A South Florida mother is facing murder charges over a decade after the death of her 4-year-old son, Antwan Hope, according to reports. Destene Simmons, 34, was arrested after a prolonged investigation into the child's unsolved death found new evidence linking her to the crime. The arrest was made over the weekend, with NBC Miami reporting that Hope was found dead on June 10, 2013, in Simmons's Coral Springs apartment.
Having a history of mental illness documented, Simmons was nonetheless allowed unsupervised visits with her son, a decision that drew criticism after the boy's death. Previous attempts by Simmons to smother her son were cited by The Miami Herald. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) faced scrutiny from Hope's grandmother, who accused the agency of systematic failure, allowing these visits despite the mother's mental health issues.
Simmons is currently being held without bond at the North Broward Bureau Jail in Pompano Beach after being charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. The judge, as reported by NBC Miami, has also ordered a mental health screening for Simmons following her arrest this weekend. She previously faced a judge on an unrelated charge of driving with a suspended license after her son's death.
On the day of Hope's death, Simmons made multiple 911 calls. Initially hanging up after refusing to state what was happening, she later provided an address but again ended the call without disclosing details. According to police records, she used a cell phone, which made it difficult to trace the call's location initially. Released a few weeks after Hope's death were the 911 audio clips, detailing the confusing interaction between Simmons and the dispatcher.
