VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A woman was arrested after deputies caught her in the process of an apparent murder-suicide with her great-granddaughter Monday, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputies said the woman, Deborah Collier, 69, was charged with attempted first-degree murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It all started when Collier’s family found a suicide note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputies began looking for her after she left her home in the Daytona Park Estates area of DeLand and left behind a suicide note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A VSO deputy spotted her vehicle and conducted a traffic stop for a well-being check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collier was located behind the wheel, while her 13-year-old great-granddaughter was unconscious in the passenger seat, according to the VSO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputies said the child had white pill residue on her and found her totally unresponsive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside Collier\u2019s purse, authorities found prescription pills and a typed note explaining she was ending her and her great-granddaughter’s lives to spare the family further stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detectives learned that the victim requires 24-hour care due to her disabilities. Collier and her husband were her sole guardians since birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VSO said the demands of caretaking have contributed to significant stress in the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because Collier opposed placing the victim in an assisted living facility, she acted out of desperation and decided to end both her great-granddaughter\u2019s life and her own, according to deputies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collier believed that no one would care for her like family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputies said she was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail and is currently being held without bond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"