After a yearlong investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 40-year-old woman at a sleepover in Forsyth County, state investigators say they didn’t find any evidence to bring criminal charges.
In a statement, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles confirmed that the agency had completed the investigation into the death of Tamla Horsford, a mother of five who died while at an overnight party in 2018.
“The DA review determined the facts and investigative findings do not support pursuit and prosecution of criminal charges,” Miles said in a statement.
Horsford was found unresponsive in the backyard of a Cumming home while attending a party Nov. 4, 2018. She appeared to have fallen from the home’s deck, more than 10 feet off the ground.
The following February, investigators said Horsford’s death had been ruled accidental, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
An autopsy determined Horsford had head and torso trauma and had broken her wrist. Horsford had numerous severe injuries, including a broken vertebrae and laceration to her heart, the GBI previously said.
Blood testing determined she was highly intoxicated, the sheriff’s office previously said. Horsford also had marijuana and Xanax in her system, according to toxicology reports.
“The observed injuries are consistent with those received in a fall,” the agency’s autopsy report stated.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office closed the investigation, finding no evidence of foul play.
“No evidence or injury patterns indicative of an assault or foul play were noted by Forsyth County sheriff’s detectives or the Forsyth County Coroner’s Office or GBI Medical Examiner’s reports,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Family members and friends questioned whether Horsford could have died from the fall. The family hired a private medical examiner who found extensive injuries all over her body, Channel 2 Action News previously reported.
In June 2020, the GBI agreed to investigate Horsford’s death at the request of the Forsyth sheriff’s office.
“Renewed requests for reexamination are best served by an independent law enforcement agency to review previous findings and to search and act on any new evidence which may come to light,” Sheriff Ron Freeman wrote in the letter, which was addressed to GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
