Fundraiser Helps Daughter Of Woman Killed In Sandy Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The community is rallying behind the 18-year-old daughter of a Sandy Springs woman whose body was found inside a house fire over the weekend. A GoFundMe account has been created to assist Payton Holliman, the daughter of 39-year-old Amber Marie Holliman, who was found dead May 26 inside a home at 501 Hammond Drive.

The fundraiser, created by Katie Allen, will help Holliman, who graduated from Riverwood International Charter School just two days before, pay for funeral expenses, college tuition and other immediate needs stemming from her mother's death. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the campaign aiming to raise $10,000 had brought in $2,370 for the teen.

The Saturday after Payton's May 24 graduation was destined to be a "joyous" occasion for the teen, as she'd just completed a rite of passage many of us can't wait to experience, the GoFundMe page states. However, the morning of Saturday, May 26 became a somber one when she received a phone call stating her parents' home on Hammond Drive was on fire and that her mom was dead.

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"Her entire life changed in an instant," the GoFundMe page states. "Payton is 18 years old with her entire life ahead of her. However, right now, it is probably really hard for her to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Please show your support for Payton."

Payton Holliman said on her Facebook page that her mother was "always the light of everyone’s life."

"Thank you to everyone who has been supportive during this," she said in another post. "I know we all miss her and love her till the end of time. We’re going to get through this and justice will be served at some point.
I love you mom."

You can click here to donate to the GoFundMe account.

Sandy Springs police have charged Patrick Joseph Nolan, 43, with murder, aggravated assault with intent to murder and arson in the first degree charges in connection to the death. Sandy Springs police spokesperson Sgt. Sam Worsham said Nolan is Holliman's ex-boyfriend.

"The relationship had ended prior to this incident," he added.

Sandy Springs police say Nolan is believed to be armed and dangerous. Detectives also believe he has his dog, a 160-pound Presa Canario, with him.

Nolan may be driving a blue 2006 Ford Explorer with Georgia tag PYZ1420. Anyone with information on Nolan's whereabouts is asked to contact Detective J.T. Williams at 404-456-9343.

Image via GoFundMe