Deputy Sheriff William D. Simmons

William D. Simmons

Deputy William Simmons was shot and killed while checking on a stolen vehicle.

While the deputy was on the scene the suspect who was responsible for stealing the vehicle drove up in a tow truck. The man then approached Deputy Simmons and shot and killed him while the deputy was seated in his patrol car.

The suspect was not charged with Deputy Simmons' murder until 1992. The man had been a suspect since the murder, but because of a lack of evidence he was never charged. He had been convicted of another crime in Arkansas and confessed to murdering Deputy Simmons in 1992. He made the confession in order to be transferred to an Illinois prison because he did not like the Arkansas prison system. He was sentenced to 40 years for Deputy Simmons' murder.

Deputy Simmons' killer was paroled in May 2012, but was arrested in Missouri in January 2013 after stealing an ATM.

Deputy Simmons had served with the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department nearly two years. He was survived by his wife and two children.