Unusual Turn of Events in a Hermosa Beach Homicide Case
Nothing could be stranger, even for Hollywood.
A transgender individual, originally identified as Eleanor Beaureur, 39, has been apprehended in connection with the death of 92-year-old billionaire developer Demetrius Doukouros. His body was discovered in his Hermosa Beach home after a dramatic seven-hour standoff with the police SWAT team.
The situation unfolded almost like a scene from a film, as Robert Simmons, the suspect, chose to surrender after a police officer used a bullhorn to instruct him to come out. Dressed in a black suit, fedora, and sunglasses, Simmons bore a striking resemblance to characters from the classic 1980 film, The Blues Brothers.
The media was present to capture the intense moment of surrender. According to CBS Los Angeles, homicide is on the table as a potential charge, although the coroner has yet to determine the cause of Doukouros’ death.
Police were initially called around 12:30 p.m. Saturday after a property manager requested a welfare check, having not heard from Doukouros for nearly a week. Upon arrival, officers encountered the transgender suspect inside the property, described as uncooperative and belligerent, even indicating he was armed.
This prompted the police to call in a SWAT team. What began as a routine check escalated quickly, leading to confusion and partial evacuations in the surrounding area until the situation was resolved by nightfall, around 8 p.m.
A police officer, using a loudspeaker, pleaded, “Eleanor, please come out with your hands up. This has been going on long enough.” After a second call, the suspect finally emerged and was taken into custody.
Once the standoff concluded, Doukoulos’ body was found in a deteriorated state, showing signs of trauma. A spokesperson for the Hermosa Beach Police Department noted that this rapid escalation from a simple check to a murder charge was unexpected.
Doukouros had been renting a unit in a triplex for about a year after selling his longtime residence in Hermosa. Neil Chabria, the real estate agent for the property, remarked on Doukouros’ active lifestyle, sharing that he still drove and had been quite the builder in the area.
The nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victim remains unclear at this time.
