A Coral Springs mother, Destene Simmons, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in relation to the death of her 4-year-old son back in 2013, an arrest over a decade in the making. Simmons, who is 34, was extradited to Broward County following her arrest in St. Lucie County on unrelated charges, as reported by NBC Miami.
The case stems from an incident on June 10, 2013, when Simmons made several 911 calls, the details of which were unsettlingly sparse, and law enforcement discovered her son Antwan Hope dead in their apartment, despite the child being in his father's custody at that time, The prolongation of the case sparked frustration among family members, who felt justice was not being served, and speculation on why the charges were laid now remains as the Broward State Attorney's Office has not provided clarification, a measure that CBS News Miami has taken steps to investigate.
After being released initially post-interrogation following the tragic death of her son, Simmons is now facing severe legal repercussions without bond for the murder charge, and a $25,000 bond for the aggravated child abuse charge; moreover, the corrective arm of the law has also mandated a mental health screening for her. Antwan's grandmother, Sharon Walker, expressed a poignant sentiment perfectly captured by NBC Miami, "If she’s found guilty and she has to sleep behind bars, her family can come see her, they can visit her. But the thing with us, only thing we can do is go to the graveyard, look at the grass, dirt, and my grandbaby headstone. That’s all we got."
The Coral Springs Police Department has been steadfast in their efforts over the past 11 years, a dedication culminating in this late but significant arrest; Chief Bradley McKeone commended his team's undying pursuit of closure for Antwan's loved ones, stating, "Our detectives never gave up on Antwan Hope Jr. They pursued every lead and followed every piece of evidence with determination. Today’s arrest is a testament to their dedication and a step closer to justice for Antwan," according to the official communication from the Coral Springs Police Department.
