Book chronicles Kathy Augustine’s rise in politics, death by spouse
The story of Kathy Augustine's death had already been splashed on front pages, chronicled on TV network news magazines and detailed in two books when true crime author Glenn Puit began researching his new book about her.
Puit, a former police and courts reporter for the Review-Journal, knew he had to go in a different direction, beyond the story of Augustine's untimely end.
With the cooperation of Augustine's brother and parents, Puit delved into her background, long before she was a rising star in Nevada politics, when she was just a "single mom who aspired to do something great," the author said.
The result, "In Her Prime," tells the story of Augustine's early years, her political rise and fall and comeback, and her eventual murder at the hands of her husband.
"She was out there trying to make her dream come true, and it didn't happen for her," Puit said. "She was a victim."
Unlike previous news accounts and books, Puit said his book tells Augustine's story the right way and goes beyond the "caricature of a female politician who was hell on wheels." It portrays her as a loving and kind mother, a woman who was determined to make something of her life, he said.
Augustine, a Republican, entered state politics on a whim and won a state assembly seat in 1992. She followed that with a term in the state Senate before winning election as state controller in 1998.
Six years later she was mentioned as a possibility to become U.S. treasurer. Puit said she would have gotten the post, but later that year she was impeached for using her office staff to aid her re-election campaign.
She was allowed to finish her term, and in 2006 turned her attention to state treasurer, despite being "kicked to the curb" by the Republican party, Puit said.
In the midst of her campaign, she died July 8, 2006, in the Reno home she shared with husband Chaz Higgs.
He said it was a heart attack, but Reno police soon turned their attention to Higgs, a critical care nurse who had made an off-hand comment to a colleague about using a nearly untraceable paralytic drug to kill a spouse.
Investigators found traces of the drug, succinylcholine, in Augustine's urine.
Higgs was convicted of murder in June 2007 and is serving a life prison sentence.
Puit calls Augustine's tale an American success story cut short.
"To be so close, and to see her murdered in such a brutal way, it's incredibly tragic," he said.
Puit said he hopes to become a success story in his own right.
He left the Review-Journal in 2007 with dreams of becoming a best-selling author. With four true crime books under his belt, Puit said he sees book writing as an extension of what he did as a reporter -- to tell stories.
Laura James, who runs the CLEWS true crime blog, said he has succeeded in spinning interesting tales about some of Las Vegas' high-profile murder cases.
"His prose takes on more depth with each title," she wrote in an e-mail. "As a true crime author, he's earned the respect of his peers and readers."
Puit said the true crime genre can get a bad rap, but he hopes to transcend that by writing compelling, factual books, much like true crime icons Truman Capote and Ann Rule.
"I really view my writing as art," he said. "I want as many people to enjoy my art as possible."
Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.
More about Kathy Augustine's death
STATEMENT FROM AUGUSTINE'S DAUGHTER
Kathy Augustine's daughter, Dallas, did not want to be interviewed about the new book, "In Her Prime," which chronicles her mother's rapid rise on the Nevada political scene and her slaying at the hands of her husband. Dallas Augustine e-mailed this statement instead:
Imagine you are relaxing at home watching your favorite TV show one evening and upon commercial break your recently murdered mother's face fills the screen. The commentator then speaks in dramatic, serious tones and details graphically how frightened she must have been, how painful her death.
The footage then cuts to images of her weeping on the floor of the state Senate as her impeachment verdict is read. Imagine how your heart would break because you've only seen this strong woman weep once before in your life.
Imagine these images, these messages, unrelenting phone calls and surprise visits from reporters and writers, intrusions at all times of the day, the week.
Imagine reading highly fictionalized accounts of your mother's life, your own life, your relationship with her and others, her murder, and reading yourself portrayed as everything from a pugilistic drunk to a murder suspect.
Imagine wanting to scream your pain and truth to all, but you hold it in because you respect your mother's dignity and you know she would have wanted her loved ones to hold themselves apart from the circus.
Now, within these circumstances, imagine trying to grieve a great loss, and attempting to understand evil itself. Then, you learn yet another book is being released.
Yes, I read this latest book about my mother's murder. Need I say more?
