In 2011, Destin Simmons allegedly tried to suffocate a toddler by shoving a pillow over his face.
Antwon Hope Jr. was removed from his mother's custody by the state but returned to her unsupervised on weekends in 2013, the lawsuit said. Miami Herald. This was the first time they'd had time alone together in years.
The four-year-old, who had just graduated from kindergarten, died three days later.
More than 11 years after Antwon's death, authorities arrested Simmons in Broward County on Friday. Simmons is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in his son's death.
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Destin Simmons has been charged with murdering his 4-year-old son. (Courtesy of Broward County Sheriff's Office)
According to the Miami Herald, Coral Springs police have called Antwon's death “suspicious,” but have not released other details about the circumstances.
“This arrest marks the culmination of more than 11 years of dedicated investigative work by the Coral Springs Police Department's Crimes Against Persons Unit,” Coral Springs police said in a statement. “Detectives have re-examined this case multiple times over the years.”
On June 10, 2013, authorities received several 911 calls from Simmons and officers responded to her apartment where they found her son, Antwon, dead, lying on her bed in his pajamas. Sun Sentinel.
a 2013 Report A report by the Casey Family Program, which included Antwon's case, revealed authorities' failure to protect children from dysfunctional families.
“Medical experts stated that the child may have been dead for 10 to 15 hours before the mother contacted authorities,” the report states. “The child's attempted murder in 2011 was ignored because the child, who was under 3 years old at the time of the attempted suffocation, 'failed to disclose' that the incident had occurred…”
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Antwon Hope died in 2013. His mother was charged in connection to his death. (Courtesy of Thomas Bryant)
“We recognize that in order to improve, we must be open about our failures,” Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) said in response to the report at the time. “These innocent victims should serve as inspiration as we work to implement the report's recommendations and improve our practices to keep children safe.”
DCF removed Antwon from Simmons' custody after Simmons was admitted to a psychiatric facility in 2011. ChildNet, a DCF contractor, reunited Antwon with his mother after Simmons met several conditions that allowed unsupervised visitation, according to the Miami Herald.
“They sentenced him to death,” said Antwon's aunt, Deborah Jackson. He told the Miami Herald.
A Florida daycare worker allegedly became so angry during a time-out that she punched a child and threw him to the floor.
Coral Springs, Florida Police Department. (Google Street View)
“Our detectives never gave up on Antwon Hope Jr.,” Coral Springs Police Chief Bradley McKeon said.
Simmons appeared in court Saturday. She is being held without bail at the North Broward Detention Center in Pompano Beach.
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“This arrest brings closure to the family of Antwon Hope Jr., who have waited more than 11 years for justice,” police said. “The Coral Springs Police Department is committed to bringing justice to all victims, no matter how much time has passed.”
