State Police apparently cracked a nearly four-year-old murder case Wednesday when Christopher Scott confessed to shooting his uncle. In written and verbal statements given in the Washington County District Attorney's office Wednesday, Scott confessed to shooting Milford Higgs, 58 at the time of the incident, once in the head and stealing $3,894.51 from the victim's house at 3762 Baltimore St. in Finleyville. Scott, 22, whose last known address was 7955 Maderia St., Pittsburgh, was arraigned before District Justice David Mark in Canonsburg on one count each of criminal homicide, robbery and theft by unlawful taking. Scott is currently serving a three-to-five year sentence at the State Correctional Institution in Mahonoy in Schuylkill County on an unrelated burglary charge. State Police Trooper Patrick Leary of the Washington Barracks had traveled to S.C.I.-Mahonoy to interview Scott. Washington County District Attorney John Pettit then brought Scott to the state facility in Waynesburg so the suspect could be transported to his offices for further questioning. Higgs was found dead by his mother, Mildred Scott, in the living room of his house following the Oct. 14, 1997 shooting, Pettit said. He was apprehended a short while later at the Port Authority Transit trolley station in South Park. Pettit said Scott had remained a suspect throughout the past four years. He credited the investigative work of state troopers, especially Leary, for cracking the case. Authorities were searching the Gastonville section of the township Wednesday for the weapon allegedly used in the shooting. Police believe Scott dropped the gun somewhere between Higgs' home and the trolley station where he was seen later that night. Authorities did not locate the weapon, Pettit said, but the search is expected to continue today, he added.

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