in 14 autopsies. Published March 6, 2018. Updated November 28, 2018. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/no-wrongdoing-found-by-spokane-medical-examiners-in-14-autopsies/article_aa20c95a-2dd0-5145-8f9d-216027aa6dde.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): State: County medical examiners followed standards Family members shocked by ruling on 14 disputed autopsies, by Thomas Clouse. Published March 7, 2018. Accessed January 8, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/16A7F7FF173D2478
- NBC News: Washington family seeks answer in six-year-old murder case of Kala Williams, by Juliet Muir. Published May 20, 2018. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/washington-family-seeks-answer-six-year-old-murder-case-kala-n875586
- The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA): Suspect in two unsolved Spokane cases denied parole Letters from woman’s family, prosecutor objected to Davis’ release, by Thomas Clouse. Published December 15, 2018. Accessed January 9, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/17053C52CBA896B0
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): “How can dumping a murdered body be a misdemeanor?”: Spokane families work to change state law. Published February 10, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/how-can-dumping-a-murdered-body-be-a-misdemeanor-spokane-families-work-to-change-state/article_54406e02-4c63-11ea-8af5-cfc2b9baf967.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): New examination updates manner of death for Spokane woman found dismembered, dumped in sleeping bag from undetermined to homicide, by Haley Guenthner. Published May 22, 2022. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/new-examination-updates-manner-of-death-for-spokane-woman-found-dismembered-dumped-in-sleeping-bag/article_395d40f8-da35-11ec-b37c-0b290870394f.html
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Spokane County Medical Examiner reclassifying Kala Williams’ death as a homicide – The decomposed remains of 20-year-old Kala Williams were found in a wooded area of southwest Spokane in May 2012., by Celina Van Hyning. Published May 23, 2022. Accessed January 9, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/18A3361257EBA458
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): New Spokane County Medical Examiner receives six official requests to review autopsies, findings performed by previous administration, by Haley Guenthner. Published May 23, 2022. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://www.khq.com/coldcase/new-spokane-county-medical-examiner-receives-six-official-requests-to-review-autopsies-findings-performed-by/article_cdc844e6-db06-11ec-9047-af6486abb93b.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): A decade after her murder, cause of death in the case of Kala Williams amended to homicide, by Hayley Guenthner. Published May 24, 2022. Updated August 5, 2024. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.khq.com/coldcase/a-decade-after-her-murder-cause-of-death-in-the-case-of-kala-williams-amended/article_659dfff8-dbc1-11ec-a705-c7eaa2773813.html
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Spokane County Medical Examiner reviewing six cases – Under the new Spokane County Medical Examiner, two manners of death have already been changed and four others are currently under review., by Amanda Roley, Josh Lyle, Celina Van Hyning. Published May 24, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/18A35CC212CC9388
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): Case of decade-old Spokane killing gets major break as medical examiner rules Kala Williams’ death a homicide, by Thomas Clouse. Published May 24, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/18A343D054315F60
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): ‘I felt instant relief’: Mother of Kala Williams reacts to murder charge recommendation in daughter’s death, by Hayley Guenthner. Published June 8, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/i-felt-instant-relief-mother-of-kala-williams-reacts-to-murder-charge-recommendation-in-daughters/article_c30aa740-e760-11ec-9bf5-872431b326cb.html
- Spokane City (Spokane, WA): Charge Referred In Kala Williams Murder Case, by Cpl. Nick Briggs, PIO. Published June 8, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://my.spokanecity.org/police/news/2022/06/08/charge-referred-in-kala-williams-murder-case/
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): Spokane police recommend murder charge in 2012 death of Kala Williams, by Quinn Welsch. Published June 8, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/18A857BB83B15000
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): ‘He told his mother that he dumped my daughter’s body’: family of woman presumed murdered hope movement in another Spokane homicide case brings forward charges, by Hayley Guenthner. Published June 28, 2022. Updated February 13, 2023. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.khq.com/helpmehayley/he-told-his-mother-that-he-dumped-my-daughters-body-family-of-woman-presumed-murdered/article_e2786624-f748-11ec-a63e-c7ede10ad5a0.html
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office continues to review charging request in Kala Williams‘ homicide, by Hayley Guenthner. Published February 13, 2023. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-county-prosecutor-s-office-continues-to-review-charging-request-in-kala-williams-homicide/article_847a6ab2-ac07-11ed-b99e-cffd912661c3.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): SEEKING CLUES IN DAUGHTER’S DISAPPEARANCE – Heather Higgins has been missing since September, by Meghann M. Cuniff. Published June 7, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/137C39560BC565B0
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): GROUP HOLDS VIGIL FOR WOMAN – New information is ‘very scarce’ about Higgins’ disappearance, by Meghann M. Cuniff. Published September 21, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/139E728B6A901670
- KHQ (Spokane, WA): A MOTHER’S BROKEN HEART: It’s Been Three Years Since Disappearance Of Heather Higgins. Published September 20, 2013. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.khq.com/news/a-mothers-broken-heart-its-been-three-years-since-disappearance-of-heather-higgins/article_692990f0-6103-5d00-9c73-8b3e6032e0e5.html
- The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA): Police find man wanted in attempted murder case, from Staff Reports. Published June 27, 2014. Accessed January 10, 2025 via Internet Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20140629024802/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jun/27/police-find-man-wanted-attempted-murder-case/
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Saturday marks 4 years since Spokane woman disappeared, by Shawn Chitnis and Krem.com. Published September 20, 2014. Accessed January 10, 2025 via NewsLibrary. https://newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/15075AF5AC7E55C8
- KREM 2 (Spokane, WA): Police still asking for leads 7 years after Spokane woman goes missing, by Kaitlin Riordan. Published September 26, 2017. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-county/police-still-asking-for-leads-7-years-after-spokane-woman-goes-missing/293-478832444
- The Spokesman Review: Daughter seeks to reopen investigation into death of battered Spokane Valley mother, by Thomas Clouse. Published June 8, 2017. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jun/08/daughter-seeks-to-reopen-investigation-into-death-/
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