Upson County Murder Conviction

From the office of: MARIE G. BRODER

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Griffin Judicial Circuit

12/11/25

On December 10, 2025, an Upson County jury convicted Frederick Bernard Durham of Malice Murder, Felony Murder (2 counts), Aggravated Assault (2 counts) and Concealing the Death of Another.  The Honorable Ben J. Miller of the Upson County Superior Court sentenced the Defendant to serve life in prison without parole followed by five years in prison.  The State was represented by Senior Assistant District Attorney Audrey D. Holliday and Senior Assistant District Attorney John C. McAbee along with the assistance of their team, Investigator Rick Reeves, Victim Advocate, Bailey Middlebrooks, and Legal Assistant, Earielle Mullins.  Thomaston Police Department investigated this case.

The State presented evidence that in the morning hours of October 20, 2023, the victim, Margaret Dubinion, AKA “Mella Yella”, was at her home in Thomaston with the Defendant, her live-in boyfriend.  Per the Defendant’s own confession, he claimed that Ms. Dubinion was disrespecting him by calling him vulgar names and that she would not stop fussing at him.  His response was to hold her down with his left hand while he beat her about the head with his right hand.  The Defendant caused bleeding on the brain, swollen eyes, broken ribs, broken cervical bones, and he strangled her to death.  He then wrapped her in a comforter and folded her up into a suitcase.  After leaving the suitcase in the closet, he went to work, went to buy lottery tickets and then went to Atlanta in the victim’s car.  He told the police he was not sure if she was alive or dead when he put her in the suitcase, but when pushed on the issue, would not give the family peace with a definite answer.

“This Defendant had a malignant and abandoned heart.  He left Ms. Dubinion in a suitcase and refused to give this family an answer on whether she was alive or dead when he did so.  I am grateful the family helped us bring Frederick Durham to Justice by their persistence in searching for Ms. Dubinion and by testifying against the Defendant,” said Senior ADA Holliday.

“This was an evil act from a person who had no compassion for this family. I am very proud of my Upson County office for their prosecution of this case.  It is imperative that the citizens of Upson County know that domestic violence is not acceptable and that domestic homicides will be prosecuted with the full strength of my offices,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney David Studdard.