DEBBIE COLLIER: Murder of Athens, GA woman found burned in mountains

FBI tries to help identify who killed Debbie Collier of Athens

The FBI has joined the investigation into the mysterious slaying of an Athens woman.

www.onlineathens.com

FBI tries to help identify who killed Debbie Collier of Athens​

The FBI has joined the investigation into the mysterious slaying of an Athens woman whose burned and nearly nude body was found a month ago in a mountain ravine of northeast Georgia.

Habersham County Sheriff’s investigators said the investigation is “very complex in nature” as they do not have suspects or a motive in the death of 59-year-old Debbie Collier, whose body was found Sept. 11.


Collier was reported missing on Sept. 10 by her husband Steve Collier and her daughter, Amanda Bearden. An Athens-Clarke police officer met with them at the Collier home on Rocky Drive in north Athens near Sandy Creek Park.

The body was found the next day after investigators tracked her rented Chrysler van to a location just outside the city of Tallulah Falls in Habersham County by use of a satellite tracking service. The body was found in the woods, along with some items she had earlier purchased at a Family Dollar store in Clayton.

Athens-Clarke police reports show the daughter told an officer that her mother sent her $2,285 through Venmo, an online money-sharing service. She also sent an ominous message saying in part that “they are not going to let me go.”

Investigators believe the act of killing Collier was “deliberate and personal,” Kogod said at a new conference on Sept. 30.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Debbie Collier murder: PI sheds light on Georgia mom's last moments, says 'she was trying to crawl away'

'If it’s of your own volition, you’re usually at peace with the act and you’re not trying to escape something,' said the PI

meaww.com

Debbie Collier murder: PI sheds light on Georgia mom's last moments, says 'she was trying to crawl away'​

An obituary of murdered Georgia mom Debbie Collier has revealed details about the "joys of her life". Collier's naked and charred remains were found in a ravine in Georgia on September 11. On the same day, surveillance footage from a Family Dollar store in Clayton showed the 59-year-old calmly shopping for a blue tarp, a lighter, a tote bag and a rain poncho.

Meanwhile, private investigator and criminal profiler Jason Jensen told The US Sun that that way Collier's body was positioned may shed light on her final moments. Collier's body was found naked in the woods, and she was reportedly grasping a small tree with her hand, a police report said. Collier sent her daughter, Amanda Bearden, $2,385 with the message, "They are not going to let me go, love you." Collier disappeared on September 10. Officials are treating her death as a homicide. Georgia investigators collected an unfired ammunition round from a wooded area near the spot where her body was discovered.

Police found Collier lying on her back, clutching a small tree. “It sounds like she was trying to crawl away from somebody," said the expert. "If it’s of your own volition, you’re usually at peace with the act and you’re not trying to escape something.”

It is unclear whether the alleged killer used lighter fluid to set Collier ablaze or if they torched her clothing. "I would want to know if they were trying to burn her, or her clothing," Jensen said. "If it looks like they tried to use an accelerant, I would want to see that as well. It’s easy to determine because you would be able to know from the tell-tale burn signs if there was gasoline used."

The FBI has now involved themselves in the case, and Habersham County Chief Deputy Murray Kogod said the case “remains complex in nature”. No suspects or persons of interest have been identified yet. There is no indication that the FBI is leading the probe at the moment.

Kogod told reporters: “They wanted to see if they could review the case to see if there is anyway to assist us. We are the lead agency but we always welcome our counterparts to assist us and we have received a lot of help from different agencies including the GBI, FBI, and Athens-Clarke County.” Additionally, Jensen said the FBI will be able to offer “specialized digital forensics capabilities”. Autopsy results are yet to be released.

 

[Kimster]

I caught a little bit of this case on YouTube. It is really bizarre!

This is what I watched:

 

[Whatsnext]

Really bizarre, I hope LE knows alot more than they say. Interesting that the FBI is involved.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

‘Vibrant and strong soul’: Family Remembers Slain Mom Debbie Collier as ‘Loving’ and ‘Kind’ as Murder Mystery Remains Unsolved

Slain Georgia mother Debbie Collier will be laid to rest in Athens by a private memorial service, as investigators continue to search for the suspect(s) responsible for her murder. Collier, 59, was found deceased on September 11, a day after she vanished from her Athens home. Police say foul...

www.crimeonline.com

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Collier’s daughter, Amanda Bearden, 36, contacted police on September 10 after she reportedly received a Venmo payment from Collier for $2,385. A cryptic message was attached to the Venmo payment that read, “They are not going to let me go love you there is a key to the house in the blue flower pot by the door.”

Police said at around 3:15 p.m. on September 10, the Venmo payment was sent to Bearden.

Bearden, who reportedly waited several hours before contacting police, said Collier left everything at home aside from her ID and debit card, which contradicts what’s seen on security footage at a Family Dollar store, the last known sighting of Collier.

Collier’s husband, Steven, said during a 911 call that Bearden told him she found her mother’s purse at home.

“Came home, my wife wasn’t home, her driver’s license still in there, the rental car is gone, and her daughter’s here,” Steven Collier, the first person to make the report, said on September 10 at 6 p.m. “We’re kind of worried about what’s happening and where she’s at. I was wondering if you could send somebody over here.

“According to her daughter, who went up and, uh, her purse is still here with her driver’s license, the only thing is the phone is gone — and she sent her daughter a text about 2 hours ago saying, ‘They won’t let me go.’ Whatever that means, we don’t know.”
“I thought she was out shopping for food. Her daughter came over with that strange message and then went upstairs to her bedroom and found out that her driver’s license and credit card still here. So that doesn’t sound like her leaving the house to go shopping, like I thought she was.”

According to security video footage, Collier walked into a Clayton, Georgia, Family Dollar store on September 10 at around 2:55 p.m. She was seen carrying a large black purse and vehicle keys while wearing a UGA football jersey.

Police say she was seen on security footage buying, in part, a lighter, a tarp, and a bag.

On September 11, police tracked a rental vehicle Collier was using to a wooded area 60 miles away from the family’s Athens home.

Police scoured the vicinity of the vehicle and found her body and a burned blue tarp in a nearby ravine. She was naked, charred, and deceased, police said. Although the case is being treated as a homicide, it’s unclear how Collier died.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest or support that this incident was related to a kidnapping,” the Habersham County police previously said in a statement.

So far, no arrests have been made and no one has been named a suspect in the killing.

 

[Guess Who]

‘Vibrant and strong soul’: Family Remembers Slain Mom Debbie Collier as ‘Loving’ and ‘Kind’ as Murder Mystery Remains Unsolved

Slain Georgia mother Debbie Collier will be laid to rest in Athens by a private memorial service, as investigators continue to search for the suspect(s) responsible for her murder. Collier, 59, was found deceased on September 11, a day after she vanished from her Athens home. Police say foul...

www.crimeonline.com

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Collier’s daughter, Amanda Bearden, 36, contacted police on September 10 after she reportedly received a Venmo payment from Collier for $2,385. A cryptic message was attached to the Venmo payment that read, “They are not going to let me go love you there is a key to the house in the blue flower pot by the door.”

Police said at around 3:15 p.m. on September 10, the Venmo payment was sent to Bearden.

Bearden, who reportedly waited several hours before contacting police, said Collier left everything at home aside from her ID and debit card, which contradicts what’s seen on security footage at a Family Dollar store, the last known sighting of Collier.

Collier’s husband, Steven, said during a 911 call that Bearden told him she found her mother’s purse at home.

“Came home, my wife wasn’t home, her driver’s license still in there, the rental car is gone, and her daughter’s here,” Steven Collier, the first person to make the report, said on September 10 at 6 p.m. “We’re kind of worried about what’s happening and where she’s at. I was wondering if you could send somebody over here.


According to security video footage, Collier walked into a Clayton, Georgia, Family Dollar store on September 10 at around 2:55 p.m. She was seen carrying a large black purse and vehicle keys while wearing a UGA football jersey.

Police say she was seen on security footage buying, in part, a lighter, a tarp, and a bag.

On September 11, police tracked a rental vehicle Collier was using to a wooded area 60 miles away from the family’s Athens home.

Police scoured the vicinity of the vehicle and found her body and a burned blue tarp in a nearby ravine. She was naked, charred, and deceased, police said. Although the case is being treated as a homicide, it’s unclear how Collier died.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest or support that this incident was related to a kidnapping,” the Habersham County police previously said in a statement.

So far, no arrests have been made and no one has been named a suspect in the killing.

Wouldn't she have had her DL and CCs with her IN her purse at the store? Was her method of payment at the store found at the house?

 

[Kimster]

Wouldn't she have had her DL and CCs with her IN her purse at the store? Was her method of payment at the store found at the house?

Exactly.

I am also very curious about her purchasing that tarp. And the lighter. And then the way she was found.

 

[Guess Who]

Exactly.

I am also very curious about her purchasing that tarp. And the lighter. And then the way she was found.

AND....daughter was there prior to husband getting to the home, so daughter could have easily "found" the DL and CCs. I wonder if publicizing the store run and purchases was to rattle 'someone' into seeing what they might have done wrong by taking the method of payment back to the house...you know where I'm going with this...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I caught a little bit of this case on YouTube. It is really bizarre!

This is what I watched:

Linda is usually not the first with a case but when she gets hers out, the facts are almost always accurate and a concise coverage of everything that matters. I find her a good one to go to for a quick picture of a new case if she has one out.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Wouldn't she have had her DL and CCs with her IN her purse at the store? Was her method of payment at the store found at the house?

Big debate out there on women having more than one purse. In the video you can see her pay with a card that she seems to reach in her purse for but then realizes it is in her pocket.

Another thought would be Amanda took the items home. She was allegedly there when the dad got home.

I also thought part of her Venmo message was telling daughter where key was, think it said under a blue flower pot or something...

They keep calling this case complex (the locals) but as far as where it points, it seems to me to point directly to the daughter and her bf. Imo. The complexity is probably due to the plan meaning Venmo, cell phone locations, why Debbie was where she was miles from home, etc.

 

[Kimster]

Have they determined that this was a murder? I’m waiting for the autopsy. Only because I know of somebody that actually lit themselves on fire. I am not saying that’s what happened here at ALL, but I want to know the autopsy results because I wasn’t there to see the scene of the crime.

 

[Kimster]

Big debate out there on women having more than one purse. In the video you can see her pay with a card that she seems to reach in her purse for but then realizes it is in her pocket.

Another thought would be Amanda took the items home. She was allegedly there when the dad got home.

I also thought part of her Venmo message was telling daughter where key was, think it said under a blue flower pot or something...

They keep calling this case complex (the locals) but as far as where it points, it seems to me to point directly to the daughter and her bf. Imo. The complexity is probably due to the plan meaning Venmo, cell phone locations, why Debbie was where she was miles from home, etc.

True, if she was murdered, why wouldn’t she send the money to her husband?

 

[GrandmaBear]

AND....daughter was there prior to husband getting to the home, so daughter could have easily "found" the DL and CCs. I wonder if publicizing the store run and purchases was to rattle 'someone' into seeing what they might have done wrong by taking the method of payment back to the house...you know where I'm going with this...

Lol, I should have read further before responding to your last one.

My thoughts are running parallel to yours in this case...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Have they determined that this was a murder? I’m waiting for the autopsy. Only because I know of somebody that actually lit themselves on fire. I am not saying that’s what happened here at ALL, but I want to know the autopsy results because I wasn’t there to see the scene of the crime.

Been pretty much debunked I think. There were some in the beginning leaning towards suicide until further info came out. I do think they have called it a homicide but won't swear to it or a criminal investigation.. Even some of the retired YT LE channels some were leaving suicide open but not any longer.

She was also nude or partially nude which I think would be rare in a suicide.

But I guess anything is possible.

 

[GrandmaBear]

True, if she was murdered, why wouldn’t she send the money to her husband?

My thought is she didn't send it willingly. Orrrrr it wasn't her that sent it with her phone...

Also her and her husband were on the same Venmo account if I have it right so it already was "his" money too. Another thought would be if she was trying to get help, or tell someone who or what was happening, she knew her husband would see the transaction...

 

[Guess Who]

Big debate out there on women having more than one purse. In the video you can see her pay with a card that she seems to reach in her purse for but then realizes it is in her pocket.

Another thought would be Amanda took the items home. She was allegedly there when the dad got home.

I also thought part of her Venmo message was telling daughter where key was, think it said under a blue flower pot or something...

They keep calling this case complex (the locals) but as far as where it points, it seems to me to point directly to the daughter and her bf. Imo. The complexity is probably due to the plan meaning Venmo, cell phone locations, why Debbie was where she was miles from home, etc.

Im not talking about her purse. I'm talking the DL (illegal to possess more than 1) and her method of payment. One of the articles says daughter was at the home when husband got there and daughter found her DL and CCs in the bedroom and IF one of the CCs found at the home was the one used to purchase the items at the store. That would mean she either made it back home after the store or 'somebody' planted them there.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Im not talking about her purse. I'm talking the DL (illegal to possess more than 1) and her method of payment. One of the articles says daughter was at the home when husband got there and daughter found her DL and CCs in the bedroom and IF one of the CCs found at the home was the one used to purchase the items at the store. That would mean she either made it back home after the store or 'somebody' planted them there.

I have two DLs right as we speak. I had to renew this year and I took a day off just to go to WI and do it, had no choice since I work out of state. We used to issue right at our DMV but I was told now they mail them. Was given a paper in the meantime showing I renewed with a photocopy of the DL. Just got the DL in the mail. Of course I will now get rid of the old one but haven't done it yet as I just got the new one and have to swap them in my purse and cut up the old one. I don't have to do it until my birthday as my old is still valid and I was told that. Soooo... And interestingly, don't quote me, but I swear I read or heard Debbie just had a birthday but I COULD be wrong on that.

But yes, I get your point and I too, no matter if purse or cards, think there is a good chance daughter took these things back there or "planted' them. It's exactly what I am saying. As far as debit card or credit card and which one was used and which one was home, we have no way of knowing that but I am sure LE knows.

I expected a fairly quick arrest in this case. I still do. As soon as they feel they have enough and autopsy probably... I'm pretty sure there are probably already enough lies or inconsistencies but that[s just a guess on my part and jmo.

 

[Guess Who]

I have two DLs right as we speak. I had to renew this year and I took a day off just to go to WI and do it, had no choice since I work out of state. We used to issue right at our DMV but I was told now they mail them. Was given a paper in the meantime showing I renewed with a photocopy of the DL. Just got the DL in the mail. Of course I will now get rid of the old one but haven't done it yet as I just got the new one and have to swap them in my purse and cut up the old one. I don't have to do it until my birthday as my old is still valid and I was told that. Soooo... And interestingly, don't quote me, but I swear I read or heard Debbie just had a birthday but I COULD be wrong on that.

But yes, I get your point and I too, no matter if purse or cards, think there is a good chance daughter took these things back there or "planted' them. It's exactly what I am saying. As far as debit card or credit card and which one was used and which one was home, we have no way of knowing that but I am sure LE knows.

I expected a fairly quick arrest in this case. I still do. As soon as they feel they have enough and autopsy probably... I'm pretty sure there are probably already enough lies or inconsistencies but that[s just a guess on my part and jmo.

One would be expired though in your case and not valid. I'm talking about valid DLs that it is illegal to possess more than one. If you replace a lost/stolen one, it gets flagged in the system and if you get a new one in another state prior to previous state, you can not use your old one as a valid id and have to show your new copy, whether the paper or card version. Some states even take your old one when you go in to register at the new state. Not sure if all do or not though.

 

[GrandmaBear]

One would be expired though in your case and not valid. I'm talking about valid DLs that it is illegal to possess more than one. If you replace a lost/stolen one, it gets flagged in the system and if you get a new one in another state prior to previous state, you can not use your old one as a valid id and have to show your new copy, whether the paper or card version. Some states even take your old one when you go in to register at the new state. Not sure if all do or not though.

I'm going to have to beg to differ on this one. I was just at the DMV. For a DL. I was actually surprised she didn't want me to surrender the one I had. Also I was surprised the new hard copy would be mailed. She gave me the paper printed showing the new one was valid and she also told me my old one could also be used until my birthday which I have not had yet. So both are good. And since one is unrestricted with glasses and the other one not, I am glad to use the old one until I have to wear lenses.

I will say I was surprised but I was told this. Both are valid. Only until the old one expires. It of course may not be the same in every state and if there is one thing that isn't it is state DMV rules and DLs etc.

 

[Guess Who]

I'm going to have to beg to differ on this one. I was just at the DMV. For a DL. I was actually surprised she didn't want me to surrender the one I had. Also I was surprised the new hard copy would be mailed. She gave me the paper printed showing the new one was valid and she also told me my old one could also be used until my birthday which I have not had yet. So both are good. And since one is unrestricted with glasses and the other one not, I am glad to use the old one until I have to wear lenses.

I will say I was surprised but I was told this. Both are valid. Only until the old one expires. It of course may not be the same in every state and if there is one thing that isn't it is state DMV rules and DLs etc.

That's why I stated that I am not sure if it's every state that does it or not. I just know what happened to a couple of people locally that includes MO and KS. Also not sure if there were other reasons, but know both people were hopping mad when they had to surrender their previous state's license!