Man found guilty in 2021 New Orleans axe murder case

NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — A man has been found guilty of second-degree murder following a trial for a New Orleans axe murder that occurred in March of 2021.

According to the Orleans parish District Attorney’s Office, at the outset of the case, the victim, 39-year-old Liz Quackenbush, was reportedly found dead in her home in the 1400 block of Desire Street following a 911 call from the uncle of Quackenbush’s boyfriend, Preston Higgs.

In the call, Higgs’ uncle reportedly described how “Preston hit his girlfriend in the head with a weapon, that she was dead, and that the incident occurred on the previous day,” leading authorities to the scene where the murder weapon was found.

Four months later, in July, Higgs was arrested in Indiana following an 18-week nationwide manhunt led by the United States Marshals Service.

Quackenbush was reportedly a “beloved” chemistry teacher at New Harmony High School in New Orleans, where she was known for creating the Outdoors Adventures program that focused on using nature-themed experiences to help students grasp science and math.

The guilty verdict for Higgs was announced on Friday, Aug. 30 following a three-day jury trial in Criminal District Court Section E.

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