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Hernando Today

Murder Suspect Remains On No Bond

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: August 5, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - He was the last in line for a first appearance.
The mood in the courtroom dropped from serious to somber.
Kevin Simmons, seated in a wheelchair, was pushed before the podium. The microphone was pulled down to his level.
Via video conference from the county jail, County Judge Donald Scaglione began his questions.
"Are you aware you've been arrested on a first-degree murder charge?"
A pause, then Simmons, 57, replied in a hoarse voice:
"I know it now."
Scaglione reminded Simmons that he faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Simmons opted for a public defender to represent him.
Given the gravity of the situation, the judge said, was there anything the public defender wanted to say?
Attorney Laura Drake leaned over and spoke into the microphone: Do not speak to the jail staff or anyone else until we can get an office investigator out to talk with you.
Do you understand?
"Yap," Simmons answered.
There will be no contact with the victim or witnesses. No bond will be set. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 2.
The five-minute hearing Monday morning was the first step in what is typically a lengthy journey toward trial.
The charge was brought against Simmons around 3 a.m. Sunday when deputies say he used a telephone and remote control to beat his 81-year-old mother, Dorothy Simmons, around the head. He then held the victim under the water of the backyard pool with his legs, according to an affidavit.
His son, Chris Simmons, and his 8-year-old daughter were sleeping at the time inside 1327 Altoona Ave. in Spring Hill. Chris Simmons was woken up by his mother and he followed a trail of blood from his grandmother's bedroom outside to the pool.
When he saw his father holding the victim under water, he pushed the suspect over to rescue his grandmother, investigators say.
At one point a medical alarm was tripped. Who set it off is unclear, but the alarm company contacted Spring Hill Fire Rescue and EMS was dispatched.
An operator with the alarm company next contacted the sheriff's office. Deputies were dispatched in 44 seconds, according to Sgt. Jim Powers, spokesman.
Dorothy Simmons was already dead when they arrived.

On Monday, Chris Simmons contested what a witness told a reporter at the crime scene on Sunday. He said Katrina Loftin had never met the victim or been inside the house.
"We do not know this woman from God's green earth," he said.
He declined to comment further.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com

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