A Central Florida woman was charged in an attempted murder-suicide plan involving a 13-year-old victim.
The DeLand woman was sought by deputies after her family found a suicide note and she was taken into custody when a deputy found her in the process of an apparent murder-suicide with her disabled 13-year-old great-granddaughter.
69-year-old Deborah A. Collier was charged with attempted first-degree murder. The 13-year-old victim was in stable condition in an area hospital after deputies discovered she ingested pills Collier fed her to end her life.
Deputies were looking for Collier after she left her home in the Daytona Park Estates area of DeLand and left behind a suicide note. A deputy spotted her vehicle near Seville and conducted a traffic stop for a well-being check, finding Collier at the wheel and the 13-year-old unconscious in the passenger seat.
According to local law enforcement, Collier told the deputy the girl was sleeping, and the deputy observed that she was breathing. However, deputies discovered white pill residue on her and found her totally unresponsive to stimulus. She was transported to the hospital for treatment while the investigation continued.
Law enforcement stated that in Collier’s purse, deputies found prescription medication bottles and another typed note which indicated Collier was ending her and her great-granddaughter’s lives due to the stress caused to the rest of the family.
Detectives learned the victim requires comprehensive, 24-hour care due to her disabilities. Collier and her husband have been her sole guardians since birth. The constant demands of caretaking have contributed to significant stress in the family. Collier was opposed to the idea of the victim receiving care in an assisted living facility and said she believed that no one would care for her like family.
In her desperation due to these hardships, Collier made a plan to end her great-granddaughter’s life followed by her own.
According to local law enforcement, Collier was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
The 988 Florida Lifeline is a free behavioral health support service, available 24/7, that connects Floridians experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use disorder, mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress to a highly trained crisis counselor in their immediate area. For more information about the 988 Florida Lifeline, visit 988FloridaLifeline.com.
