Transgender Woman Accused of Murder; Brother Learns of Transition and Charges

The brother of a transgender woman, who is facing murder charges, was taken aback to discover his sibling had transitioned. This revelation came as he found out about the criminal allegations after the woman, Robert Simmons, now known as Eleanor Beaulieu, turned herself in while dressed as a character from The Blues Brothers.

John Simmons, residing in Massachusetts, expressed surprise, stating he hadn’t had contact with Robert in many years. He mentioned that he learned of Robert’s new name and troubling legal issues through media reports.

“I haven’t heard from Robert in years…I don’t even know how many years,” he told media outlets. “I have no idea what he was doing. I can’t really help you. I’m sorry,” he added.

Simmons admitted to being unaware of his brother’s female identity, further expressing confusion about the situation. A SWAT team apprehended Beaulieu after a standoff that lasted seven hours at the residence of 92-year-old real estate developer Demetrius Doukouros, who was found deceased.

Beaulieu emerged from the home wearing a suit and hat reminiscent of the iconic film. He had reportedly barricaded himself and claimed to be armed during the tense encounter. Details surrounding Doukouros’s death, including the apparent signs of trauma and decomposition, remain unclear, as does the nature of his relationship with Beaulieu.

Prior to this incident, Beaulieu had a history with the law—he was arrested in Los Angeles last year on robbery charges, which were later dropped. In a separate incident, he was questioned for suspected shoplifting just last month.

Worry among neighbors about Doukouros grew when he stopped being seen on his porch. An upstairs resident reported a strange smell and identified a suspicious individual entering Doukouros’s home, prompting a welfare check by authorities.

Upon entering, police discovered someone inside who did not match Doukouros’s description. In the ensuing struggle, Beaulieu barricaded himself before finally surrendering while dressed in oversized clothing. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently held at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail with a bail set at $2 million.