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Grandmother Accused of Attempted Murder-Suicide
31 Dec
Summary
- Woman charged with attempted murder after alleged drugging of great-grandchild.
- Caregiver cited overwhelming stress from 24-hour care duties.
- Girl survived attempt and is in stable condition; grandmother is accused of planning suicide.
In DeLand, Florida, authorities have charged a 69-year-old woman with attempted first-degree murder. Deborah Collier is accused of attempting to end the life of her 13-year-old great-granddaughter, who requires constant care due to cerebral palsy. Collier and her husband have been the sole guardians for the child since birth. The immense stress from these demanding caretaking duties reportedly led to the alleged crime.
Deputies located Collier driving with her granddaughter unresponsive in the passenger seat after family members discovered a suicide note at Collier's home. Authorities allege they found prescription medication and a second note in Collier's purse, indicating an intent to end both their lives due to family stress. The child, thankfully, survived the alleged poisoning and is in stable condition.
Collier allegedly expressed a desire for the girl to be cared for by family rather than an assisted living facility, believing no one else would provide the same level of care. This profound stress reportedly culminated in what authorities describe as an attempted murder-suicide plot. It remains unclear if Collier has entered a plea or secured legal representation.
