Police: Foul Play Now Ruled Out in Buford Woman's Death

BUFORD, GA -- Police have ruled out foul play in what they had originally called the homicide of a 53-year-old Buford woman.

After an autopsy that was being completed Thursday, authorities say that what appeared to have been injuries to the body of Linda “Karen” Higgins likely is “trauma” caused by a family pet after she died.

Investigators are still awaiting a toxicology report.

Earlier Thursday, in an email to the Gwinnett Daily Post, the county’s chief medical examiner said “no homicidal violence or significant traumatic injuries” were involved in Higgins’ death.

Dr. Carol A. Terry also said disease had been ruled out.

Higgins’ body was found in her home, at 1072 Anthony Dr., on Tuesday.

A family member called police at about 1 p.m. that day, saying he had not heard from her lately, authorities said in a news release.

When the man went to check on her, he told police, he made contact with the woman’s disabled husband, then found her body inside the home.

Police responded to the scene and transported the husband to the hospital “due to his medical condition.”

In a news release Thursday, police said the husband suffers from a disability that severely limits his mobility and that he did not have access to a phone to report his wife’s condition.