Florida Man Accused of Killing Wife Chooses Prison than 'Deal with Her Dementia'

A Florida man is charged with murder after police found his 83-year-old wife dead in their home last Saturday night.

William Elwood Simmons, 80, is accused of killing his wife, Nancy Lee Simmons, following an argument about a cruise trip. Deputies dispatched to their Orange County home found Nancy dead from a gunshot wound.

Per the arrest affidavit, police were alerted to the incident at around 5:15pm, 21 February, when a 911 caller reported that his wife 'was down, and I'm just sitting here' at 8069 Romerly Court. The caller added that his wife 'was not able to talk to anybody anymore.'

Suspect Found at Crime Scene with Dead Victim

Responders who arrived at the scene around 5:15pm also found William, who allegedly said, 'I do know what happened, I did it.' Nancy was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was declared dead by 8:00pm that night.

William is charged with first-degree murder in the arrest warrant, per the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The suspect is currently detained at the Orange County Jail without bond.

Suspect Blames Victim's Dementia

The affidavit suggests there was mounting domestic conflict between the couple, and Nancy's dementia contributed to that. William said he 'loved the old Nancy,' but he had 'dealt with her dementia for too long' and 'would rather live in prison than to deal with her.' William allegedly asserted that he was 'guilty' after hearing his Miranda rights.

Per the affidavit, events escalated in the Simmons' kitchen after they argued about going on a cruise. William allegedly killed Nancy with a shotgun he retrieved from the bedroom. Deputies found the weapon and a spent shell casing near Nancy's body.

Suspect Asserts Guilt During Investigation

William also allegedly told investigators that he was fully aware during the act and the aftermath. He said Nancy did not provoke or attempt to harm him, he did not act in self-defence, and that he had not taken alcohol or drugs.

The affidavit also detailed how the Simmon's dispute escalated. Detectives Carlos Robles and Edward Roseman conducted the interview after William's arrest. William said he was triggered after Nancy told him 'f*** you, you bastard' multiple times.

Armed with the shotgun from the bedroom, William allegedly told Nancy that he had 'had enough' and 'that he could pull the trigger.' William shot Nancy one time after she repeated the swear words.

Murder Suspect's Alleged Law Enforcement Background

If found guilty of first-degree murder, William could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, but that still depends on the evidence and circumstances of the crime. Per WFTV, William Simmons is reportedly a former police officer.

There are no details yet about William entering a plea or availing legal representation. It is also not known when Nancy was diagnosed with dementia, which is defined as 'a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life' according to the Alzheimer's Association.