Events That Occurred After Carolyn’s Murder-

November 15 & 16th, 1998 - The birthdays of Carolyn’s two youngest children Stephen (9) and Megan (7).  All siblings, Melissa, Tim, Joseph, Stephen and Megan, were together with their Mom.
November 20, 1998 - Carolyn Marie Bolger, murdered by Raul Higgins by strangulation and found by her 16 year old son.
November 20, 1998 -  Raul Higgins attempts suicide by taking a large amount of prescription pills and driving head first into oncoming traffic, potentially killing others as he attempted to kill himself.

1998 - Joseph, Stephen and Megan left Redding and moved in with their Dad in Santa Barbara for three weeks. 
1998 - Diane Weltch (mom's best friend) gained temporary custody for two months. 
1999 - A family member on the father’s side gained temporary custody of all three children and they were forced to move to Pasadena in an attempt to reunite with their father.

March 16, 1999 - Raul Higgins sentenced to 15 years to life in jail for second degree murder of Carolyn

1999 -  Joseph was deemed a “stumbling block in the reunification process with their father.” Joseph moved back up to Redding and lived with Diane continuing homeschool  and high school.  During this time Tim and Melissa were allowed to visit Stephen and Megan for two hours every other week. These had to be supervised visits and they happened in accordance to their guardians demands. Sometimes they were in a park, others in a room.  Tim and Melissa had to drive to L.A. from Santa Barbara in order to see them.
2000 - Visits with Stephen and Megan abruptly ended with no answers to endless phone calls. Melissa, Tim and Joseph are out of touch with Stephen and Megan and don’t know where they are. 
2001 - Unbeknownst to older siblings,  Megan and Stephen's father took them to the state of Hawaii without legal guardianship.

2003 - Tim and Robin(wife) hired a private investigator to find Stephen and Megan. Tim Bolger SR. (Father) denies any visits.
2003 -  Tim and Robin fly to Oahu and find Megan and Stephen on their way to school. Tim, Megan, and Stephen are reunited for the first time in 3 years.  2003 - Tim and Robin have to hire an attorney in Hawaii to help with a lengthy court battle for visitation.

2004 - Tim, Robin,Joseph and Melissa make numerous trips, hire an attorney. The siblings set a precedent in the state of Hawaii courts to get sibling visitation rights granted.
2005 - Mr. Bolger Sr.(father) is arrested for Abuse of a household member. CPS take Stephen and Megan for protective custody. 2005- Hawaii courts appoint a foster family as guardians of Stephen and Megan.
Feb 14, 2007 - The foster family and siblings agree Stephen and Megan should move to Santa Barbara. Tim and Robin become their legal guardians. The siblings are finally reunited.

Parole Hearings

Sept 26, 2012 -  Parole Hearing #1-received minimum sentence of 2 more years before next parole hearing.
May 6, 2014 - Parole Hearing #2 -received sentence of 5 more years before next parole hearing.
May 30, 2019 - Parole Hearing #3- The Parole Board finds inmate Higgins fit for parole.
October 8, 2019 - Gavin Newsom reverses parole board decision and prisoner receives 18 months for next parole hearing.
November 13, 2020 - Parole Hearing #4 is scheduled for victims to appear via Skype to read impact statements.