A man suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to drag the body of his girlfriend through woodland after allegedly killing her, according to an autopsy. Jessica Folds, a 47‑year‑old mother of three from Lanett, Alabama, was discovered alongside her boyfriend, Daniel Robbins, 44, in a remote area near her childhood home on June 10, the Mirror reports.
Discovery and Autopsy Findings
Police say Ms Folds was found with her arms raised above her head and an autopsy has confirmed she died by strangulation. Officers found Robbins' body next to hers, curled up in a fetal position, near a clear 'drag path' at the scene. District Attorney Mike Segrest stated that officials believe Robbins was trying to dump her body when he collapsed and died. 'He died of a heart attack while doing it,' Segrest said. 'Their bodies were right there together.'
Background and Relationship
Police have not said exactly how long the pair had been dating, but public records show the 47-year-old mum and grandmother had lost her husband of five years in February of last year. Despite not knowing where her alleged murder took place, detectives believe Robbins killed Folds after a domestic altercation the night before.
Discovery by Passerby
Police were called to the forested area at around midday on June 10 when a passerby spotted an abandoned vehicle on a dirt road with its engine still running and the driver's door still open. The DA added that the tailgate had been pulled down and that responding officers followed drag marks through the dirt. The marks started at the ground next to the downed tailgate and truck bed and ended in the scrub where police found the two bodies lying in the dirt. The passerby who found the car and the dead couple initially thought their remains were mannequins, the country sheriff told local TV news station WTVM.
Victims' Families
Folds leaves behind three children - all adult sons - as well as two grandchildren. According to her obituary: 'Jessica lived and worked many places in the Auburn-Opelika area. Jessica touched the lives of many with her heart of gold, deep love for everyone, and smile that brightened the world.' Robbins was a father to one daughter. His obituary has been removed from the website of the funeral home that has taken possession of his remains for burial. Police have not released a motive for the alleged killing, which remains under investigation.
