GA: Deborah (Debbie) Collier 10 Sept 2022 autopsy implies foul play

[Seattle1]

Famed pathologist Dr. Baden believes Debbie Collier’s autopsy implies murder

“I think the medical examiner doesn’t understand what forensic pathology is,” Dr. Michael Baden quipped to The Post.

nypost.com

 

[Seattle1]

‘Body Bags’ Host & Forensics Expert Says Georgia Mom’s Suicide by Fire is ‘Rare,’ Given the Circumstances Surrounding Her Death

'Revisiting the Debbie Collier Case'

www.crimeonline.com

 

[Seattle1]

Debbie Collier autopsy reveals burns to 80% of her body, no explanation of suicide

The report raises more questions about Collier’s shocking death, which was ultimately ruled a suicide.

nypost.com

 

[Seattle1]

Autopsy for Georgia woman's 'suicide' reveals extensive injuries previously unmentioned

A newly released autopsy report reveals new information about the death of missing Georgia mom Debbie Collier after her body was found naked 90 minutes away from her home in Athens.

www.fox5atlanta.com

 

[Helechawagirl]

I don’t know what to make of this. Not sure if it’s someone trying to get media attention or a valid observation.

 

[Ssschu]

Famed pathologist Dr. Baden believes Debbie Collier’s autopsy implies murder

“I think the medical examiner doesn’t understand what forensic pathology is,” Dr. Michael Baden quipped to The Post.

nypost.com

He's got valid points that it seems the fire started after her death. I still can't wrap my brain around LE coming to the suicide conclusion so quickly after being sure foul play was involved. I know the daughter pushed the suicide theory from day one but it's just too bizarre and unlikely, IMO.

At most, it seems cause of death should be classified as undetermined. Just because they couldn't find evidence that someone else was there in their short two month investigation doesn't mean no one else was there.

 

[MajorHoople]

Famed pathologist Dr. Baden believes Debbie Collier’s autopsy implies murder

“I think the medical examiner doesn’t understand what forensic pathology is,” Dr. Michael Baden quipped to The Post.

nypost.com

@ Seattle1 - Thank you for posting this.

 

[Allabouttrial]

I know the daughter pushed the suicide theory from day one

Snipped by me.

Did she? I don't recall her saying that. I thought she also suspected foul play?

ETA: Did some digging. In a Nov. interview AR says she now suspects it was suicide, but I believe this was after LE also changed their tune. Originally AR said:

---

In an emotional interview, Bearden voiced her distress at losing her mother, telling CBS 46: “Somebody took my whole world from me,” and “She was a beautiful, kind, giving woman — and she didn’t deserve any of this … I want justice for my mom.”

Source

---

 

[Seattle1]

Snipped by me.

Did she? I don't recall her saying that. I thought she also suspected foul play?

ETA: Did some digging. In a Nov. interview AR says she now suspects it was suicide, but I believe this was after LE also changed their tune. Originally AR said:

---

In an emotional interview, Bearden voiced her distress at losing her mother, telling CBS 46: “Somebody took my whole world from me,” and “She was a beautiful, kind, giving woman — and she didn’t deserve any of this … I want justice for my mom.”

Source

---

I only recall DC's son fighting for a criminal investigation and not believing this was suicide.

I thought the daughter was too distraught to be of any help. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Debbie Collier's body was 80% burned, autopsy reveals - but questions remain

THE mystery of a mother’s death has deepened months after her charred remains were discovered in a ravine. An autopsy report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations found that 80 percent of Debbie …

www.the-sun.com

 

[Helechawagirl]

Daughter only went with suicide after le did. If there’s no spot in the lungs, my belief is that she was not breathing when the fire started. But I’m not a ME, there could be another reason. As for her body being mostly nude, that appears to be from the fire burning off her clothes. JMO

 

[MistyWaters]

The reason for the abrupt switch from foul play to suicide by LE was perplexing, but to the extent of influencing the results of the autopsy? Kudos to DC’s son who was unsatisfied with the investigation and his dealings with the Sheriff, seems as he had good cause. Where will this go from here I wonder.

Famed pathologist Dr. Baden believes Debbie Collier’s autopsy implies murder

“I think the medical examiner doesn’t understand what forensic pathology is,” Dr. Michael Baden quipped to The Post.

nypost.com

“The medical examiners for the Georgia Bureau Investigation (GBI) admit they did not come to the conclusion that Collier killed herself by themselves, writing in the autopsy report that an “investigation by law enforcement revealed circumstances consistent with a self-intentioned act.”

“That means, ‘The police told me it was a suicide.’ We’re not just rubber stamps for the police, but some people think we are,” Baden said of forensic pathologists.”

 

[Helechawagirl]

Daughter only went with suicide after le did. If there’s no spot in the lungs, my belief is that she was not breathing when the fire started. But I’m not a ME, there could be another reason. As for her body being mostly nude, that appears to be from the fire burning off her clothes. JMO

and soot was autocorrected to spot.

 

[Allabouttrial]

The reason for the abrupt switch from foul play to suicide by LE was perplexing, but to the extent of influencing the results of the autopsy? Kudos to DC’s son who was unsatisfied with the investigation and his dealings with the Sheriff, seems as he had good cause. Where will this go from here I wonder.

Famed pathologist Dr. Baden believes Debbie Collier’s autopsy implies murder

“I think the medical examiner doesn’t understand what forensic pathology is,” Dr. Michael Baden quipped to The Post.

nypost.com

“The medical examiners for the Georgia Bureau Investigation (GBI) admit they did not come to the conclusion that Collier killed herself by themselves, writing in the autopsy report that an “investigation by law enforcement revealed circumstances consistent with a self-intentioned act.”

“That means, ‘The police told me it was a suicide.’ We’re not just rubber stamps for the police, but some people think we are,” Baden said of forensic pathologists.”

That's standard practice though isn't it? Manner of death is usually determined, not just by examination of the body, but also the circumstances surrounding the death?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

I can't help but still think there is something there there. Always did. Interesting, all of this.

 

[waldojabba]

He's got valid points that it seems the fire started after her death. I still can't wrap my brain around LE coming to the suicide conclusion so quickly after being sure foul play was involved. I know the daughter pushed the suicide theory from day one but it's just too bizarre and unlikely, IMO.

At most, it seems cause of death should be classified as undetermined. Just because they couldn't find evidence that someone else was there in their short two month investigation doesn't mean no one else was there.

ITA with you @Ssschu that the autopsy should have been classified as undetermined and the case should still be open. Wondering how hard LE really looked to determine if anybody was actually there with her? IIRC, there was talk of the area where she was found and that it had litter left there not collected. I just never got the feeling in the original thread that she set out to kill herself that day. I don't know that we will ever know unless the family pushes or hires a PI etc. Just my opinion/Glad to have the thread back

 

[Cedars]

I recall local police initially made vehement assertions about it being homicide, without explanation. At the same press conference, I recall they also made aggressive comments about where was the Venmo money sent to the daughter.

MSM/social media soon created a firestorm around the daughter, who was literally trapped in her home, and stalked by photographers when she went out.

Footage was released showing DC buying the stuff, in the parking lot, etc, but no commentary from police. The speculation exploded even more.

In the end, they just released the autopsy and closed the case as suicide. I think they had messed up some of their forensics at the crime scene, not to mention their media and family communications.

Perhaps they had no further evidence or leads to follow, and just wanted it all to go away.

I think they should have clarified the evidence they'd found or not found, rather than just shut everything down.

It's a new era, where police have to deal with the wider public reaction, the true crime phenomenon, where a case in a quiet, unknown corner draws interest from millions of people who have no connection to the people or place.

JMO

Edited: I don't have links for something I 'heard about'.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

So, for clarification, do we assume that it was the Post who actually engaged Dr. Michael Baden to analyze the autopsy report.

I hope we get some details on the kids' response to this.
It did appear that the brother and sister were at odds with the final outcome, so I do hope they provide some comments.

 

[alp122664]

Has LE ever said if Debbie's computer or phone searches were checked? Surely she would have had to have done some research if she was planning suicide by fire. That's just not something that most people come up with easily.

 

[Seattle1]

So, for clarification, do we assume that it was the Post who actually engaged Dr. Michael Baden to analyze the autopsy report.

I hope we get some details on the kids' response to this.
It did appear that the brother and sister were at odds with the final outcome, so I do hope they provide some comments.

In my experience, it's a slow and painstaking process to get the coroner to change the manner of death to undetermined if not homicide, and even slower to get an investigation reopened. IMO, somebody likely working for DC's son is working behind the scenes, hoping the release of the autopsy results will generate momentum and public support. As I said, a slow process....