Debbie Collier death: Autopsy report reveals Georgia mom’s body was 80% burnt when she was found dead
WARNING: This article contains graphic content that some readers may find distressing. Discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
ATHENS, GEORGIA: An autopsy report from November 18, 2022, stated that the death of Debbie Collier, who was last seen on September 9, 2022, and her body was discovered naked and burned on September 11, has been ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner's Office. However, the latest update now suggests that the 59-year-old’s body was 80 percent burned when she was found in a ravine 60 miles from her home.
According to New York Post, the report describes that Debbie had “second and third-degree burns involving 80% of the total body surface area.” It also states that she died from “inhalation of superheated gases, thermal injuries, and a hydrocodone intoxication.”
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Did Debbie Collier die by suicide?
"Autopsy examination revealed thermal injuries of the external body surface and of the tracheal mucosa (windpipe), no deposited soot in the airway, and no significant elevation of blood carboxyhemoglobin,” the report states but it also mentions that “no other significant injuries were noted."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation wrote, “These findings may be due to a sudden, intense ‘flash’ fire, as well as the outdoor environment of the fire." As per New York Post, the medical examiners said Debbie, who worked for a local real estate agency in Athens and lived with her husband Steve, was found with third-degree burns to her face, charred portions of her scalp, and “charred leathery skin” throughout her body.
The autopsy report, which states, “Investigation by law enforcement revealed circumstances consistent with a self-intentioned act and that she was alone at the time of the incident,” does not provide further details on why the death was ruled a suicide.
The discovery of Debbie Collier
Debbie's husband Steve told investigators that he last saw his wife at 9 pm on September 10. He said her car was still in the driveway when he left for work the following morning. Cops after learning that Collier's rented SUV was fixed with the SiriusXM satellite radio, used its technology to track her location. On September 11 around 12.30 pm, SiriusXM tracked the vehicle to US 441 near Victory Home Lane, 60 miles north of Athens, home of Collier, and contacted the Habersham County Sheriff's Office. Her body was discovered in a nearby ravine, away from the highway. According to Habersham County Sheriff’s Office records, the vehicle was "unlocked and unoccupied" when found, as reported by Fox News.
According to New York Post, Debbie's daughter Amanda Bearden received $2,385 through the Venmo app from her mother along with a cryptic message 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,” before the mother was found naked and burned.
In the incident report, Amanda stated that Debbie had a bad back, and couldn’t have walked far. She also told police that her mother “did not have any history of mental health issues and denied any suicidal tendencies," reports Daily Beast.