An 80-year-old Orlando man has been formally indicted, months after he allegedly shot and killed his 83-year-old wife in their kitchen during an argument over a cruise.
On Tuesday, June 2, an Orange County grand jury indicted William Elwood Simmons on a capital charge of first-degree murder with a firearm. The formal charge stems from a fatal shooting that occurred shortly after 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 21.
On that date, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence located in the 8000 block of Romerly Court after a 911 caller reported that his wife, Nancy Simmons, “was down.”
When deputies arrived at the residence, they made contact with William in the garage, where he allegedly confessed to shooting his wife, Nancy. Inside the home, investigators found the victim unresponsive on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to her upper body. A shotgun and a single shell casing were reportedly found nearby.
Following his arrest, William was transported to an OCSO substation, where he allegedly told investigators he was “guilty” of shooting his wife. He claimed the incident began as a verbal altercation in the kitchen regarding “going on a cruise.”
During the argument,William claimed his wife repeatedly swore at him, which he said “triggered” him. William allegedly admitted to retrieving a shotgun from his bedroom closet, returning to the kitchen, and shooting her once.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, William reportedly told detectives that he “had dealt with (his wife’s) dementia for too long.” He further stated that he “would rather live in prison than to deal with her,” according to previous reports.
William was placed under arrest and booked into Orange County Jail, where he remains in custody without bond. Court records show that he is being represented by Orlando-based attorney Mark O’Mara.
Later this month, William is scheduled to appear in an Orange County courtroom for an arraignment on the indictment.