Bio

Christopher Lee Simmons was born on April 26, 1976. He grew up in a troubled environment in Missouri. His family faced challenges, particularly due to his stepfather, Bob Hayes, who had a problem with alcohol and was reported to be abusive. Simmons experienced physical and emotional abuse during his childhood. There were instances where he was tied up and beaten, which left lasting scars on his mental health.

Simmons' mother, Cheryl Hayes, was often unable to protect him from his stepfather's abuse. She described herself as feeling helpless and unable to act against her husband's behavior. This abusive family life led to significant emotional struggles for Simmons throughout his youth, including issues with self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.

By the time he reached his teenage years, Simmons was exposed to drugs and alcohol at a young age. He began drinking liquor and smoking marijuana regularly. These habits only intensified as he sought to escape the difficulties of his home life. His surroundings contributed to his growing problems with substance abuse.

During his high school years, Simmons became friends with Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer. The three of them would eventually become involved in a crime that led to major legal consequences for Simmons.

Murder Story

On September 9, 1993, Christopher Lee Simmons and two friends, Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, planned to commit a robbery that would turn deadly. They intended to break into a home, bind the victim, and dispose of her body off a bridge. The trio met in the early hours of the morning to execute their plan. However, John Tessmer chose not to participate and left before the crime took place.

Simmons and Benjamin arrived at the home of 46-year-old Shirley Crook. They broke in through a back window and found Crook asleep inside. Startled, she awoke to find Simmons and Benjamin in her room. They forced her out of bed, restrained her with duct tape, and covered her eyes and mouth. They then transported her to a railroad bridge over the Meramec River.

Once at the bridge, Simmons and Benjamin removed Crook from the vehicle and bound her hands and feet with electric cable. After covering her face with a towel, Simmons pushed her off the bridge into the river below, where she drowned. Her body was later discovered by fishermen downriver.

The day after the murder, on September 10, 1993, Simmons was arrested at his high school. He subsequently confessed to the crime and provided a videotaped reenactment. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, and in 1994, he was sentenced to death.

Simmons's case underwent multiple appeals throughout the years. Initially, his conviction and death sentence were upheld despite arguments regarding his age and the circumstances of his upbringing. Long-standing discussions about the legality of executing juvenile offenders intensified, especially following a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the death penalty for the mentally retarded.

The Missouri Supreme Court revisited Simmons's case and in August 2003, ruled that executing juvenile offenders was unconstitutional, citing evolving standards of decency in society. Consequently, Simmons's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This decision marked a significant moment in discussions about juvenile justice in the United States.