Aimee Lafakis complained of ‘tough times’ with her boyfriend days before her death: friend

A beloved 48-year-old grandmother whose remains were found dumped in an empty field over the weekend had confided in her friend just days before that she was experiencing “tough times” with her boyfriend, who is now charged in her death.

“She was going through some tough times, we had talked about it,” Faith Corbin told 11 Alive News of the conversation she had with Aimee Lafakis last week, noting she had experienced similar relationship issues in the past — though she did not disclose what issues Lafakis was facing with her boyfriend, Brandon Wineinger.

“Aimee was the one to get me out of the same situation she was in, just with someone else, so it hit extremely close to home,” Corbin said of her friend’s death.

“I believe she felt she had this taken care of.”

Lafakis was reported missing Friday when she failed to show up to dinner with her daughter. Police later found her car parked at her apartment in Brookhaven, Georgia — about 11 miles northeast of Atlanta — but Aimee was nowhere to be found.

Wineinger, 43, was arrested Saturday morning on charges of kidnapping, concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence, making false statements and first-degree burglary. 

Aimee’s body was then discovered near a construction site on Drowning Creek Road in Gwinnett County on Sunday, a day after her boyfriend’s arrest. Police announced then that Wineinger would also be charged with concealing the death of another.

“It literally makes my stomach hurt to know that this guy took her and discarded her like she was trash,” Corbin told 11 Alive of the allegations made by cops. 

“She was alone by herself for days, and we’re out looking for her — and that’s the hardest part because Aimee would never ever, ever let that happen to anyone else.”

Authorities are still investigating the cause of death and said additional charges could also be filed.

Police said they first arrested Wineinger after interviewing several family members and other people close to Lafakis, Atlanta News First reported.

They discovered Wineinger “made several statements that were proven to be false,” Lt. Jake Kissel, Brookhaven police spokesperson told the Independent.

Aimee was remembered over the weekend as a loving mother and grandmother.

“She was so proud of them and the bond they shared was just so unique and special,” the family told 11Alive.

”They will make her proud and they will have the beautiful lives she always wanted for them. She was loved by so many and her legacy will be how she lived. She was genuine, fun, loyal, and just a force of nature,” they added.

Corbin also called her friend “a woman of remarkable intelligence and wit.

“She had an innate ability to look after those she cared about, always offering a comforting presence and a shoulder to lean on,” Corbin said.

“Aimee’s strength and resilience were awe-inspiring and she faced life’s challenges head-on, never backing down from a fight. She was a true warrior, both in spirit and in heart.”

Corbin said she now hopes Aimee’s story will encourage others to get help if they are facing domestic abuse.

“I think a lot of people think that this can’t happen to them, or they’ll be able to get out of the situation soon enough,” she said. “Take this story into consideration that it could be you, you could be next.”