An Alabama man died of a heart attack while trying to dispose of his girlfriend's body after fatally strangling her, authorities said.
Discovery of Bodies
Chambers County sheriff's deputies found Daniel Robbins, 44, and Jessica Folds, 47, dead next to each other on the morning of June 10 in a wooded area near an abandoned vehicle in Lanett, Alabama. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that autopsies were conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.
Investigators determined that Robbins, from Georgia, and Folds, from Lanett, had been in a relationship. Robbins allegedly killed Folds before dying while attempting to hide her body, according to investigators.
Heart Attack During Disposal
Local District Attorney Mike Segrest told AL.com that Robbins died of a heart attack while trying to discard the body. "He died of a heart attack while doing it," Segrest said. "Their bodies were right there together."
Segrest said the investigation, combined with autopsy results, determined that Folds was strangled. "It appears he was attempting to dispose of her body in a remote location" when he died, Segrest added.
Scene Evidence
The truck near the bodies was still running with the driver's side door open when deputies arrived. The tailgate was down, and drag marks in the dirt led into the woods where the couple were found, Segrest told AL.com.
Segrest said investigators suspect Robbins killed Folds as an act of domestic violence. The prosecutor believes everything happened the previous night, citing the truck still running as evidence.
Victims Remembered
Folds was the mother of three adult sons. An obituary said she "touched the lives of many with her heart of gold, deep love for everyone, and a smile that brightened the world." Robbins's survivors included a daughter, according to his obituary.
