72. Decomposing body found in DeBary that of woman reported missing two weeks earlier

Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Locator map where decomposing body of woman found in DeBary, FL / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® graphic /
Debra Annette Smith's badly decomposing body was found in an open field off of South Leisure World Drive near Barwick Road, as shown in this locator map. 
 

DEBARY -- A decomposed body found  in an open field in DeBary was identified as that of 48-year-old Debra Annette Smith, last seen alive eight days earlier in Nov. 8, when she left her home after getting into a minor verbal dispute with her partner, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.

The woman's death comes in at No. 72 in the Headline Surfer® countdown of the top 100 stories of 2013.

"The body was discovered off of South Leisure World Drive near Barwick Road by a resident in the area who contacted the Sheriff's Office at 10:21 a.m.," agency spokesman Gary Davidson told Headline Surfer®. "The man who reported it said he saw someone lying under some bushes, but it wasn't discovered that the victim was dead until deputies arrived on scene.

As a result of an autopsy conducted by the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office, the victim has been positively identified as 48-year-old Debra Annette Smith of DeBary. She hadn't been seen since an argument with her partner, Davidson said, adding the Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit is investigating.

"When she left the residence, Smith said that she was planning to walk to Sanford and stay with a friend there," the Sheriff's spokesman said. "However, she never arrived."

When sheriff's deputies first came upon the body, it was so badly decomposed, they couldn't tell if it was male or female, but the ME's office confirmed the gender during autopsy. How she died hasn't been determined.

Counting 'em down: Headline Surfer® Ranking of the Top 100 Stories of 2013

Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®
Locator map where decomposing body of woman found in DeBary, FL / Headline Surfer®72. Decomposing body found in DeBary that of woman reported missing two weeks earlier
Posted Sat, 2014-01-25 22:50
 
Donald Murray of Apopka is charged with possession of child porn / Headline Surfer®73. Apopka man arrested on kiddie porn charges
Posted Sat, 2014-01-25 16:15
 
Daytona State College, 35th in associate degrees awarded nationally / Headline Surfer®74. Daytona State ranked 35th nationally among community colleges in awarding 2-year degrees
Posted Sat, 2014-01-25 13:16
 
Obsession wins Lipton Cup in New Smyrna Beach / Headline Surfer75. Norman Church wins 2013 Lipton Cup Regatta in New Smyrna Beach
Posted Sat, 2014-01-25 12:48
 
State Rep. Dwayne Taylor, award winner / Headline Surfer76. State Rep. Dwayne Taylor receives award at firefighter conference in Daytona Beach
Posted Sun, 2014-01-19 07:50
 
Lacator map on drowning victim in Ormond Beach / Headline Surfer77. Georgia man drowns in Ormond Beach surf July Fourth weekend
Posted Sun, 2014-01-19 06:51
 
Amaris Martinez,2, of Apopka, killed July 17, 2013 / Headline Surfer®78. Apopka teen backing up SUV in family driveway hits toddler who wandered outside -- killing her
Posted Sun, 2014-01-12 10:03
 
Judge Donald Scaglione / Headline Surfer®79. Hernando County judge elevated to Tavares-based 5th circuit judgeship
Posted Sun, 2014-01-12 09:06
 
Jimmy Lee Clark, Jr. a convicted drug dealer was robbed and shot in July 2013 / Headline Surfer®80. New Smyrna Beach cops: Cocaine dealer shot in ankle during robbery
Posted Thu, 2014-01-09 07:32
 
Stetson University in DeLand / Headline Surfer81. Stetson University in DeLand ranked prominently by US News & World Report, two other publications
Posted Thu, 2014-01-09 06:40
 
Alexander Lee, 31, of Kissimmee, sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for kiddie porn / Headline Surfer82. Kissimmee man sentenced to five years in prison for downloading kiddie porn
Posted Wed, 2014-01-08 13:44
 
Gov. Scott vists Bartram HS for Patriot Day / Headline Surfer® 83. Gov. Scott takes part in Patriot Day celebration at high school in St. Johns County
Posted Wed, 2014-01-08 12:27
 
Volusia County disptch having problems with 911 calls / Headline Surfer84. Day-long problems with E911 calls at Daytona emergency operations center back in September
Posted Sat, 2014-01-04 19:40
 
Dustin Vann of St. Augustine was sentenced in October to 35 years in prison / Headline Surfer®85. St. Augustine man gets 35 years in prison for scaring elderly woman & her dog with air pistol in robbery attempt
Posted Fri, 2014-01-03 16:54
 
WROD on-air personality Tracy Dillon / Headline Surfer®86. WROD-Radio's Tracy Dillon shines morning spotlight on food drive
Posted Fri, 2014-01-03 03:31
 
Kevin Harvick in victory lane at Daytona / Getty Images / Headline Surfer87. Harvick wins Sprint Unlimited under lights at Daytona
Posted Fri, 2014-01-03 02:44
 
Kicks 4 Guns Sheriff's ptogram in DeLand / Headline Surfer88. Sheriff: Nearly 5 dozen guns turned in during one-day amnesty at DeLand fairgrounds
Posted Fri, 2014-01-03 01:13
 
Daytona State College foreign language instructor Ray Cornelius honored / Headline Surfer® 89. Daytona State College foreign-languages chair honored
Posted Fri, 2014-01-03 00:11
 
Pedestrian fatality locator ISB and LPGA in Daytona / Headline Surfer®90. Daytona Beach cops: Pedestrian struck & killed by motorist trying to cross ISB two days before Thanksgiving
Posted Thu, 2014-01-02 00:17
 
Ricardo Rodriguez gets 25 years in prison for shooting his brother / Headline Surfer®91. Orange City man sentenced to prison for shooting own brother
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 21:22
 
Lake Mary cops utilize Seminole Sheriff's helicopter at night / Headline Surfer®92. Seminole County Sheriff's helicopter looks for nighttime prowler in Lake Mary
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 20:40
 
Ponce Inlet utilizes "Code Red" for emergencies / Headline Surfer93. Ponce Inlet turns to 'CodeRed' for mass alerts
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 20:21
 
John Francis Roach of DeLand gets life in prison for sex assault of boy, 12 / Headline Surfer®94. DeLand man, 60, sentenced to life in prison for sexually battering 11-year-old boy
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 16:28
 
Tony Ledbetter with Gov. Scott / Headline Surfer95. Volusia County GOP leader Tony Ledbetter named to key Florida Republican post
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 15:40
 
Shawn Adkins with his father, New Smyrna Beach Police Inv. David Adkins / Henry Frederick96. New Smyrna cop shop has first father-son on force
Posted Wed, 2014-01-01 15:31
 
 
Ray Lewis to wave flag at Daytona 500 / Headline Surfer97. Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis waves green flag to start 2013 Daytona 500
Posted Sun, 2013-12-29 20:24
 
Florida GOP Congressman CW Bill Young dies at age 82 / Headline Surfer98. Governor pays respects to 82-year-old Congressman in Orlando
Posted Sun, 2013-12-29 19:24
 
hit nd run scene of biclist in NSB / Headline Surfer®99. New Smyrna Beach cops: Kind donation made for daughter of hit and run victim
Posted Sun, 2013-12-29 13:32
 
Truck used in DeBary store burglary for cigarettes / Headline Surfer®100. VCSO: $9,000 worth of cigarettes stolen from DeBary convenience store in September
Posted Sun, 2013-12-29 11:59
We're counting 'em down in the year that was -- the Top 100 stories in greater Daytona Beach-Orlando metro area
Posted Sat, 2013-12-28 17:38