Missing mum found dead after sending daughter money and chilling text
Daisy Phillipson
Featured Image Credit: Debbie Steve Collier/Facebook/@nowhabersham/Twiter
The body of a missing woman has been found after she sent her daughter money and a chilling last text message, police have confirmed.
Debbie Collier, from Athens, Georgia, was reported missing on 10 September, with her daughter Amanda Bearden offering officers some concerning information.
Prior to her disappearance, the 59-year-old sent Bearden $2,385 via Venmo, which appeared to have been sent from her husband Steve's account.
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She also sent her daughter the following text: "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."
Although she tried to call her mum after receiving the payment, Collier didn't pick up the phone.
The unusual circumstances prompted the 39-year-old to call authorities, who swiftly launched an investigation into the case.
Bearden explained that her mum had left with just her driver's license and a debit card in a rented car.
Just one day later, officers located the rented SUV to a wooded area in Tallulah Falls after picking up a signal from its satellite radio.
A K9 unit then uncovered a red tote bag and partially covered tarp in the area, which was approximately 60 miles from her home.
According to an incident report seen by the Metro, officers discovered Collier's body near to where the car was found.
Habersham County Sheriff's Office colonel Murray Kogod said: "Further search resulted in locating the body of a female subject down an embankment close to where the bag and tarp were located."
Authorities have confirmed that the body found over the weekend in Habersham County is that of Debbie Collier. Family members reported the 59-year-old Athens woman missing on September 10. Her body was found less than 24 hours later. https://t.co/IIQyem6vrr via @nowhabersham pic.twitter.com/Bb3xupqiq5
— Now Habersham (@nowhabersham) September 13, 2022
According to 11 Alive, Collier worked as the front office manager for Carriage House Realty in Athens and had been married to her husband since 2013.
He told detectives he last saw his wife on the evening of 9 September, and when he woke up to go to work the following day her car was still in the driveway.
The ongoing investigation is being treated as a homicide rather than a suicide, with a sergeant from the police force stating that her body appeared to have been partially burned with 'charring to her abdomen'.
Her family also told investigators that Collier had no history of mental health issues.
UNILAD has contacted the Habersham County Sheriff's Office for further comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677