John Anthony Higgins Arrested in Port Orange for Stealing and Pawning Rare Walking Dead Comic
John Anthony Higgins, a 63-year-old resident of Merritt Island, Florida, was arrested and charged after deputies said he stole a graded, first-edition Walking Dead
comic book valued at $2,000 from Defender Comics in Cape Canaveral and pawned it at a shop in Port Orange on the exact same day. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office booked Higgins on charges of dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership to a pawnbroker following an investigation into the June theft.
June Theft and Same-Day Pawn Shop Sale in Port Orange
The stolen collectible first drew attention when staff at Defender Comics in Cape Canaveral noticed the rare book was missing on June 19, 2026, according to records reviewed by WKMG and cited by ClickOrlando. Detectives determined that the comic was sold that very same day at a Port Orange pawn shop for $2,000. Security footage from the shop captured the transaction, and investigators identified the seller as Higgins. Staff members at the pawn shop told deputies they had conducted business with Higgins for multiple years and positively identified him as the individual who completed the sale.
Higgins Used Similar Methods to Sell Stolen Collectibles
Beyond the comic book case, court documents show Higgins had an active arrest warrant stemming from a separate case involving petit theft and dealing in stolen property. According to an affidavit detailed by ClickOrlando, investigators discovered that Higgins used the same method in the previous case, which involved stealing collectible items and selling them to other businesses. Deputies connected this pattern of behavior to the Defender Comics investigation.
Higgins Gave Contradictory Timeline for Comic Book Sale
On Sept. 30, a Brevard County deputy contacted Higgins at his workplace to question him about the missing comic book. According to the arrest affidavit reported by WKMG, Higgins admitted during the conversation that he had sold the comic book twice at the Port Orange pawn shop. Higgins claimed he obtained the book from a deceased friend in March 2026. Investigators noted in the affidavit that this timeline contradicts Defender Comics’ report that the item vanished on June 19, 2026—the exact date Higgins completed the pawn transaction.
Higgins Posts Bond After Dealing in Stolen Property Charges
Following his arrest at his workplace, authorities transported Higgins to the Brevard County Jail. Jail records indicate he was held on a bond of $26,000 before posting bail and securing his release. He faces charges for dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership to a pawnbroker as the legal proceedings advance through the Florida court system.
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