Catoosa County Mother Murdered; Fiancé in Custody

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) – In a fairly popular wooded area on Taylor’s Ridge Road, Catoosa County deputies found Deborah Abney, 46, dead in an old Honda Civic.

Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk, tells News 12, “The call initially came in as a suicide.”

Detectives say Abney died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Sheriff Sisk says, “It was the autopsy that was able to confirm entry. It was the back of the head. An exit wound to front, upper right.”

That information from the medical examiner immediately led to the arrest of Abney’s fiance, Brian Colby Davenport.

Sheriff Sisk says, “They’re not married, but they have been together apparently for a couple years and do have some children together.”

Davenport was at the scene when officers arrived.

He told detectives, earlier in the afternoon they were at a custody hearing for their children who were in foster care.

Sheriff Sisk adds, “It was a continuing hearing to see if the children should stay with the state or possibly do away with the parental rights with the children.”

The judge determined the children should remain in foster care.

Now, after that ruling, Davenport said the two got sandwiches and alcohol, and then went here to their friend’s property to talk about it.

However, in the process, Davenport said Abney shot herself.

Sheriff Sisk adds, “It was learned that some of the evidence had been moved and tampered with and the individual had given us a couple false statements as far as what had actually taken place that evening.”

Right now, detectives are getting the couple’s DFCS file to review.

They’re also looking into Davenport’s prior domestic-related charges, and waiting to see if drugs and alcohol were in the couples systems at the time of the incident.

Investigators believe they were. 

Sheriff Sisk says, “We don’t know his motive, but we think it was probably a volitale relationship and could have something to do with the results of the hearing that day or what we don’t know. He hasn’t stated a motive.”

Until then, Davenport will remain behind bars without bond, without his children, and without his fiancee.