Family finds missing woman’s body in suitcase, GA cops say. Her boyfriend is charged
A missing woman’s boyfriend has been arrested after Georgia police said her family found her body stuffed in a suitcase.
Margaret Dubignon’s family reported her missing after they hadn’t heard from her in two days, the Thomaston Police Department said in an Oct. 21 news release.
Her family went to her apartment, which she shared with her boyfriend, to conduct a welfare check the evening of Oct. 20 and couldn’t reach the 56-year-old, according to police.
The next day, police couldn’t make contact with her at that point either, and they found that her boyfriend and her vehicle were also gone, police said.
Hours later, police said they were called back to her apartment when her family members said they found a body hidden in a suitcase in the closet.
As crowds gathered, investigators with the Thomaston Police Department and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, along with the coroner. Police said the body in the suitcase was identified as Dubignon.
Police began searching for her boyfriend, Frederick Durham, 61, and they believed he had taken Dubignon’s vehicle, according to the release. Using cameras, they tracked the vehicle to the Atlanta area, about 65 miles north of Thomaston.
The Atlanta Police Department took him into custody.
After further investigation, Durham was charged with felony murder, concealing a death, tampering with evidence and theft by taking a motor vehicle, according to police.
No attorney information for Durham is listed in Upson County jail records.
“This was a horrific crime and an extremely painful event, yet the family, in spite of their emotions, were incredibly composed, supportive and cooperative throughout today’s investigation,” police said in the release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Dubignon was known as “Mellow Yellow” to her friends and family.
“My Yella, My Mello Yellow, My Mrs. Margaret, My Love bug,” a friend wrote on Facebook. “Never in a million years would anyone near or far ... imagine anyone taking your life, when you Margaret Dubignon Buffin would give up whatever you had to help anyone.”
Dubignon was also an active member in her church’s community. Friends said she would do anything for people and that she always made people laugh.
“I miss my mom so much,” her daughter wrote on Facebook. “She was my everything.”
Durham is being held at Upson County jail without bond, jail records show.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Family finds missing woman’s body in suitcase, GA cops say. Her boyfriend is charged."