Woman Found Dead in Buford Home; Disabled Husband Taken to Hospital

BUFORD, Ga. - A woman was found dead inside her Buford home Tuesday afternoon.

Police said a family member hadn't been able to reach the Karen Higgins, 53, on the phone for days so he went to her home on Anthony Drive and found Higgins. Her disabled husband was also in the home. Police said he didn't have any injuries.

Police obtained a search warrant and homicide and crime scene investigators spent hours going through the home. The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner will try to determine how Higgins died and when. Police said she may have been deceased for days.

They're also trying to determine why her husband didn't call police.

“What we're trying to find out is why the husband never called 911 to report that his wife was deceased,” said Cpl. Michele Pihera with Gwinnett County Police.

Police said the husband was taken to the hospital for medical issues relating to his disability.

Neighbors said the couple has lived in the house for about 20 years. They were both in their mid-50's.

“The most shocking thing for me is knowing she was there, and not being able to help had I been able to,” said neighbor Amanda Hale.

Roy Ramirez lives next door. He said he'll be on edge until police release more details about the death.

“Not knowing what happened, now I worry about my wife and kids who are here alone when I work,” said Ramirez.

While police are calling this a homicide investigation, neighbor Stephen Henderson is hoping that's not the case.

“Let's hope it was natural causes and it's just another person God's taken home,” said Henderson.