An Alabama man died of a heart attack while attempting to discard his girlfriend's body after fatally strangling her, authorities said. The macabre incident occurred in Lanett, Alabama, on the morning of June 10, when Chambers County sheriff's deputies discovered Daniel Robbins, 44, and Jessica Folds, 47, dead next to each other in a wooded area near an abandoned vehicle.
Investigation Reveals Cause of Death
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office stated that the bodies were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for autopsies. Investigators later determined that Robbins, from Georgia, and Folds, from Lanett, had been in a relationship. Robbins allegedly killed Folds before dying while trying to hide her body. Local District Attorney Mike Segrest confirmed to AL.com that "he died of a heart attack while doing it. Their bodies were right there together."
Evidence at the Scene
Segrest said the investigation, involving local and state law enforcement along with autopsy results, concluded that Folds "was strangled" and that Robbins "was attempting to dispose of [her] body in a remote location" when he died. 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.
Domestic Violence Suspected
Segrest told AL.com that investigators suspect Robbins killed Folds as an act of domestic violence. He added that everything likely happened the previous night, as the truck was still running. Folds, a mother of three adult sons, was remembered in her obituary as someone who "touched the lives of many with her heart of gold, deep love for everyone, and a smile that brightened the world." Robbins's obituary listed a daughter among his survivors.
