Laurens Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Strangulation Death

A man charged with murdering his girlfriend in Laurens County was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday.

Eighth circuit solicitor Jerry Peace told News Channel 7 that 45-year old Michael Richard Higgins, of Fountain Inn, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after Higgins pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. peace says that Higgins must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release.

Higgins was originally charged with the murder of Catherine Tollison at a home they shared on Cooks Bridge Road. According to Laurens County officials, Tollison’s neck was broken and she died from strangulation.