Jessica Folds, a 47-year-old mother of three from Alabama, was strangled to death by her boyfriend, authorities said, who then died himself while attempting to dump her body in the woods.
Background
Folds and Daniel Robbins, 44, of Georgia, had been dating before their deaths. The couple was found on June 10 around 12:30 p.m. after Chambers County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an area along County Road 86 in Lanett to investigate an abandoned vehicle still running with its driver's side door open and tailgate down.
Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson told WTVM that a person who reported the abandoned truck also saw the couple's bodies in the woods but thought they were mannequins. When deputies arrived, they located Folds' body alongside Robbins' in a wooded area nearby.
Folds lived just a few miles from the discovery site with Robbins in Lanett, according to authorities. Robbins was living in Macon, Georgia. An obituary for Folds describes her as a mother of three who "lived and worked many places in the Auburn-Opelika area" of Alabama.
The Investigation
Deputies discovered drag marks in the dirt leading from the truck to where the bodies were found in the woods. Based on the investigation, 5th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Mike Segrest told AL.com that Folds had been strangled and Robbins appeared to have been attempting to dispose of her body when he collapsed.
Investigators believe Robbins was in the middle of moving Folds' body to a remote location when he suffered a fatal heart attack. His ex-wife told WTVM that he had a preexisting heart condition. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate, and both bodies were transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for autopsies.
Sheriff Nelson said the location where Folds and Robbins were found is believed to be a drop site, not the location where Folds was killed. Officials have not released a motive for her killing. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office confirmed that "the female victim was strangled."
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Folds, 47, was allegedly strangled by her boyfriend Daniel Robbins, 44, sometime in early June in Chambers County, Alabama
- Robbins died of a heart attack while attempting to dump Folds' body in the woods along County Road 86 near Lanett
- Both bodies were discovered together on June 10 when authorities responded to an abandoned running vehicle with its tailgate down
- Drag marks led investigators from the truck to where both victims were found; Robbins was positioned in a fetal position while Folds had her hands raised over her head
- Robbins had a preexisting heart condition, according to his ex-wife who spoke to WTVM
What's Next
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation continues its probe into Folds' death. Autopsy results from the Alabama Department of Forensic Science are pending and expected to provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding both deaths. District Attorney Mike Segrest confirmed Robbins died "of a heart attack while doing it" — attempting to dispose of Folds' body. The case remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine where exactly Folds was killed.