Fatal house fire being investigated as a homicide

Tuesday, July 12th 2005, 7:30 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa detectives and arson investigators worked quickly to solve an early Tuesday morning homicide that first appeared to be a house fire. It soon became a murder investigation and within hours, Tulsa Police had a confession.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler says Tulsa firefighters responded to a house fire in the 5800 block of North Frankfort at about 4:15 AM Tuesday, where neighbors say a newlywed couple had just moved in.

Tulsa Police Sgt Mike Huff: "By the time they put out the fire they found a woman inside and obviously considered it foul play. We responded to the scene and found that the woman had been murdered." Police put out the word they wanted to question Byron Robinson[pictured], the woman's husband and within a couple of hours, he had walked into the detective division to tell his story.

While homicide detectives talked with Robinson, AJ the arson dog and fire investigators collected evidence from the truck he drove to the station.

Within a couple of hours, it became clear they had a case. Sgt Mike Huff: "Eventually he admitted to this kind of continuing domestic violence situation and setting the fire to try to cover up the evidence."

Court documents show Robinson had just made a court appearance last week and was due back in court in August, for allegedly assaulting Teresa Higgins on June 3rd, the same day the couple got their wedding license. Sgt Mike Huff: "This pattern of violence just escalated to this really tragic day today, so he's in jail and you know her family's dealing with what's going on with her children and the aftermath of this tragedy."

Byron Robinson has been booked into the Tulsa County jail without bond, on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree arson.

25 year-old Teresa Higgins leaves behind three small children, who are reportedly safe with family members.