The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department issued an update on the Tamla Horsford case after questions were raised on social media about the lack of progress in the investigation into her death.
Horsford, 40, died on November 4, 2018 after attending an overnight “football moms” slumber party with 7 women at a home in Forsyth County, GA.
Horsford’s body was discovered facedown in the backyard by the homeowner’s aunt when she arrived at 7:30 the next morning.
Three men also attended the all-women’s sleepover. One of those men, probation officer Jose Barrera, was later terminated from his job after he meddled in the investigation and harassed Horsford’s friend, Michelle Wynne Graves, who started asking questions about Horsford’s death.
By coincidence, Barrera’s girlfriend is the owner of the house where Horsford died under suspicious circumstances.
According to the homeowner’s attorney, Eric Tatum, Horsford’s death certificate cited a fall from a residential deck as the cause of death. But friends say Horsford suffered blunt force injuries to her head and body that are inconsistent with an 8-foot fall from a deck.
11Alive News has not been able to independently confirm the death certificate referenced by Tatum in the statement.
Tatum objected to Mrs. Horsford’s friends and family referring to her death as “murder” on social media. He complained that the partygoers and their families received death threats on social media. “The threats need to stop,” he wrote.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office issued an update on Monday, Feb. 18, confirming Horsford’s death is still under investigation.
The sheriff’s office received the autopsy and toxicology reports from the GBI and plans to issue a final report later this week.
According to loyal reader Ashland, Horsford’s family has retained attorney Lee Merritt, who will release a statement later this week.
A GoFundMe page created by Tamla’s sister-in-law has raised over $3,100 to support her family in their fight for justice for Tamla.
11Alive‘s Hope Ford spoke to Horsford’s family on Monday night. They said they did not want to go on camera yet, as their attorney is looking into her death.
When 11Alive asked about the conversation on social media about his daughter’s death, Horsford’s father said he is trying to get any photo of her and her kids removed from social media to protect the boys’ privacy.
Horsford’s friend, Michelle Wynne Graves, left a detailed comment on Sandrarose.com on Monday night.
Michelle writes:
“First off the [Xanax] that was found has only been mentioned to family by police no autopsy or toxicology has been provided to family. Tammy was not on any prescription meds at all and [her] party host just posted on [Facebook] about her anxiety disorder and how she can’t live without her meds. This is someone the police should be questioning. In addition, the party goers have told numerous stories none that match or tell the truth about the night. Tammy was not wasted like the party goers stated and there are videos from that night which prove this and actually show another party host falling down drunk. Tammy has no injury to her face it was head, neck, torso and all [extremities]. Tammy’s cause of death per death [certificate] which is done prior to investigation being complete states multiple blunt force trauma. Well that’s impossible from a fall. You only get multiple blunt force trauma on the entire body if you are beaten.”
Read the full text of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s statement below (click image to enlarge).
ICYMI: Mystery surrounds the death of #TamlaHorsford, a #Forsyth county mother of five. pic.twitter.com/lUFCwhFoG8
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) February 19, 2019
ICYMI: County employee fired for accessing police reports into a death he witnessed. pic.twitter.com/kgRJWcV9QZ
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) February 11, 2019
