On the morning of July 4, 2020, a quiet neighborhood in Dublin, Georgia, turned into the scene of a heinous crime.
A motorcyclist riding through the neighborhood noticed an unresponsive body on the front lawn of a house.
Out of worry, the motorcyclist called the local police department to report what they saw.
When crime scene investigators arrived, they found a man who had been brutally killed.
The man was later identified as Daniel Raburn, a 40-year-old father and the owner of the home.
His body showed clear signs of a violent attack.
He had a gunshot wound to the back of his head, bruises all over, and insects crawling all over his face.
The stiffness of his body showed he had been dead for several hours, likely since the early hours of the morning.
The scene was heartbreaking.
Officers knew right away this was no accident—it was a murder.
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| Daniel Raburn |
The Criminal Investigation
The investigation into Daniel’s murder began immediately.
During an investigation of the crime scene, detectives discovered signs of a struggle in the front lawn, where Daniel’s lifeless body was seen
Nearby, they also found a piece of hair—a dreadlock—that didn’t belong to Daniel or his wife, Nicole Woodard.
This small clue later became a key piece of evidence in this criminal case.
During preliminary investigations, detectives interviewed Daniel’s Neighbors.
One neighbor remembered hearing an argument the night before, followed by what sounded like a gunshot.
Another neighbor recalled seeing Daniel’s wife, Nicole Woodard, leaving the house earlier that morning.
These accounts helped detectives start building a timeline of events.
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| Nicole Woodard |
Nicole Woodard is Interviewed
Since Nicole was likely the last person to see Daniel alive, investigators knew they needed to talk to her ASAP.
Investigators soon learned that Nicole had been taken to the hospital earlier that day after suffering a seizure.
While this looked like a regular medical emergency, detectives couldn’t ignore the timing.
Nicole was admitted just hours after Daniel’s murder.
Was this a coincidence, or was she trying to create an alibi?
Detectives immediately tracked down Nicole at the hospital and brought her in for questioning.
She claimed she had no idea what had happened to Daniel and insisted she wasn’t involved.
But her behavior told a different story.
She was visibly nervous, her voice shaky, and her answers didn’t add up.
This made detectives suspect she was hiding something.
Nicole admitted she and Daniel had a heated argument the night before and that they had both been drinking.
She said the argument got physical but claimed Daniel was alive when she left.
However, her story didn’t align with the evidence.
The severed dreadlocks found at the crime scene showed that there was a third person on the property when Daniel was killed.
Also, the gunshot wound and the timeline of events all pointed to a different story.
However, Nicole Woodard maintained her innocence.
Officers had to let her go since they didn’t have enough solid evidence to make an arrest, but they didn’t give up—they kept digging for answers.
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| Andrew Huber |
The Break in the Case
The investigation took a major turn when detectives spoke to Nicole’s friend, Misty Edge.
Misty revealed shocking details about Nicole’s behavior in the hours after the murder.
According to Misty, Nicole had shown up at her house early that morning, acting strangely and carrying bags.
Nicole was visibly shaken and even asked Misty to hit her in the eye to create an alibi.
Misty also told detectives that Nicole had called asking for help to “get rid of Daniel.”
This was a bombshell.
It suggested that Nicole had not only been involved in the murder but had possibly orchestrated it.
With this new information, detectives returned to Nicole for a second interview.
Under intense questioning, Nicole admitted that she called two men, Andrew Huber and Thomas Harper, during her fight with Daniel.
She asked them to “beat his ass” because she was tired of Daniel’s behavior.
However, she said that the men were only supposed to beat Daniel—not kill him.
Nicole also revealed that she had heard gunshots that night but never checked on Daniel or called 911.
Instead, she chose to protect Andrew and Thomas, further implicating herself in the crime.
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| Thomas Harper |
Justice For Daniel Woodard
After Nicole's confession, Andrew Huber and Thomas Harper were quickly arrested and charged as reported by 13Wmaz news
During the arrests, police found blood-stained clothing at Andrew’s home, which matched Daniel’s DNA.
At Thomas’s home, officers discovered a handgun and spent casings that matched the bullet used to kill Daniel.
The dreadlock found at the crime scene was also a match to Thomas, confirming his presence at the crime scene.
These discoveries were the final pieces of the puzzle detectives needed to connect Nicole, Andrew, and Thomas to the crime.
While Nicole didn’t pull the trigger herself, her actions set the events in motion.
In the end, justice was served.
Andrew Huber was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Nicole Woodard and Thomas Harper both pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, receiving sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.
The murder of Daniel Rayburn is a tragic reminder of how toxic relationships can spiral into unthinkable violence.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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