FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida. – Antwan “AJ” Hope, Jr. was four years old when he died in Broward County over 11 years ago. Antwan “AJ” Hope, Jr. was four years old when he died in Broward County over 11 years ago. On Saturday, Antwan’s mother, Destene Simmons, was in Fort Lauderdale Main Jail facing arraignment.

Broward inmate records show Simmons, 34, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after Broward Sheriff’s Office officials arrested her Friday. She appeared before Broward County District Judge Joseph A. Murphy III on Saturday.

Local 10 News covered the case in detail. Antwan had just finished preschool when Simmons, then 23, called 911 several times on June 10, 2013, and Coral Springs police found him dead in her apartment.

Antwan’s maternal grandmother, Shaunte Rivers, and his paternal grandmother, Sharon Walker, both stated that Simmons suffered from schizophrenia and depression and that she attempted to smother Antwan with a pillow.

Before Antwan’s death, the Florida Department of Children and Families had investigated Simmons for alleged child abuse, removed him from the department’s custody in 2011 and temporarily placed him with his aunt, Deborah Jackson.

According to records, Antwan had only been with his mother for about a week at the time of his death.

Simmons appeared in court on Saturday. She was denied bail on the murder charge, and the judge set her bail on the aggravated child abuse charge at $25,000.

This is a developing story. Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega and Planning Editor Frine Gomez contributed to this report.

Archive (2013)