Daniel Robbins, 44, of Macon, Georgia, died of a heart attack while dragging the lifeless body of his girlfriend, Jessica Folds, 47, through a wooded area near Lanett, Alabama, according to post-mortem findings. Both were discovered deceased on June 10 in a woodland area near the rural community where Folds was raised.
Discovery and Investigation
Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson told local news channel WTVM that Folds' body was found with her hands raised above her head, a few miles from her residence. A post-mortem confirmed she had been strangled. Robbins' body lay adjacent to hers, curled in the foetal position. Police noted a distinct 'drag path' at the scene.
District Attorney Mike Segrest stated that officials believe Robbins killed Folds during a domestic violence incident the night before and was attempting to dispose of her body when he suffered a fatal heart attack. Segrest said: "He died of a heart attack while doing it. Their bodies were right there together."
Sequence of Events
Authorities were alerted around midday on June 10 after a passerby spotted an abandoned vehicle next to a dirt road with its engine still running. The driver's side door was open, and the tailgate had been lowered. Police followed drag marks from the lowered tailgate and truck bed through the dirt, ending in the scrub where the two bodies lay.
The passerby initially mistook the remains for mannequins, the county sheriff told WTVM.
Victims and Aftermath
Folds, a mother-of-three from Lanett, Alabama, lost her husband of five years in February of the previous year. She leaves behind three adult sons and two grandchildren. Her obituary reads: "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 taken down from the funeral home's website. The police have not disclosed a motive for the alleged murder, which remains under investigation.
