the family of an industry heir brutally murdered in the congo in 1960 have revealed new details of his death mark higgins, 20, from worcester, massachusetts, was on his way to a kibbutz in israel after working for missionary albert schweitzer in a jungle village in gabon when he was shot by soldiers and hacked by machetes the troops mistakenly believed he was a belgian spy when they raided a house he was staying in more than 50 years after his grisly death, his cousin clarinda has travelled to africa to unearth more information about his slaying brutal: mark higgins, 20, from worcester, massachusetts, was on his way to a kibbutz in israel  in 1960 after working for missionary albert schweitzer in a jungle village in gabon when he was hacked to death by congolese soldiers his cousin clarinda (right) returned to gabon to retrace his footsteps  investigation: the troops responsible for his murder mistakenly believed he was a belgian spy when they raided a house he was staying in the town of kasongo  she has now released a book titled against the current: how albert schweitzer inspired a young man's journey which reveals the evidence she has discovered mr higgins was the son of  worcester industrialist carter higgins and grandson of higgins armory museum founder john woodman higgins he was destined to study at yale university and move on to a senior position at his father's company, worcester pressed steel but he shunned the choices and instead traveled to africa in 1959 at the age of 18 there he started work alongside the german french philosopher at the schweitzer hospital in lambaréné, gabon the complex set in a humid jungle included a leper village after 13 months with dr schweitzer, mark higgins was off on a another journey in june 1960, with the idea of backpacking up through africa to a kibbutz in israel meeting locals: she revisited the hospital where he used to work in a bid to unearth more information about his grisly death  concern: mr higgins boarded a steamboat travelling north in 1960, but wrote a letter home on board saying: 'something is incredibly wrong' when he realized it was going in the wrong direction  on june 30, 1960, the république du congo achieved independence from belgium the country had formerly been called belgian congo the situation led to a huge amount of violence and tension around the country the gendarmerie and military force who mutinied against their former rulers began turnijng on belgian citizens mr higgins boarded a steamboat travelling north in 1960, but wrote a letter home on board saying: 'something is incredibly wrong' all the other vessels were going down the kasai river, but his was heading inland instead on july 25, 1960, higgins was staying with a family in the town of kasongo when armed mutineers looking for belgians broke in 'mark raised his hands (and said), 'i'm american not belgian,' ' clarinda higgins told the worcester telegram and gazette 'they shot him and macheted him' memories: during her visit she met a 90 year old man called joseph (left) who still remembered mark after more than half a century  her husband bill stands at the spot where mark came ashore to begin work in 1959  lambros passialis, a greek african businessman living in the democratic republic of congo who had been in touch with mr higgins, got in touch with the american consulate in 2014 clarinda higgins returned to gabon with her husband and two grown children to retrace mark's footsteps while there she met 90 year old, joseph, who had been there since at least the 1960s clarinda higgins showed him a photograph of her cousin after a pause, he said 'oh, that's mark' 'it was a mind blowing experience to be at schweitzer's,' clarinda told the paper 'it's still fully operating still a real jungle clinic the dining room is still the same dining room' she also explained part of the reason why she ventured to africa retracing steps: she walks around the schweitzer hospital in lambaréné, gabon, where mark used to work  'i adored him,' mrs higgins said 'there was always this admiration i remember three letters he wrote me one was about working in the leper colony,' she added  in another letter, he told her ' 'i've learned something new, and it's the blessing to give help' she said: 'he had found meaning in life i get goose bumps when i read that letter he had found meaning somehow it was about helping and service' clarinda higgins holds a bachelor's degree in eastern studies from smith college and a master's degree in education she taught elementary school for 11 years and has worked as an environmental educator since 1986 she was recognized with the gold award by the national science teachers association her husband and co author william g armstrong jr is a former associated press writer and public relations executive in new york purchase a copy of against the current here  revelations: clarinda has now released a book titled against the current: how albert schweitzer inspired a young man's journey which reveals the evidence she has discovered 
mark higgins israel gabon kasongo belgian american clarinda
mark higgins was on his way to israel from gabon  when he was killed . was staying in the town of kasongo when belgian soldiers broke in . he said he was american, but troops still shot him and cut him up . his cousin clarinda has released a book about his life and grisly death 