Bio

Willie Simmons was born on August 7, 1964. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Details about his family life and childhood are not widely known. However, it is noted that he had some problems with the law during his younger years.

Murder Story

On November 30, 1987, Willie Simmons committed two murders in St. Louis, Missouri. His first victim was Cheri Johnson. Neighbors reported hearing screams and thumping sounds coming from her apartment. A security guard investigated, but after a male voice assured him that everything was fine, he left. The next day, Johnson did not show up for work. When police arrived at her apartment, they found her dead. She had been beaten in the head and strangled with a necktie.

During their investigation, police discovered a carnation wrapped in purple paper at the scene. They traced the carnation to a local flower shop, where employees recalled selling it to a man wearing a tie that matched the one used in the murder. That man was Willie Simmons, who had worked at a nearby Walgreens.

Police attempted to interview Simmons, but he did not show up. On January 3, 1988, he voluntarily visited the homicide office. During questioning, Simmons gave several conflicting statements about his relationship with Johnson and the events leading up to her death. Initially, he denied ever being in her apartment, then claimed she had given him a key and that he had left a carnation at her door. Eventually, he admitted to entering the apartment.

Simon's arrest followed soon after. Police found pawn tickets in his possession for jewelry that belonged to Johnson and a watch that belonged to another victim, Leonora McClendon. He offered inconsistent explanations about how he came to possess these items, claiming at first they were given to him by Johnson, then later saying he stole them after finding her dead.

The autopsy revealed signs of a struggle, including scratch marks on Johnson’s fingers. Evidence collected included photographs of Simmons with the tie and at the flower shop. Simmons was charged and later convicted for the murders of both Johnson and McClendon. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was later changed to life in prison without parole.