A Georgia woman, whose mysterious death was initially described by authorities as a “personal and targeted” homicide, died by suicide, officials said Friday.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation attributed the death of Deborrah Collier, 59, to inhalation of “superheated gases”, thermal injuries and hydrocodone poisoning, according to a press release from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.
A spokeswoman for the state law enforcement agency said she submitted the autopsy results to the sheriff’s office on Thursday.
Collier was partially burned on September 11 and found naked in the woods in northern Georgia. Authorities say they found her body after spotting her van, which has been linked to a missing persons report, parked at the side of a state highway in Clarkesville.
Deborah Collier.Facebook
According to an incident report, the van was empty and unlocked. A K-9 search of nearby woods appeared to reveal the remains of a fire and a partially burned blue tarp, the report said.
Nearby, they found a naked woman on her back. Her abdomen was burned and she was holding a small tree with her right hand, the report said.
Collier’s last known communication was a text message to her daughter, which said, “They won’t let me go, there’s a key to the house under a flowerpot,” according to an incident report.
Authorities previously said there was no additional evidence Collier was kidnapped or killed by a serial killer. The sheriff’s office also said it found no evidence linking her death to suicide.
“Currently, the investigation leads us to believe that Ms. Collier’s death was personal and deliberate,” the sheriff’s office said Sept. 30.
In an email Friday, Habersham County Deputy Sheriff’s Chief Murray Kogod said law enforcement typically treats unusual and complex crime scenes as homicides.
“This was the consensus of all authorities involved in the initial and ongoing investigation into Mrs Collier’s death,” he said. “The ‘personal and targeted’ comment is more related to the rumors being circulated that this was the work of a serial killer or a stranger.”
He added that he and the sheriff are proud of the “detailed and methodical” work done by investigators on this case.
“It is our hope and prayer that this brings closure to the family and allows them to begin the healing process,” he said.
Attempts to reach Collier’s daughter were unsuccessful.
In Friday’s press release, the sheriff’s office said it “remained vigilant to seek and pursue any potential lead as to Deborrah Collier’s actions over the weekend of her death.”
“A detailed review of all of the information gathered has enabled investigators to determine, based on facts and data, that Mrs. Collier’s death was self-inflicted,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office also noted the state court’s findings. Investigators interviewed more than 20 family members and witnesses and served 26 search warrants to obtain cell phone data, bank records and electronic communications, the sheriff’s office said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more resources.
Phil Helsel contributed to this.
