Simmons Extradited Back To Texas To Face Capital Murder Charges:

Mark David Simmon (mug shot HCTX)

The man who kept authorities at bay in an eight-and-a-half hour standoff at the Walnut Lane Motel in late June has been extradited back to Texas to face capital murder charges.

An officer on routine patrol attempting to locate the getaway car believed used in the robberies of the Super 8 and Spinning Wheel motels discovered a stolen 2008 Hyundai Sonata in the parking lot of the Walnut Lane Motel. When he ran the plates, he discovered that Mark David Simmons was wanted for murder.

Hays County, Texas District Attorney Sherri Tibbe filed a governors warrant to have Simmons extradited back to Buda, Texas after Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell dropped weapons charges related to the robberies against Simmons to expedite the process.

Prosecutors in Texas say Simmons murdered his business partner, Steven Wayne Woefel in April. Simmons allegedly lived with Woefel's dead body for a week before he moved it to the garage and set it on fire. Investigators say Simmons stole firearms from Woefel’s home and rigged the house to explode in an effort to cover up evidence and injure first responders.

Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell says the governors warrant was served on Simmons Thursday in the county jail. Texas Rangers and officers with the U.S. Marshal’s Service conducted the extradition.

Merrell says depending on the outcome of the murder case, his office may pursue the gun charge and possible burglary charges related to the motel robberies a few days before the June 29 standoff.

Simmons Fighting Extradition Back To Texas To Face Capital Murder Charges; DA Applies For Governors Warrant:

Weapons charges in Taney County have been dropped against a capital murder suspect from Texas who kept authorities at bay in a day long stand-off with authorities in Branson last month.

--
Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell dropped those charges against Mark David Simmons, 51, in an effort to get Simmons extradited back to Texas so he can be arraigned on capital murder charges for the April 17, 2009, death of his business partner Steven Wayne Woelfel.

But Simmons is fighting extradition back to the Lone Star State.

Simmons landed on law enforcers radar after a pair of motel robberies in Branson the weekend of June 26, 2009. A police officer conducting routine license plate checks at area hotels looking for the car believed used in the motel robberies located a car similar to one used in the robberies at the Walnut Lane Motel and Spinning Wheel Motel. When he ran the plate he learned the car was stolen and was probably being operated by Simmons. The Hyundai Sonata had been reported stolen from Rockport, TX, by Simmons mother. "

--

Simmons taken into custody by Branson Police Chief Carroll McCollough following daylong stand-off. (courtesy Hometown Radio)

According to the Hays Free Press, authorities in Buda, Texas, found the decomposing body of 55 year-old Woelfel, who had been shot at least five times, in a detached garage that had been set on fire. Sources say that Simmon's lived with Woelfel's decaying body for a week then moved it to the garage and set it on fire in an attempt to cover-up the crime.

About five minutes after fire crews arrived at the scene of the arson fire, an explosion from inside the house blew out the windows and back and front walls of the residence. Investigators say Simmons allegedly rigged the explosion by a leaving a lit candle near a disconnected gas line to the stove in an effort to injure firefighters.

--

Firefighters at scene of arson fire of Steven Woefel's home (courtesy Hays Free Press)

Simmons' mother, Wanda Simmons, says her son is a paranoid schizophrenic who she believes had not been taking his medication. She told investigators that her son was employed as a ceramic tile worker. Woelfel, owned Precision Tile, a business he operated out of his home.

The Criminal District Attorney for Hays County, Texas, Sherri Tibbe says, "We are putting the final touches on a request for a governors warrant to extradite Simmons back here to face charges. That will be filed in Texas by the end of the business day today. We really don't know how long it will take to get him back here....we're at the mercy of the court, and hoping it will move as quickly as possible."

The Attorney Generals office and the Department of Corrections will become involved in the extradition process according to Scott Holste, spokesman for Governor Jay Nixon's office. "Once all the criteria for extradition is met, our office here will work to make sure this is processed as quickly as possible."

Merrell says, "Once the case against Simmons gets rolling in Texas I may decide to refile charges against him."

Standoff Suspect Facing Weapons Charges in Taney County:

Mark David Simmons (Taney County mug shot)

Charges have been filed in Taney County against a capital murder suspect from Texas that was involved in an eight-and-a- half hour standoff with authorities in Branson Tuesday June 29th.

Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell filed a single count of unlawful use possession of a firearm against Mark David Simmons, 51, of Rockport, Texas, late this afternoon. Those charges stem from the rifle and two handguns that Simmons had in his motel room when he was arrested.

A patrol officer was checking license plates at hotels in Branson following a pair of motel robberies Sunday when he got a hit on a stolen blue Hyundai parked at Walnut Lane Motel. The vehicle matched the same description as the getaway car used in the robberies. That hit also revealed that the suspect thought to have stolen the vehicle was wanted in Hays County, Texas on a capital murder warrant.

Prosecutors in Texas say that Simmons allegedly shot his business partner Steven Wayne Woelfel in April and lived with the mans decaying body for a week before he moved the mans body to a detached garage and set it on fire. Investigators believe he also unhooked a gas line to a stove in the house and left a candle burning that caused an explosion that blew out the windows and walls of the house as first responders were battling the garage fire.

Investigators believe the rifle and handguns found in Simmons motel room were stolen from Woelfel residence at the time of his murder.

Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell

Merrell says, "There is a possibility that Simmons could stay here and answer our charges first before he is extradited back to Texas to face the charges there. It comes down to who has him in custody. We're still trying to work all of the details out."

No charges connected to the weekend robberies have been filed, "I've not filed any charges connected to the robberies because the investigation has not been completed on those yet."

Simmons is scheduled to be arraigned on the weapons charge tomorrow according to Merrell.

Merrell cited Missouri Revised Statute 571.072 as the charges filed after hours when reached by phone this evening.

UPDATED~~DEVELOPING~~Capital Murder Suspect In Standoff With Branson PoliceTransferred To US Marshal's Custody:

Mark David Simmons mug shot

A capital murder suspect wanted in Texas is in a stand-off with authorities in Branson.

Jerry Adams, spokesman for the City of Branson says "Early this morning (06-29-10) a police officer was conducting routine license plate checks at area hotels looking for a car believed used in a pair of motel robberies in Branson on Sunday."

The officer located a stolen vehicle believed used in the robberies at the Walnut Lane Motel on Highway 76 and learned that Mark David Simmons, 51, Rockport, Texas, was wanted on a capital murder warrant there. The Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen to authorities in Rockport by Simmons mother. "The officer made contact with Simmons inside his room at the motel and he has refused to come out," Adams says.

As a result of the stand-off police have barricaded a two block stretch of Highway 76, and motorists have been advised to find alternate routes.

Branson police chief Carroll McCollough says negotiations to get Simmons to surrender, "Have been up and down."

The motel has been evacuated of all guests and workers as a precaution because authorities believe that Simmons is armed and dangerous after talks with detectives in Texas.

Adams says, "Communication is open and ongoing, which is always a good sign."

When asked if authorities were prepared to turn off power to the motel in an effort to get Simmons to come out, Adams said, "We haven't talked about that. You're the first person to ask that."

According to the Hays Free Press, authorities in Buda, Texas, found the decomposing body of Steven Wayne Woelfel, 55, in detached garage that had been set on fire on April 17th. Sources say that Simmon's lived with Woelfel's decaying body for a week then moved it to the garage and set it on fire in an attempt to cover-up the crime. Sources close to the investigation say that Woelfel was shot at least five times execution style.

About five minutes after fire crews arrived on the scene an explosion from inside the house blew out the windows and back and front walls of the residence. Investigators say the explosion was rigged by a lit candle that was left near a disconnected gas line to the stove.

Buda firefighters on scene of April 17 fire/explosion that destroyed home of Steven Wayne Woelfel. (photo by Sean Kimmons/Hays Free Press)

Authorities had been contacted by an ex girlfriend of Woelfel's who told them that a man named Mark, who had been in trouble with the law for selling guns to drug dealers in the past, had been staying with Woelfel.

A guest bedroom and bathroom in Woelfel’s house had been wiped clean with a chemical and the bedding stripped from the bed, as if the person living with him wanted to hide their identity, the affidavit says. Investigators say the bedding was located inside the burnt garage along with a torn-up note, matching Simmons’ handwriting, on how to clean up a crime scene.

In 2008, Simmons completed 10 years probation for prohibited 1997 weapons charges out of College Station, Texas.

According to published reports, in the early morning hours of May 2, 1997, a police officer in an unmarked patrol car on burglary detail witnessed Simmons carrying a duffel bag into a wooded area. They later stopped him and noticed a 9mm Glock pistol and a .32 caliber Beretta automatic Tomcat pistol in his wristband and on his ankle, court records say. Simmons told cops that he was a racist who does not like black people.

An investigator says that in 2009 Simmons was being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety for allegedly leaving several racial messages to state senators on their answering machines after hours.

On Feb. 11, 2010, Simmons was busted and charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He failed to appear for his court date, and an active warrant for his arrest was issued.

Simmons' mother, Wanda Simmons, says that her son is a paranoid schizophrenic who she believes is not taking his medication. She says investigators that her son was employed as a ceramic tile worker. Woelfel, owned Precision Tile, a business he operated out of his home.

UPDATE @ 3:24 p.m:


photo courtesy of Hometown Radio

Branson City spokesman Jerry Adams says the standoff with Simmons was resolved peacefully about 3:04 p.m. "He had just one condition, he asked that he not be thrown to the ground and handcuffed when he was arrested." Once the man was assured that he would not be thrown to the ground after exiting the room, he walked out with his hands on his top his head.



photo courtesy of Hometown Radio

Police Chief Carroll McCullough agreed to the demand and handcuffed Simmons as he exited the room with his hands on top his head. Officers outfitted in SWAT gear hastily enetered the room to gather evidence. McCollough says authorities recovered a rifle and two handguns.



photo courtesy of Hometown Radio

Simmons has been transfered to the custody of U-S Marshals, and will be extradited back to Texas to face murder and weapons charges.