THE thriller of a mom’s loss of life has deepened months after her charred stays had been found in a ravine.
An post-mortem report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations discovered that 80 % of Debbie Collier’s physique was burned, nonetheless, much more questions had been raised.
The mom of two was reported lacking on September 10, 2022, after her daughter, Amanda, acquired a mysterious Venmo cost for $2,385 with an odd message: “They don't seem to be going to let me go, love you.”
The following day, Collier, 59, was discovered useless in a wooded space in Habersham County - greater than an hour from her house in Athens, Georgia.
A protracted homicide investigation was underway however yielded no outcomes - till authorities dominated her loss of life a suicide in November.
It was initially believed that Collier’s abdomen was charred, nonetheless, the post-mortem confirmed that her burns had been extra brutal than beforehand reported.
Based on the report, obtained by the New York Put up, Collier had “second and third diploma burns involving 80 % of the whole physique floor space.”
Collier died from “inhalation of superheated gases, thermal accidents, and a hydrocodone intoxication."
The workplace employee typically took hydrocodone, a painkiller that was prescribed by a health care provider to deal with a chronic again harm.
“Post-mortem examination revealed thermal accidents of the exterior physique floor and of the tracheal mucosa (windpipe), no deposited soot within the airway, and no important elevation of blood carboxyhemoglobin,” learn the report, which additionally discovered that “no different important accidents had been famous.”
Based on the GBI, these findings could be on account of a sudden or intense “flash” fireplace.
A melted fuel can was discovered close to the world, which was doubtless the supply of the “flash fireplace,” nonetheless it didn't clarify why Collier was bare or discovered gripping the bottom of a small tree together with her proper hand.
The health worker mentioned that she had third-degree burns to her face, charred areas of her scalp, and “charred leathery pores and skin” all through her physique.
Nonetheless, what led to her loss of life being dominated a suicide stays unclear because the post-mortem report doesn’t clarify it, aside from a line that states: “Investigation by regulation enforcement revealed circumstances in keeping with a self-intentioned act and that she was alone on the time of the incident.”
Her loss of life was initially described by Georgia police as “private and focused,” nonetheless no suspects had been ever publicly named.
The Venmo message to her daughter was additionally by no means defined, together with why the mom stopped at a Household Greenback to purchase a poncho, refillable torch lighter, paper towels, and a tote bag the day she disappeared.
FAMILY'S LAMENT
Collier’s son, Jeffrey Bearden, claimed again in November that Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell dismissed his considerations relating to his mom’s investigation.
“I need him to resign, completely,” Bearden informed The Each day Beast.
“I might not be the person I'm immediately with out my mom and I can’t let one other sufferer’s household undergo what I went by on the telephone with him.”
Collier’s son spoke to investigators, sharing his considerations about doable leaks from the sheriff’s division to the press but in addition to get updates on the case.
Bearden mentioned that he reached out to the sheriff’s division and requested that he be saved up to date on any necessary data within the investigation.
“I defined my considerations for my household and my very own bodily security about being doxxed on-line as a result of intensive media protection of my mom’s case,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, Bearden claims that Terrell informed him that he didn’t know of any leaks earlier than explaining that the press had the “proper to free speech.”
Whereas Bearden continued to clarify his frustrations, he mentioned the sheriff “proceeded to snicker.”
“I needed to ask him to cease. I informed him that I felt prefer it was disrespectful to snigger at my circumstance,” mentioned Bearden.
“And once I started to push additional concerning the leaks, he mentioned: ‘I'm making an attempt to not dangle up on you.’”
Bearden claimed that he in the end hung up on Terrell and filed a grievance the following day.
“Sadly, the elected Sheriff’s perspective, lack of expertise, and misbehavior doesn't give me religion or confidence of their capacity to deal with her ‘deliberate and private’ loss of life,” he wrote in an e mail to the chief deputy.
“Please let me know should you want any further data relating to my request for a proper grievance to be filed. I need to guarantee that is carried out in a well timed method.”
A spokesperson for the Habersham County Sheriff’s Workplace informed The Each day Beast that the division was “actually sympathetic to the emotional stress that the prolonged interval taken to research such a fancy and distinctive case" induced the household.
“We will guarantee you that Sheriff Terrell, in addition to all concerned members of the sheriff’s workplace, don't have anything however respect and understanding in the direction of the household and that any misunderstandings relating to discussions associated to this case are nothing extra than simply that - a misunderstanding,” the spokesperson added.
“Nevertheless, on the similar time, it's incumbent on us to exhaust each idea of what occurred and to derive at a discovering that's primarily based on information and proof fairly than hypothesis and rumor.
“As said a number of occasions prior to now, the scene concerned on this case resulted in additional questions than solutions.
"As quickly as all requested data has been acquired, analyzed, and evaluated, the sheriff’s workplace will present an entire assertion relating to the findings of this investigation.”
Bearden mentioned he was stunned to study that the division known as the telephone name a “misunderstanding.”
“What's your definition of respect at this level?” he requested.
“At this level, my mom has handed. What we need to know now could be what occurred to her so we are able to transfer ahead. So we are able to get justice.”
Post a Comment