Photo: Broward Sheriff's Office
Destene Simmons, a Florida mother, has been charged with the murder of her 4-year-old son, Antwan Hope, who died 11 years ago. Simmons, currently in custody in Broward County, Florida, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, according to online jail records.
The arrest affidavit, alleges that Simmons suffocated her son, who was found dead on June 10, 2013, in her Coral Springs apartment during an unsupervised visit. Although the affidavit does not name the child, he is identified as Antwan Hope in his obituary.
On the day Antwan was discovered, Simmons reportedly made several 911 calls asking for emergency responders without disclosing the reason for her request. When police arrived, she allegedly said she needed someone to check on her son inside the apartment. Antwan’s body was found already showing signs of rigor mortis.
During the investigation, Simmons’ mother told police that her daughter had previously lost custody of Antwan and had witnessed Simmons holding a pillow over his head in 2011. This information is detailed in the affidavit, reported PEOPLE.
Following an autopsy in 2013, Antwan’s cause and manner of death were initially listed as undetermined, and no charges were filed at that time. At the time of her son’s death, Simmons had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was facing imminent eviction, as noted in the complaint.
In the years following Antwan’s death, forensic experts provided varying opinions on the manner of death. However, in November 2023, Broward County’s Chief Medical Examiner informed the detective assigned to the case that she believed the child had been asphyxiated, leading to a change in the manner of death to homicide, as stated in the affidavit.
Authorities later traced Simmons to an apartment complex in Redmond, Washington. After acquiring her phone number, police began tracking her location and applied for an arrest warrant in July. Simmons was subsequently arrested on August 2 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, before being transferred to Broward County.
It is currently unclear whether Simmons has retained legal representation or entered a plea. The case continues to unfold as the community grapples with the tragic and long-awaited developments.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
