St. Johns County woman accused of killing teen in 2013 hit and run held on $100,000 bond

A woman accused of killing a teenager in a hit-and-run in 2013 faced a judge on Tuesday.

The judge ordered Tiffany Higginbotham be held on a $100,000 bond for hitting and killing 15-year-old Hillary Smith.

Smith’s family said they're starting to get closure after the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office found new evidence that led to a break in her case.

Higginbotham, who has been in trouble with law enforcement more than 10 times in seven years, was already in jail. Deputies announced additional charges Monday in connection with Smith’s death.

Action News Jax spoke with a local private investigator who wants to help families like Smith’s.

David Revezzo of Defense Investigators said he spent four decades investigating homicides and other cases. He now devotes his time to helping families get answers.

“There are so many that go unsolved, looking at the statistics,” Revezzo said.

Revezzo said more than 1,200 families in Jacksonville are waiting to get a call about breaks in their cases.

“Those are the moments you wait for, and that’s what we want to do,” Revezzo said.

Revezzo said everyone deserves justice and closure.

“It doesn’t do them any good to have the case sit in a warehouse shelf, getting full of dust,” Revezzo said.

Revezzo said an outsider or a fresh set of eyes can be key to cracking a case.

“You might interview someone now who didn’t want to talk to police like 15 or 20 years ago and now they will talk to someone about it,” he said.

Cox Media Group