Florida Mother Charged with Murder of 4-Year-Old Son 11 Years After His Death: Police
Antwan Hope (right) was found dead in his mother’s apartment in June 2013. Now, 11 years later, officials say they have arrested his mother, Destene Simmons (left), in connection with his murder.
Sept. 1 2024, Published 3:02 p.m. ET
Authorities in Florida say a mother has been charged with the murder of her 4-year-old son more than a decade after the boy was found dead in her apartment.
On Aug. 23, Destene Simmons, now 34, was arrested on one count each of murder and aggravated child abuse, WFOR reported.
According to WTVJ, Antwan “A.J.” Hope’s father had legal custody at the time of his death, but he was at his mother’s apartment on June 10, 2013.
On that day, using a cell phone that could not be traced, she called 911 three times — twice hanging up without providing an address and the third time providing an address but not answering the door when officers arrived at the location, according to police.
Officers were able to make entry into the apartment and found the boy dead. Simmons was questioned but later released.
Following the death, the child's father filed two wrongful death lawsuits, but both were dismissed by the courts.
In the lawsuits, the father alleged that Simmons killed the boy during an unsupervised visit or that she neglected him because of her alleged mental illness. He also claimed that Simmons tried to suffocate the boy with a pillow two years prior to the child dying.
Simmons was involuntary commitment to a mental hospital after Simmons’ mother called police to report the suffocating incident, WFOR reported.
Simmons' mother told police that Simmons had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression and had been hospitalized three times in the months before her son died, according to reports.
In 2013, the Florida Department of Children and Families said the father had custody of the boy but preparations were in the works to reunite the mother and child.
Authorities said the boy was found dead during Simmons first unsupervised visit with him since she had lost custody.
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On Aug. 24, a judge ordered Simmons to be held without bond and $25,000 bail on the aggravated child abuse charge. The judge also ordered a mental health screening for the suspect.
Officials did not disclose why 11 years passed after the boy's death to file charges.
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