Javonte Higgins' long criminal record

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - Javonte Higgins, identified as a person of interest in the killings of David and Vivian Bouwman, was arrested in September 2012 after he was found with a vehicle full of valuables and burglary tools near a Kentwood home.

A neighbor in the 5000 block of Ticonderoga saw Higgins disappear behind a home that day and called police. When they arrived, the back door of that home was open, the insides were ransacked and Higgins allegedly had the valuables.

He said he was just taking a walk, but was arrested and charged with second-degree home invasion and possessing burglars tools.

He stayed in jail for a few weeks until his bond was reduced to $15,000. He posted the bond and was scheduled to appear in court next Monday, Jan. 14.

But his attorney told 24 Hour News 8 on Friday that hearing had already been postponed because he had been in a car accident and wasn't able to show up in court.

That hearing was postponed on Thursday -- hours before he was named a person of interest in the Bouwman slayings.  His attorney said she had no idea he was a person of interest in that case.

Beginning in 2005, when Higgins was 14, he ran away several times, was caught repeatedly smoking marijuana, assaulted someone, resisted arrest, was chased by police and tried to break into a home.

All before he was 17.

Shortly after his 17th birthday, Higgins was arrested for breaking-and-entering a home in the 7400 block of Old Lantern Drive in Gaines Township. In that case, the homeowner was there when he and another man broke in. She locked herself in the bathroom and called police.

They ran, but when police found Higgins and his partner they were able to match his shoeprints to some found at the scene.

In that case, he was charged with first-degree home invasion. He admitted he broke a window to get in -- similar to how the Bouwmans' killer entered their home on Stowevalley Drive.

He dodged a possible 20-year sentence by testifying against his accomplice, instead spending three years in prison.

Higgins was released in 2010.

He told the court he was living with his aunt and a Grand Rapids address, which was still listed as his home address in 2012.

But his uncle -- through a door of the house -- told 24 Hour News 8 he hasn't lived there for some time.