International Courant
In 2011, Destene Simmons allegedly tried to smother her toddler by placing a pillow over his face.
Antwan Hope Jr. was taken from his mom’s care by the state, however he was returned to her for an unsupervised weekend go to in 2013, in response to the Miami Herald. This was their first time alone collectively in years.
The four-year-old, who had simply graduated from pre-school, could be useless three days later.
Over 11 years since Antwan’s dying, authorities arrested Simmons in Broward County on Friday. She faces a first-degree homicide cost for the dying of her son, in addition to an aggravated youngster abuse cost.
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Destene Simmons was charged with murdering her four-year-old son. (Courtesy of the Broward County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Coral Springs police have mentioned Antwan’s dying was “suspicious” however haven’t launched different particulars on the circumstances, the Miami Herald reported.
“The arrest marks the fruits of over 11 years of devoted investigative work by the Coral Springs Police Division’s Crimes In opposition to Individuals Unit,” Coral Springs police mentioned in an announcement. “Detectives revisited the case quite a few instances over time.”
On June 10, 2013, authorities obtained a number of 911 calls from Simmons, and officers went to her condominium, the place they discovered her son Antwan’s physique on a mattress, nonetheless in his pajamas, in response to the Solar Sentinel.
A 2013 report by the Casey Household Applications, which included Antwan’s case, outlined officers’ failure to guard youngsters in dysfunctional households.
“Medical specialists acknowledged that this youngster could have been useless for 10-15 hours earlier than the mom contacted the authorities,” in response to the report. “What could have been the tried homicide of this youngster in 2011 was disregarded as a result of the kid, lower than 3-years-old on the time of the tried suffocation, didn’t ‘disclose’ that the incident had occurred…”
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Antwan Hope died in 2013. His mom has been charged in his dying. (Courtesy of Thomas Bryant)
“We acknowledge that we should be open about our failures in an effort to enhance,” Florida’s Division of Kids and Households (DCF) mentioned in response to the report on the time. “These harmless victims ought to function our inspiration as we work to implement the suggestions within the report and enhance our practices to maintain youngsters secure.”
DCF eliminated Antwan from Simmons’ care after she was dedicated to a psychological well being facility in 2011. ChildNet, a DCF contractor, later reunited him together with his mom after she met a number of circumstances that might permit her unsupervised visitation, in response to the Miami Herald.
“They put him within the palms of dying,” Antwan’s aunt, Deborah Jackson, informed the Miami Herald.
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Coral Springs Police Division in Florida. (Google Avenue View)
“Our detectives by no means gave up on Antwan Hope Jr.,” Coral Springs Police Chief Bradley McKeone mentioned.
Simmons confronted a choose on Saturday. She is being held with out bond within the North Broward Bureau in Pompano Seaside.
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“This arrest brings closure to the household of Antwan Hope Jr., who’ve waited over 11 years for justice,” police mentioned. “The Coral Springs Police Division stays dedicated to bringing justice to all victims, irrespective of how a lot time has handed.”
Florida mother charged with four-year-old son’s homicide over decade after his dying throughout unsupervised go to
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