An 80-year-old Orlando man is behind bars after he allegedly shot and killed his 83-year-old wife in their kitchen on Saturday during an argument about a cruise.
Shortly after 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home located in the 8000 block of Romerly Court in Orlando in reference to a shooting. A 911 caller had told the dispatcher that his wife “was down,” according to the arrest report.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they made contact with an elderly man in the garage who was identified as William Elwood Simmons. He allegedly informed the deputies that he had shot his wife, Nancy Simmons.
Deputies entered the home and walked into the kitchen, where they observed Nancy on the floor. She was unresponsive with a gunshot wound on her upper body, and a shotgun and one shell casing were spotted nearby, according to the report.
William was detained in handcuffs and transported to an OCSO substation for an interview. He allegedly told investigators that he was “guilty” of shooting his wife, and claimed that the incident began in the kitchen with an argument over “going on a cruise.”
During the verbal altercation, William’s wife repeatedly said, “(Expletive) you, you (expletive),” according to his statement. William told investigators that this “triggered” him, and he allegedly admitted to grabbing a shotgun from his bedroom closet and returning to the kitchen, where he shot her once.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, William stated that he “had dealt with (his wife’s) dementia for too long.” He further said that he “loved the old Nancy,” adding that he “would rather live in prison than to deal with her,” according to the report.
William was placed under arrest and booked into Orange County Jail, where he remains in custody without bond. He is being charged with first-degree murder with a firearm.
Orange County Court records show that William is being represented by a public defender.