Fourth Husband Chaz Higgs Makes Certain He’s the Final
(‘Political Thriller,’ Forensic Recordsdata)
With reference to Kathy Augustine, cheap folks differ.
Some bear in mind the politician as a lioness who protected Nevada’s coffers and chased down those that owed cash to the state. By ambition and laborious work, she had progressed from a single mom working an airline job to a prospect for Treasurer of the US.
Others mentioned that Kathy gained elections by unfairly attacking opponents and that she bullied the individuals who labored for her — and a few who didn’t. Towards the tip of her profession, many Nevada Republicans thought-about her a humiliation and needed her to slink again into personal life, which she refused to do.
However everybody may agree on a couple of issues about Kathy. First, she was a dynamo on the general public stage and behind the scenes. Second, she didn’t all the time choose her husbands properly. And third, she made her exit in a means that nobody imagined.
Gone at 50. For this publish, I regarded for extra particulars about Kathy’s early days, her rise and fall in Nevada politics, and her relationship together with her scheming last partner. So let’s get going within the recap of “Political Thriller” together with additional info from web analysis:
On July 8, 2006, Chaz Higgs, known as 911 to say that his spouse, Nevada state controller Kathy Augustine, collapsed and wasn’t respiratory.
Paramedics revived her, however she fell right into a coma. Honoring Kathy’s needs, her household had life assist suspended, and he or she died in Washoe Medical Middle on July 11, 2006.
Her demise on the age of fifty shocked her household, mates, and people in political circles within the state.
Fastidious woman. For her, it was the ultimate act in a wild experience that began off with promise after which did some zigzagging.
She was born Kathy Marie Alfano in Los Angeles on Might 29, 1956, to Kay and Phil Alfano. Phil, who was Italian American, had a profession within the Marines and later turned a pharmaceutical salesman. Kay labored as a bookkeeper
The couple later had two sons, and the household was described as spiritual.
At the same time as a small little one, Kathy confirmed a expertise for neatness and group, based on the guide In Her Prime: The Homicide of a Political Star by Glenn Puit.
‘Capitol’ acquire. After graduating from highschool in 1974, Kathy enrolled on the College of California Irvine, however later transferred to Occidental Faculty.
Kathy gained a fellowship to serve within the Washington, D.C. workplace of U.S. Rep. Jerry Patterson. He was a Democrat, however Kathy leaned conservative and later labored for Ronald Reagan’s 1976 run for the Republican presidential main.
Within the first few years following her commencement from Occidental Faculty, it’s not clear the place her profession path took her. However she had two short-term failed marriages, with considered one of them producing her solely little one, a daughter named Dallas.
Good match. Whereas working as a scheduler and fill-in flight attendant for Delta, Kathy met Charles Augustine. The 6-foot-3-inch airline pilot had performed soccer in class after which served in Vietnam. He had three youngsters from his earlier marriage, Andrea, Gregory, and Laurence.
Charles was about 15 years older than Kathy, however her household authorized of the match. “She was so clever, so sensible,” Kay advised 48 Hours. “However when it got here to males, she had a delicate spot. She couldn’t make good choices—aside from Charles.”
Lastly, Kathy had discovered a superb man. After they married, Charles adopted Dallas. The couple purchased a home of 5,000 sq. toes in downtown Las Vegas.
Fashioning a profession. It was throughout her union with Charles that she attended California State College at Lengthy Seaside at evening and acquired a grasp’s diploma in public administration.
Charles gave Kathy ethical assist when she determined to attempt for a profession in politics.
Kathy, who was 5-foot 9-inches tall, knew the best way to gown for the job she needed. “All of her garments have been all colour coordinated,” her buddy Nancy Vinnick advised 48 Hours. “All of her fits have been so as.”
A trifecta. Her wardrobe got here from Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Gottschalks, based on the Reno Gazette-Journal.
“Her brisk stroll, brilliant blazers and polished brooches projected an air of conservatism and competence,” based on a Los Angeles Instances story picked up by the Nevada Attraction.
Within the span of some years, Kathy gained three elections. In 1992, she nabbed a seat within the Nevada meeting. Subsequent, she ran efficiently for state senate.
Confidence and Networking. There’s no telling whether or not Kathy felt nervous inside, however outwardly she radiated confidence.
She was described as having a powerful handshake and all the time wanting folks within the eye. The Las Vegas Weekly referred to Kathy as iron-handed and unflagging.
At one level, she belonged to greater than a dozen organizations for Republican ladies in Nevada.
In some Nevadan’s eyes, nevertheless, Kathy’s campaigns used questionable ways.
Doubtful message. Her meeting marketing campaign mailer featured a well-lit picture of Kathy together with her blue eyes, blond hair, and brilliant smile subsequent to a poorly illuminated, grainy, unflattering picture of her opponent, who was black. The caption mentioned: “There’s an actual distinction.”
Throughout her state senate marketing campaign, she mentioned that opponent Lori Lipman Brown refused to salute the flag, a declare that Kathy would later admit was false.
Nonetheless, her upward trajectory continued. In 1998, she turned the primary lady elected to function state controller.
“Kathy was a invoice collector for the state,” Kathy’s buddy Heidi Smith advised Dateline NBC. “That requires anyone with a metal backbone. She collected loads of dangerous debt. You don’t try this by being a candy little factor.”
Signature transfer. As talked about, she even had prospects for appointment to the job of U.S. Treasurer. Two Nevada legislators urged President George W. Bush to think about her. “Below Ms. Augustine’s steering, the controller’s workplace has acquired 10 certificates for achievement for excellence in monetary reporting,” wrote U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons.
Kathy flew to Washington to satisfy with Bush’s chief of workers. Based on In Her Prime, Kathy excitedly advised her mother and father and brothers that she thought the job was hers — sometime, her title is likely to be on the greenback invoice.
In the meantime, Charles Augustine grew pissed off with Kathy’s work-life steadiness, and the couple led more and more separate lives. “My dad didn’t need any a part of being within the limelight politically,” Greg Augustine advised Dateline NBC. “It simply was not his factor. He needed to be house. He needed his spouse at house and that didn’t occur.”
The couple have been planning to separate up. Then, Charles had a stroke in July 2003.
Scrubs buddy. Throughout Charles’s six-week keep at Renown South Meadows Medical Middle, Kathy acquired to know his crucial care nurse, Chaz Higgs.
She and Chaz, who was 39 years outdated and had blond highlights, started having meals collectively on the hospital. Onlookers couldn’t assist however discover how shut the 2 of them turned.
Stepsons Greg and Larry Augustine would later say they discovered the courtship inappropriate whereas their father was debilitated.
Charles’s well being improved and his medical doctors deliberate to ship him to rehab — however then he immediately died of organ failure.
Luau lovefest. He had a $1 million life insurance coverage coverage with Kathy because the beneficiary.
Three weeks after Charles died, Kathy and Chaz flew to Hawaii — a visit initially deliberate for her and Charles — and acquired married. It was the fourth journey to the altar for each of them. The 2 reportedly acted like youngsters in love.
“It was completely weird habits on Kathy’s half,” Greg Augustine advised Dateline. “And Kathy is an individual or I ought to say was an individual who makes managed choices, and he or she makes choices which are based mostly on analysis and thought.”
Phil Alfano, Kathy’s brother, who appeared on Forensic Files, mentioned that the union appeared unusual to him, too.
Was it by the river? A few of the different hospital staff weren’t fairly as enamored of Kathy as Chaz was. She was typically impolite to the hospital workers when she needed to go to Chaz at work or get him on the telephone there, and he or she even threatened to get among the staff fired, based on Poisoned Love: The True Story of ER Nurse Chaz Higgs, His Formidable Spouse, and a Surprising Homicide by Carlton Smith.
The guide additionally famous that Kathy was fond of claiming, “Don’t you realize who I’m?”
For Chaz, the wedding represented a life-style change. Based on public information, Kathy had an annual wage of $80,000. Earlier than assembly her, Chaz was residing in a faculty bus transformed to a cell house.
None-too-charming. Chaz might need loved having a spouse with VIP standing, however he reportedly didn’t just like the obligations that went with it.
Kathy’s buddy Sandra Tiffany later advised the Las Vegas Solar concerning the first time she met Chaz, at a political occasion.
He “barely mentioned two paragraphs,” mentioned Tiffany, who was a Nevada state senator. She described him as “buff” and “self-centered and self-absorbed.”
After all, hitching up with a reasonably boy isn’t any crime. However phrase acquired out about different issues Kathy did.
‘This isn’t the ASPCA.’ Some staff complained Kathy had made them work on her marketing campaign on firm time. Based on authorized papers, Kathy Augustine “triggered Jennifer Normington, on state time, to arrange marketing campaign fundraiser occasions, give marketing campaign speeches, compile and preserve donor lists, format and mail requests for contributions, design fundraiser invites, put together contribution reviews for submission to the Secretary of State and preserve a database of Kathy Augustine’s marketing campaign contributions.”
She additionally reportedly had a imply streak. She advised Normington, who had a diabetic cat, that she ought to kill her pet as a result of the injections took her away from the workplace.
Based on an Related Press story, Kathy threw issues within the workplace in anger. Former assistant controller Jeannine Coward mentioned Kathy was a tyrant and never a pleasant individual. Coward and Normington each mentioned they frightened about shedding their jobs in the event that they refused Kathy’s requests to do marketing campaign work on state time.
One ‘superb’ day. Kathy countered that the staffers had volunteered to work on her marketing campaign. She implied that they went rogue by doing it within the workplace.
In 2004, the meeting impeached Kathy.
The state senate convicted her of considered one of three counts of utilizing state personnel and workplace gear for her personal marketing campaign, and fined her $15,000.
Though censured, Kathy acquired to maintain her controller job.
GOP peeved. “It’s sort of unhappy. The extra dangerous issues she does, the higher she does,” Brown advised the Las Vegas Assessment Journal in 2004. “It doesn’t appear that alongside the best way she’s had any expertise with actual justice.”
In Might 2006, the state Republican social gathering disowned Kathy by voting to not acknowledge candidates who’ve been impeached.
And the U.S. Treasury job wasn’t occurring; Bush nominated Anna Escobedo Cabral.
She retains going. Chaz wasn’t too proud of Kathy both. He needed her to reduce weight. In the meantime, he was spending extra time on the gymnasium and was utilizing steroids, based on the sequence A Killer’s Mistake.
He joined a relationship web site known as Ardour.com and located not less than one on-line liaison. And he was spending Kathy’s cash.
Based on the sequence Homicide by Medic, Kathy as soon as advised her brother Phil that Chaz was driving erratically and he or she feared for her life.
Nonetheless, Kathy wasn’t letting a troubled marriage or an impeachment cease her upward climb. She determined to run for Nevada state treasurer.
Nervous Nevadan? Then got here the 911 name from Chaz on July 8, 2006 and Kathy’s demise three days later. On the time, the media named a large coronary heart assault as the reason for demise.
“She is going to all the time be remembered for her robust dedication to her work, household, mates, and causes,” daughter Dallas Augustine mentioned. “Please bear in mind her that means.”
The Reno Gazette-Journal featured Kathy’s demise in a narrative with the headline “Loss of life Highlights Stresses Politicians Should Endure.” Chaz was quoted within the piece. He cited stress as a purpose for the tragedy.
However others who knew Kathy disagreed. They mentioned that she thrived on stress.
Big turnout. Chaz, apparently, thrived on drama. Quickly after Kathy died, he slit his wrists and left a suicide notice saying that his late spouse’s political enemies have been chargeable for her demise. Regardless of acknowledging that he had deliberate to separate from Kathy — explaining that he didn’t like being the husband of a public workplace holder — Chaz mentioned he needed to be buried subsequent to Kathy and maintain palms together with her within the sunshine.
However Chaz acquired medical assist and survived.
Numerous mates, household, colleagues, and even political rivals attended Kathy’s funeral.
Chaz didn’t go. He skipped her memorial service, too.
CPR charade. In the meantime, the health worker grew suspicious about the reason for Kathy’s demise. Her coronary heart had no indicators of weak spot or illness. And he or she observed what regarded like needle marks on Kathy’s hip.
Investigators came upon that, regardless of Chaz’s maudlin statements about Kathy and the truth that he was telling anybody who’d hear concerning the great relationship they shared, he hadn’t appeared terribly upset the evening paramedics rushed her to the hospital.
Forensic Recordsdata watchers will bear in mind how nonchalantly he advised the 911 dispatcher, “Hey, I’m gonna attempt some extra CPR.” The dispatcher, George Reade, mentioned it didn’t sound as if Chaz was actually performing CPR as a result of he didn’t hear any gasps of air over the telephone, based on Poisoned Love.
Free lips. Investigators famous that, on the 911 name, he didn’t seem significantly distraught and gave the impression to be establishing a reason behind demise by saying Kathy had been below stress for six months.
And paramedics arrived to search out Kathy — wearing a tank high and pajama bottoms — on the mattress. CPR solely works on laborious surfaces. Why hadn’t Chaz put her on the ground?
Within the ambulance on the best way to the hospital, Chaz was studying a newspaper.
Chaz’s colleagues had lots to inform investigators, too. He repeatedly made feedback at work about desirous to eliminate his spouse.
Foresight saves the day. Nurse Kim Ramey mentioned that Chaz advised her that succinylcholine was the most effective homicide weapon. “If you wish to eliminate somebody, you simply hit them with just a little succs, as a result of you may’t hint it autopsy,” Chaz advised her shortly earlier than Kathy’s demise.
Luckily, it turned out that some hospital staff had taken blood and urine specimens when Kathy first arrived within the emergency room. They didn’t imagine she was having a coronary heart assault.
An FBI lab discovered traces of succinylcholine in Kathy’s urine.
Chaz was arrested, charged with homicide, and launched on $250,000 bond. The trial kicked off in 2007.
E-book evaluate. George Reade, who mentioned he had taken about 37,000 emergency calls throughout his profession, testified that he’d by no means heard a member of the family of somebody in an analogous emergency so calmly in a position to report on the scenario at size and provides detailed instructions to the residence. Reade famous that one of many paramedics known as to the scene was extra panicked than Chaz.
One other witness for the prosecution advised the courtroom that Chaz had mentioned that, if he didn’t have a daughter in Las Vegas, he’d kill his spouse and throw her down a mineshaft.
Police had discovered Chaz in possession of a medical guide with the web page about succinylcholine bookmarked.
However Chaz’s lawyer, David Houston, had some ammunition of his personal.
Protection steps up. Anesthesiologist Dr. Paul Mailander testified that it takes round 10 seconds to inject a affected person with succinylcholine and that an unwilling recipient would have time to battle again. But, Kathy’s physique had no rips on the injection web site, he mentioned.
FBI chemist Madeline Montgomery admitted that she hadn’t run a check to find out whether or not ER remedies may have triggered the consequences of succinylcholine.
Houston additionally argued that Chaz Higgs had no monetary motive as a result of Kathy’s residing belief left every little thing to her daughter.
Extra drama. Chaz calmly testified on his personal behalf, denying he would commit homicide. The subsequent day, he tried to commit suicide once more.
Washoe County District Decide Steven Kosach wasn’t impressed. He revoked Chaz’s bail, advised the jury solely that Chaz had been injured, and ordered that the trial proceed promptly.
Chaz was discovered responsible of first diploma homicide and sentenced to life with the opportunity of parole after 20 years. Immediately, he lives in medium safety on the Northern Nevada Correctional Middle in Carson Metropolis.
Though Forensic Recordsdata provides loads of info to persuade viewers of Chaz’s guilt, it leaves his formative years a thriller. For the following publish, I’ll analysis Chaz’s private historical past and what he actually needed to acquire financially from Kathy’s demise—and likewise present an epilogue on Kathy’s daughter.
Till then, cheers. — RR
Watch the Forensic Recordsdata episode on YouTube or Tubi
You may see the episodes about Chaz Higgs on Homicide by Medic on YouTube and A Killer’s Mistake on Tubi
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