haley smith

March 6, 2017

**UPDATE**

On Monday, February 27, 2017, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Tiffany Higginbotham, 29. She is charged with leaving the scene of a traffic crash with a death.

The victim, 15-year-old Haley Smith, was struck by the truck Higginbotham was driving on November 16, 2013. Haley died as a result of those injuries early the next day.

Higginbotham is currently incarcerated for a separate hit-and-run charge. Haley was one of the first cases we spotlighted and her mother, Jo-Lee, also contributed to our book, Grief Diaries: Project Cold Case.

“I told her that we did it, we didn’t give up. It took the right information getting to the right people at the right time.” – Haley’s mother, Jo-Lee Manning, said while visiting the crash scene after finding out about the arrest.


**Original Spotlight – June 7, 2015**

On the evening of November 16, 2013, 15 year old Haley Smith went for a walk with friends in St. Augustine, Florida.

Hours later she was pronounced deceased while undergoing emergency surgery for injuries sustained in a hit and run crash on Kenton Morrison Road. Investigators are still searching for the driver of the dark colored pickup truck that struck Haley and fled the scene.

Haley was 15 years old and had her whole life ahead of her. She was a student at St. Augustine High School, a member of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Police Explorers and a former member of The Dazzlers at Gamble Rogers dance team.

To learn more about Haley and impact of her death or to show her loved ones your support please visit and “Like” the Justice For Haley Facebook page.

Haley’s life was stolen from her family and friends by a coward that chose not to do the right thing that night or since.

If you have any information, no matter how small you think it is, about the truck, driver or hit and run crash that killed Haley Smith, please call the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit at (904) 209-1498 or the agency’s main number at (904) 824-8304. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1(888) 277-TIPS.

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If you have a loved one that is the victim of an unsolved homicide please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.

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