Daniel Robbins, 44, died of a heart attack while dragging the lifeless body of his girlfriend, Jessica Folds, 47, through a wooded area in Alabama, an autopsy has confirmed. The pair were discovered dead on June 10 in a wooded area near Lanett, a small rural community where Folds had been raised.
Discovery of the Bodies
Police found Folds' body with her hands positioned above her head, just a few miles from her residence, Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson told local news channel WTVM. An autopsy confirmed she was strangled to death. Robbins' body lay beside hers, curled up in the foetal position. Officers noted a distinct 'drag path' at the scene.
District Attorney Mike Segrest said officials believe Robbins was attempting to dispose of her body when he collapsed and died. "He died of a heart attack while doing it," Segrest stated. "Their bodies were right there together."
Sequence of Events
Police were called to the wooded area at around midday on June 10 after a passer-by spotted an abandoned vehicle alongside a dirt track with its engine running. The driver's side door was open, and the tailgate had been pulled down, the DA added. Officers followed drag marks through the dirt, which began at the ground beside the lowered tailgate and truck bed, ending in the undergrowth where the two bodies were found.
The passer-by initially mistook the remains for mannequins, the sheriff told WTVM. Police have not confirmed the exact length of the relationship, but public records show Folds, a mother of three and grandmother, had lost her husband of five years in February 2025. Police believe Robbins killed Folds during a domestic violence attack the previous evening.
Victims and Aftermath
Folds leaves behind three adult sons and 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 leaves behind a daughter. The funeral home handling his remains has since removed his obituary from its website. Officers have not disclosed a motive for the alleged killing, and the investigation remains ongoing.
