Authorities in Alabama say an autopsy has revealed a shocking sequence of events in the deaths of a man and woman whose bodies were discovered together in a wooded area earlier this month.
Investigators now believe 47-year-old Jessica Folds was strangled to death and that her boyfriend, 44-year-old Daniel Robbins, died from a heart attack while attempting to move her body into the woods.
Bodies Found After Abandoned Truck Raises Alarm
The investigation began around midday on June 10 when a passerby noticed a pickup truck abandoned along a dirt road in the rural community of Lanett, Alabama.
According to investigators, the vehicle had been left running with the driver’s door open and the tailgate lowered.
Nearby drag marks extending from the truck led deputies into a wooded area, where they discovered the bodies of Folds and Robbins.
Authorities said the witness initially mistook the pair for mannequins before realizing they were human remains and contacting law enforcement.
Autopsy Points to Homicide and Sudden Medical Emergency
Medical examiners later determined that Folds died after being strangled.
Investigators believe the killing likely occurred during a domestic dispute the previous evening, although authorities have not publicly identified the exact location of the homicide.
Officials now suspect Robbins attempted to dispose of Folds’ body by dragging it into the woods before suffering a fatal heart attack.
The two bodies were found only a short distance apart, with Robbins lying in a fetal position beside Folds.
Evidence at the Scene Supports Investigators’ Theory
Law enforcement officials said the physical evidence discovered at the scene aligns with their working theory of the case.
Visible drag marks stretched from the back of the pickup truck into nearby brush, ending where the victims were found.
Folds’ body was discovered with her hands positioned above her head, while Robbins was located beside her.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional forensic evidence has been recovered as the investigation remains active.
Suspect Had Reported Heart Condition
Officials have not confirmed what caused Robbins’ fatal cardiac event beyond the autopsy’s finding of a heart attack.
However, his former wife reportedly told local media that Robbins had previously suffered from a heart condition.
Investigators have not stated whether that medical history contributed to his death.
Victim Remembered by Family and Community
Jessica Folds lived only a few miles from the wooded area where her body was discovered.
She was the mother of three adult sons and grandmother to two grandchildren.
Public records indicate that her husband of five years, Jimmy “Lamar” Folds, died in February 2025.
In her obituary, family members remembered her as someone whose kindness touched many lives, describing her as having a “heart of gold,” a deep love for others and a smile that brightened every room she entered.
Robbins Also Leaves Behind Family
Daniel Robbins, who was originally from Macon, Georgia, was the father of one daughter.
An obituary that was later removed from a funeral home’s website described him as an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and auto racing.
It also noted his experience as a welder and his interest in farming and vehicle repair.
Investigation Into Motive Continues
Although investigators believe they have established how both deaths occurred, authorities have not identified a motive for the suspected killing.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal domestic incident as they work to determine the events leading up to the deaths.
