Judge sets bond for dad in wife's slaying; authorities had ignored children's claims (Darlington, South Carolina)

We've posted on this case before.

Dad VANDER B. SIMMONS JR. has finally been charged with the murder of his wife. His children told the police right after her death that their father had killed her, but their concerns were ignored until the (eventual) autopsy showed injuries inconsistent with a fall. I say eventual, because Daddy refused to give permission for an autopsy at the time of her death. And that didn't raise any red flags?

Since the police initially refused to do anything, DSS awarded custody to the father, but the oldest child (15) refused to leave the grandmother's house because of her fears. Which is natural, since these kids are KEY WITNESSES. The grandmother later got custody after the father's eventual arrest.

Even though Daddy has a history of threatening and intimidating the grandmother, he still gets a surety bond after being ordered to be a good boy. Be very afraid for these kids.

This kind of daddy killer coddling is getting real old. A mom in New Jersey can't get out of jail because of "custodial interference," but a dad who is accused of bashing his wife to death walks free. What's wrong with this picture?

http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/judge_sets_bond_for_bennettsville_man_in_wifes_slaying/166702/

Judge sets bond for Bennettsville man in wife’s slaying
By Jamie Rogers Morning News Reporter
Published: May 25, 2010
Updated: May 26, 2010

DARLINGTON — A $100,000 surety bond has been set for Bennettsville man charged with murder in connection with the July death of his wife, Brandy Nicole Simmons, whose body was exhumed April 9.

Vander B. Simmons Jr., 33, of 407 Oakwood St. was arrested April 14 by State Law Enforcement Division agents. His bond hearing took place before 12th Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles in Darlington on Tuesday.

Brandy Simmons died July 27 at a Florence hospital of what investigators originally said was natural causes.

Days after her death, her children, who were 15 and 8 years old at the time, told Bennettsville police their father killed their mother and he’d told them to say she’d slipped and fell, according to an incident report.

Assistant S.C. Attorney General Curtis Pauling, who is prosecuting the case, told Nettles a neuroradiologist examined Brandy Simmons’ CT Scans after her death and saw evidence of severe traumatic injury to the upper part of her spine where it connects with the skull.

That doctor said her injuries were caused by something more than just a fall, Pauling said.

Brandy Simmons’ mother, Bennettsville resident Cornelia White, told Nettles she is concerned the couple’s two children, who are now in her custody, may be in danger if their father is released.

The suspect and his family have taunted her and his children on multiple occasions since her daughter’s death, White said.

White told Nettles the suspect stared at her with hateful look and laughed in her face after a custody hearing following her daughter’s death.

Vander Simmons and his family have continue to intimidate her and the children since her daughter’s death, even yelling and cursing words at them from his vehicle and making obscene gestures with his hands, White told the court.

After Simmons’ death, the state Department of Social Services awarded custody of the two children to Vander Simmons, but the oldest child refused to leave her grandmother’s home. Both children were placed back in their grandmother’s home after their father’s arrest.

“I am afraid of the defendant,” White told Nettles.

The children are key witnesses in the case and the state is concerned for their safety, Pauling said.

Vander Simmons’ attorney, Von Herrmann of Conway, told Nettles his client loved his wife very much and is saddened by her death.

“She did not take very good care of herself. She was described in her (medical records) as being morbidly obese … the coroner said she died of natural causes,” Herrmann said.

There was no sign of a struggle at the scene and no bruising was noticed by EMS workers who responded to the couple’s home where Brandy Simmons was found injured, Herrmann said.

Furthermore, DSS workers found him not to be abusive toward or neglectful of his children, Herrmann said.

An autopsy wasn’t performed immediately after Brandy Simmons’ death. White said in a previous interview the suspect did not want one performed.

In April, 4th Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch ordered Brandy Simmons’ body to be exhumed, Marlboro County Coroner Tim Brown said.

SLED agents were asked to investigate her death at the request of the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, according to a release issued April 15 by the agency.

In addition to setting bond, Nettles ordered Vander Simmons to wear an electronic monitoring device and avoid contact with his children and their grandmother until there is another DSS custody hearing, which could take place in Marlboro County as soon as next month.

Vander Simmons’ criminal case is being handled by the S.C. Attorney General’s Office because 4th Circuit Solicitor Will Rogers said there is a conflict within his office.