A person in Florida has been arrested after he allegedly fatally shot his spouse as a result of he “would moderately reside in jail” than “cope with” her amid her battle with dementia.
Former police officer William Elwood Simmons was charged with first-degree homicide within the demise of his 83-year-old spouse, Nancy Simmonson Saturday, February 21.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace responded to a house in Orlando, Florida, round 5:15 p.m. after a caller stated his spouse “was down and I’m simply sitting right here,” in keeping with a possible trigger arrest affidavit reviewed by Us Weekly.
As soon as deputies arrived on the dwelling, they noticed William, 80, waving them down within the storage. “I do know what occurred, I did it,” he informed them after they requested what occurred.
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William was then requested if there have been any weapons in the home, and he reportedly stated, “Nicely, one on the ground. I put it there.”
Officers then entered the house, the place they discovered the sufferer within the kitchen, lifeless from a gunshot wound. A shotgun was additionally on the ground with a spent shell casing, in keeping with the affidavit.
William was taken into the police station for questioning, the place he informed cops that he “was responsible and he shot his spouse.”
“He confirmed they had been within the kitchen arguing over occurring a cruise. Nancy informed him a number of instances ‘F**okay you, you bastard’ which triggered Simmons,” the affidavit acknowledged.
William stated he then went to his bed room and grabbed a shotgun from the closet. His spouse stated, “F**okay you, you bastard” once more earlier than he shot her one time.
He informed the officers that he dealt together with her dementia for “far too lengthy” and that he cherished “the outdated Nancy.” He added “that he would moderately reside in jail than to cope with her.”
He’s at the moment in custody at Orange County Jail after he was denied bail. It isn’t instantly clear if William has entered a plea or retained authorized illustration.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to Us Weekly’s request for remark.
Not a lot is thought about William and Nancy’s relationship, together with how lengthy they had been collectively or if that they had youngsters. Moreover, it isn’t recognized when she was identified with dementia.
In response to the Alzheimer’s AffiliationDementia is “a common time period for lack of reminiscence, language, problem-solving and different pondering talents which might be extreme sufficient to intrude with each day life. Alzheimer’s is the most typical reason behind dementia.”
UPDATE — 12/18/25 at 12:05 p.m. ET: Brian Walshe was sentenced on Thursday, December 18, to life in jail with out the potential of parole for the homicide of his spouse, Ana Walshe UPDATE — 12/15/25 at 12:10 p.m. ET: Walshe was convicted of his spouse Ana’s homicide on Monday, December 15. The jury of six (…)
If William is discovered responsible of first-degree homicide, he might face both the demise penalty or life in jail with out the potential of parole. Nonetheless, the proof and circumstances of the crime will in the end decide his sentence.
The state of Florida has aggressively accelerated its use of the demise penalty in recent times, and a document excessive of 19 folks had been executed in 2025. A demise sentence is executed by deadly injection, in keeping with the Florida Statues. Nonetheless, the one who was sentenced to demise additionally has the selection to be executed by electrocution.