KENT MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN SHOOTING OF GIRLFRIEND

He will be sentenced Oct 4th

Jefferson County, Indiana (August 28, 2023) – Dalton M. Simmonds, 29, Kent, Indiana, was convicted of Murder and other charges following a week-long jury trial in Jefferson Circuit Court. Simmonds was also convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Obstruction of Justice and Animal Cruelty, along with being a Habitual Felony Offender.

The case was tried by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney David R. Sutter and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mary Jean Stotts.

“This was a terrible, tragic case that ended with the loss of a human life,” said Prosecutor Sutter.

The evidence presented at trial revealed that on May 14, 2022, Newman, Simmonds’ girlfriend, had gone to a neighboring residence and reported that Simmonds had set their curtains on fire. The neighbor went over and checked the residence, reported that the fire was out and that Simmonds had left.

Newman said she was going to go back to the residence, get some personal items and leave. As soon as Newman went back to the house, Simmonds returned and the neighbor reported hearing arguing.

Moments later a gunshot went off in the house. Several minutes later Simmonds came out of the house screaming for help getting Newman to the hospital. Simmonds loaded Newman into a truck and drove down the roadway to Kent Mercantile.

Law enforcement, First Responders and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office all arrived on scene where Newman was ultimately pronounced dead. A subsequent autopsy revealed that the bullet that killed Newman had gone through her ribs, lungs, aorta and spine.

Simmonds initially denied knowledge about what had happened and denied firing a gun.

The investigation, led by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Charles “C.J.” Miller, uncovered multiple 9 mm cartridges at the residence, multiple handgun holsters and a hollowed-out dictionary with a foam cutout for a handgun. Also, during a search of the residence, a puppy was located with a significant injury to his skull.

During a canvass of the area between the residence and Kent Mercantile the following morning, law enforcement recovered a 9mm Luger handgun in the ditch line of State Road 256 near Kent Mercantile. The handgun was sent to the Indiana State Police Laboratory where it was found to contain Simmonds’ DNA and Newman’s blood.

“I appreciate the service of the jury. This case included multiple disturbing photographs and graphic videos,” said Prosecutor Sutter. “The jury paid close attention to the evidence presented and remained engaged during the entirety of the trial.”

Sutter thanked the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Hanover Police Department, the Indiana State Police, NKDH EMS, 911 Central Dispatch, Jefferson County Animal Control, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office and multiple citizens who assisted in the investigation.

Prosecutor Sutter also recognized the hours of hard work put in by staff in the Prosecutor’s Office, including Victim Assistance Coordinator Bailey Wolf, and Investigator Gary Macdonald.