Facts:
Christopher Simmons, at the age of 17 committed murder. Simmons talked about his plan with his two friends, Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, who were 15 and 16. Simmons anticipated on committing burglary and murder. Simmons made certain to tell his friends that they could get away with the crime due to them being minors. On the night of the murder, Simmons and Benjamin met at the home of the victim, Shirly Crook, after Tessmer backed out. Simmons and Benjamin entered the home by reaching through and open window and unlocking the backdoor. Simmons then went on to turn on the hallway light which caused the victim, Mrs. Crook to wake up. Simmons entered the victims’ room and duct tape her eyes and mouth and bind her hands then placed her in a minivan and drove to a state park. Once they arrive, the tied her hands and feet together with electrical tape, wrapper her entire face with duct tape, and threw her from the bridge where she later drowned. The following day, Mr. Crook reported his wife missing. On the same day, a fisherman recovered the body of Mrs. Crook. The next day police arrested Simmons after hearing about his involvement. After two hours, Simmons confessed to murder. The state charged Simmons with burglary, kidnapping, stealing, and 1st degree murder. …show more content…
Until 2002, Simmons made appeals to state and federal court. In 2002, Simmons execution was delayed as the Supreme Court of Missouri decided Atkins v. Virginia. In Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that eighth and the amendments prohibit the execution of minors. Simmons filed a new petition for state postconviction relief considering the Atkins v. Virginia case. The Missouri Supreme Court based on this decision resentenced Simmons death sentence to life in prison without chance of parole.
Christopher Simmons, at the age of 17 committed murder. Simmons talked about his plan with his two friends, Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, who were 15 and 16. Simmons anticipated on committing burglary and murder. Simmons made certain to tell his friends that they could get away with the crime due to them being minors. On the night of the murder, Simmons and Benjamin met at the home of the victim, Shirly Crook, after Tessmer backed out. Simmons and Benjamin entered the home by reaching through and open window and unlocking the backdoor. Simmons then went on to turn on the hallway light which caused the victim, Mrs. Crook to wake up. Simmons entered the victims’ room and duct tape her eyes and mouth and bind her hands then placed her in a minivan and drove to a state park. Once they arrive, the tied her hands and feet together with electrical tape, wrapper her entire face with duct tape, and threw her from the bridge where she later drowned. The following day, Mr. Crook reported his wife missing. On the same day, a fisherman recovered the body of Mrs. Crook. The next day police arrested Simmons after hearing about his involvement. After two hours, Simmons confessed to murder. The state charged Simmons with burglary, kidnapping, stealing, and 1st degree murder. …show more content…
Until 2002, Simmons made appeals to state and federal court. In 2002, Simmons execution was delayed as the Supreme Court of Missouri decided Atkins v. Virginia. In Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that eighth and the amendments prohibit the execution of minors. Simmons filed a new petition for state postconviction relief considering the Atkins v. Virginia case. The Missouri Supreme Court based on this decision resentenced Simmons death sentence to life in prison without chance of parole.