Trotwood man pleads not guilty in Troy man’s death

Troy — A Trotwood man pleaded not guilty Wednesday, Dec, 20, to an indictment for felony involuntary manslaughter in the Dec. 8 death of a Troy man following an altercation at a Troy residence.

William C. Smith II, 42, was indicted by a Miami County grand jury Thursday, Dec. 14, in the death of Willard Higgins Jr., 40, of Troy. Bail for Smith was set at $300,000 cash by Judge Jeannine Pratt in county Common Pleas Court. Smith's pretrial hearing was scheduled for Jan. 2.

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Troy police reported Higgins died at Kettering Medical Center the evening of Dec. 8 following an altercation with Smith at a house in the 600 block of South Walnut Street in Troy earlier that day.

Police said both Higgins and his girlfriend had been staying at the residence, where Smith had stopped by when an argument arose.

A witness said Smith allegedly made a comment about Higgins' girlfriend, leading to the argument. "Bill made some comment about Debbie and Willard said don't disrespect her," a witness was quoted by police in a report.

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After the altercation, Higgins said he was having difficulty breathing so an ambulance was called. He was taken first to Upper Valley Medical Center before being transferred to the Kettering hospital, where he died around 5:30 p.m.

Smith was arrested later that day in Washington Courthouse and returned to Troy the following day.