Wife of late District Attorney Robert Busbee remembers him as devoted husband, father and public servant

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The wife of late Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Robert Busbee is remembering him as a devoted husband, father and public servant. Busbee died suddenly following a medical emergency at a gym. He was 44.

Erika Busbee sat down for an exclusive interview to share who her husband was at home — and to address what she says happened in the hours after his death.

‘He was such a fantastic dad and husband’

Erika said Robert was her husband of nearly 10 years, her partner of 12, and the father of their three sons, ages 7, 3, and 1.

“He was such a fantastic dad and husband,” Erika said. “He loved being the DA, but he loved me and the boys more.”

She said that despite the demands of his job, Robert made it a point to be present at home.

“You would think after his profession that he would be home late, he wouldn’t be home that much, but he made it a personal effort to be there for the boys, so they could see him and be home and have memories with him,” she said. “So he would play on the trampoline with them, go trekking through the woods with them, playing in the tools — just all the fun things he did, he wanted to do. He was a very active, engaging dad.”

Erika said her oldest son has already made clear the impression his father left on him.

“My oldest told me that when you ask him, what he wants to be when he grows up, he says ”I want to be a dad," because he wants to be just like his dad,” she said.

A love story that started with a parking spot

Erika said she and Robert met in Statesboro at a restaurant called South and Vine.

“It’s kind of like a Cinderella story, I would say,” she said. “He took the last parking spot, and I remember being like, man, he took the last parking spot. Why is he looking at me?”

She said the two made eye contact inside the restaurant, talked, and then she left — taking her artwork with her.

“He had the magazine, and he found my artwork and my name. He looked me up on Facebook and sent me a message and was like, you seem really cool, I want to get to know you,” Erika said. “We’ve been inseparable ever since then.”

She said their relationship came naturally.

“It was kind of shocking how easy it was to be with him, and he would say the same about me,” she said.

As one example, she said Robert planted 37 trees — including peach and apple trees — in a bare area near their home because she asked.

‘He had a big heart’

Erika said Robert was deeply devoted to his family, including his parents, whom he was working to relocate closer to their home so their boys could have an even stronger relationship with their grandparents.

“He loved his family. He loved us,” she said. “I think that was the thing that he loved most, was how much he loved us. He would move mountains — whatever you needed, he would do. He had a big heart. He was a very intimidating man, but he was the biggest teddy bear.”

Legacy in the DA’s office

Erika said Robert brought that same commitment to the District Attorney’s office, pushing for transparency, accountability, and what he believed was right.

“He’s always been very big on just being honest and upfront and doing the right thing, even if that meant that he was standing alone on the hill,” she said.

She said he started a major crimes division in the office, worked to move cases forward through open communication between his assistant district attorneys and defense attorneys, and examined the office budget closely to cut out wasteful spending.

“He felt it was important that the public knew what was going on in the district attorney’s office, just because they’re the ones that are paying for it,” Erika said.

She said Robert also found the office was spending money on unnecessary items, including an interior designer and storage units housing old furniture, even while the circuit was underfunded compared to similarly sized circuits in the state.

When asked what he loved most about the job, Erika said it came down to purpose.

“That he was doing something right, that he was helping his community. I think that’s what he loved the most — that he was making a difference,” she said.

‘No warning’

Erika said she received a call at 8 a.m. the morning Robert died from their coach, saying he had been having leg cramps and had passed out at the gym.

“I had rushed to the gym. By that time they had already called the ambulance, and the ambulance was trying to revive him,” she said. “They rushed him off to the hospital where I waited for my in-laws to get to the hospital. Around 10 o’clock was when I found out that he had died.”

She said the loss was made more difficult by how sudden it was.

“He didn’t complain about anything. He was the healthiest he’d ever been. He lost all this weight, and there was nothing, no warning,” Erika said.

She said she was unable to see him at the hospital.

“I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t do it. Because, I mean, it was such a shock,” she said. “It was such a blur after that time.”

Political discussions in the hours after his death

Erika said her grief was compounded by what she described as political discussions about who would take over as district attorney, beginning while Robert’s body was still at the hospital.

She said the announcement of Robert’s death came out shortly before 11:30 a.m. on the day he died. Around noon, she said, Judge Muldrew sent a text to four sheriffs pushing for Catherine Sumner to become the next DA — even though Robert had designated Jillian Gibson to serve as DA if something ever happened to him.

“I know he would agree with me, he would want the public to know that even before his body left the hospital, those text messages were being sent out, that they were already pushing for someone else,” Erika said.

She said a letter endorsing Sumner was also drafted and physically driven across counties rather than emailed to avoid technology records of it.

“So it wouldn’t be on the open records request,” she said.

Erika said some of those involved came to her home around 1 p.m. that same day to offer condolences and pray with her.

“They were coming up to me and giving me their condolences and they didn’t mean it. They were just using me as a pawn,” she said. “And then an hour later, come into my house and pray with me.”

She said none of those involved have since apologized or reached out.

“It just felt like there was no sincerity,” Erika said. “It just hurt a lot.”

She said the actions were a direct contradiction of what Robert stood for.

“Robert, during his campaign, he preached on being transparent and having accountability. And he didn’t just say that to get elected. He did it because he lived by that,” she said. “They just didn’t like him because he wasn’t a yes man. He didn’t do it if it didn’t feel right, if it wasn’t right.”

Community support

Erika said support from the community has helped her family through the loss.

“We have gotten so much support. And the love from the community really means a lot. And there’s far more good in the world than there is bad,” she said.

She said hearing from people who knew Robert has reinforced what she already knew about him.

“He was always there for people. He was always a good friend and a mentor — to listen and talk to. And he’d give you his honest opinion. Not because he wanted to make you mad or anything, but because that’s what he did,” Erika said. “He was a very honest man. And he cared deeply. He loved deeply.”

‘Taking it a day at a time’

Erika said her sons are adjusting. She said her oldest, who used to be reassured at night by his father’s presence, is now struggling.

“When he used to be scared of monsters, they’d be like, oh, well, daddy’s here, daddy will keep you safe. And now that daddy’s not here, he’s having a hard time at night,” she said.

She said her boys are what keep her going.

“We’re just taking it a day at a time. Because that’s all you can do. If it wasn’t for my boys, I don’t know what I would do — so they’re the ones that keep me going,” Erika said.

When asked what she wants people who never knew Robert to take away-- she did not hesitate with this answer:

“He was honest. He was steadfast. He was there,” she said. “If he told you he was going to be there, he was there. You didn’t have to worry about walking in somewhere alone if you told Robert...Robert was going to be there. His word — when he gave you his word, he meant it."

Busbee is remembered by his loving parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, many family members, his children and wife Erika.