DeLand Woman Accused of Plot to Kill Self, Great-Granddaughter

69-year-old Deborah Collier has been arrested and accused of trying to kill herself and her 13-year-old great-granddaughter, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday morning. The teenage victim was hospitalized and is recovering as of the most recent update. According to the VSO, Collier and her husband have been the girl’s sole caretakers since she was born. She was apparently born with disabilities that necessitate “comprehensive, 24-hour care”. The hardships of caring for the girl reportedly placed stress on the couple, and it was proposed that the girl be taken into the care of an assisted living facility. Collier was opposed to the idea of surrendering her great-granddaughter, the VSO said. She was reportedly convinced that family members should be the ones to keep custody.  Detectives believe this was the motivation for the extreme measures taken next. On Monday deputies were dispatched to locate Collier at around 4:20 pm. She had reportedly left a suicide note at her home in Daytona Park Estates and driven away. Collier was later located in her vehicle near Seville, with the girl in the passenger seat. When the deputy who stopped Collier initiated a well-being check, he found the girl unconscious. Collier is said to have told the deputy that she was sleeping. The deputy reportedly observed her breathing, but noticed what appeared to be pill residue on her. Further inspection revealed she would not respond to any stimulus. As the girl was taken to the hospital, the deputy searched Collier’s purse. Inside, there were reportedly several prescription pill bottles plus another note. This second note apparently detailed how Collier was planning to take her own life and her great-granddaughter’s. The plan appeared to be a response to the stresses of taking care of the girl with her special needs. Early Tuesday morning, Collier was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail, charged with attempted first degree murder. She’s still being held on no bond as of Tuesday afternoon. Prior to this incident, Collier has no other arrests on record in Volusia County.