The Gruesome Murder of Heather Strong

Heather Strong and Jason Fulgham began dating when she was 15 and he 22. The relationship had problems from the get go. Joshua had a violent, short temper, often taking his anger out on her. They shared an on-again, off-again relationship for many years.

Family Relocation

In 2003, Heather and Joshua relocated from Mississippi to Florida to start over. They now had two children. The relationship carried on the same tumultuous track as before within weeks. By 2008, Heather put her foot down and told Joshua she and the kids were leaving.

Heather left Joshua, moving in with a coworker named Benjamin McCollum. The two became intimate a few weeks after the move-in. Jason moved on with his life as well. He began dating a woman named Emilia Carr.

Stalking Begins

Despite his new relationship, Jason became furious when he learned that Heather and Benjamin had become intimate. For the next six months, Fulgham stalked, threatened, and otherwise made life hell for Heather and Benjamin. He pointed a weapon at them on at least two occasions.

Heather seemed happy with Benjamin but decided to reconcile with Fulgham and the couple married in Dec. 2018. About this time, Emilia told Fulgham she was carrying his child.

Six days after the marriage, Joshua threatened Heather with a shotgun during an argument. He was arrested and jailed for several weeks.

Emilia Visits Jason in Jail

Emilia visited Joshua several times. They rekindled things and she and his mother worked to get him released from jail. Emilia and Joshua’s mother asked Heather to write a letter on behalf of Joshua requesting his release. She refused to write the letter but they persisted.

Emilia became angry that Heather would not write the letter to support Joshua. She pulled a knife on Heather but James Acome, a mutual friend, separated them before anything happened.

Heather began dating James a short time later. She moved in with him in January 2009. Joshua was released from jail the week after the pair began dating.

A Fatal Mistake

Emilia told Joshua that Heather planned to leave the state with their children, prompting Joshua to ask Heather (via his mother) to write a letter granting him full custody of the kids.

On February 15, 2009, Joshua and Heather walked out of her home together. She was never seen alive again.

When James returned home, he noticed some of Heather’s items missing from the apartment. Later that day, Joshua left a voicemail on his cell phone that he and Heather rekindled their relationship.

Remains Found

Family reported Heather missing on February 24, 2009. Emilia admitted to murdering heather in a recorded call with Joshua’s sister. Joshua blamed Emilia for the murder.

Police found Heather’s remains on March 19, 2009.

The grizzly details of Heather’s final moments came out at court.

Heather's Final Moments of Life

Joshua and Heather drove to a storage unit sitting on Emilia’s property. Emilia followed them inside the trailer, which scared Heather. She tried exiting the trailer but Joshua forced her back inside. Emilia tied Heather to a chair and Joshua forced her to sign a custody agreement, saying that he would kill her if she did not. She signed the paper shortly before Joshua and Emilia attempted to break her neck. Emilia said doing so was more difficult than she had anticipated. Instead, Emilia placed a garbage bag over Heather’s head while Joshua held his hand over her mouth and nose, suffocating the young mother to death.

Emilia was originally sentenced to death by lethal injection but it was commuted to life in prison. Joshua was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.