A DeLand woman is facing severe legal consequences after a thwarted murder-suicide plot involving her 13-year-old, disabled great-granddaughter. According to the WFTV report, 69-year-old Deborah A. Collier has been charged with attempted first-degree murder in connection with the distressing event.
The series of events leading to Collier's arrest began with the discovery of a suicide note in her home, after which authorities were notified and began a search that ended at approximately 4:20 p.m. Monday near Seville, where they located Collier's car and conducted a traffic stop. Inside the vehicle, deputies found her great-granddaughter, who appeared unconscious, with white pill residue on her. The ClickOrlando article notes, the girl was taken to a hospital for immediate treatment.
Upon further investigation, deputies reported finding additional evidence in Collier's purse in the form of prescription medicine bottles and another typed note corroborating the intent behind her actions. The notes revealed that the supposed reasoning was the stress caused to the rest of the family by the demands of caregiving for her great-granddaughter, who required around-the-clock care for her disabilities. This sentiment was cited by authorities as being a clear motivator behind the suspected murder-suicide plan.
Collier had been the primary caregiver, along with her husband, to the young girl since birth. She expressed opposition to the idea of placing the child in an assisted living facility, due to concerns that "no one would care for her like family‚" a statement which ClickOrlando also reported. The continuous pressure of meeting the teen's care requirements is believed to have contributed to the defendant's desperate actions. Collier now remains held without bond in the Volusia County Branch Jail, as law enforcement and the community grapple with the tragic unfolding of events.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, assistance can be sought by calling 211 locally or 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline. In urgent situations requiring law enforcement, dial 911 for immediate help.
