DEKA JEAN SIMMONS | Obsessed with Child Abuse, Colorado Woman Sentenced to LWOP + 27yrs for First-Degree Murder and Dismemberment of RSO, Linked to More Homicides | Autographed Letter, Signed

Deka Simmons. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Denver, CO. October 16, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Woman Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Brutal Killing of Registered Sex Offender

Case Overview

Deka Simmons, a 40-year-old woman from Colorado Springs, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing and dismemberment of Daxcimo Ceja, who was 48 years old at the time of his death in 2022. The trial against Simmons began recently, and the jury reached a verdict after approximately seven hours of deliberation. Simmons was convicted on three charges, with first-degree murder being the most severe.

Motive and Background

Prosecutors argued that Simmons killed Ceja because he was a registered sex offender. It was alleged that Ceja had a past relationship with a 17-year-old girl in California when he was 25 years old. Prosecutor Sharon Flaherty described Simmons as having an obsession with child molestation due to fears that her daughter might have been a victim of sex trafficking. This fixation and paranoia were central to the prosecution’s argument regarding Simmons’ motive.

Trial Proceedings

During closing arguments, Flaherty emphasized Simmons’ intense hatred for anyone involved in child molestation. The jury, composed of ten women and two men, found Simmons guilty on all charges presented against her. As the verdict was read by Judge David Gilbert, Simmons showed little emotion but did engage with her defense team by writing notes.

Sentencing

The conviction for first-degree murder in Colorado mandates a life sentence without parole. In addition to this mandatory sentence, prosecutor Jennifer Viehman requested maximum sentences for the other charges: tampering with a body and tampering with physical evidence. Consequently, Judge Gilbert sentenced Simmons to an additional 24 years for tampering with a body and three years for tampering with physical evidence.

During sentencing, an emotional outburst occurred when Judge Gilbert addressed Simmons’ obsession with child molesters and mentioned court proceedings intended to protect her daughter from her influence. This led to an expletive-laden response from Simmons.

Additional Allegations and Criminal History

Simmons has been implicated in other potential homicides, including the disappearance of Santino “Tino” Cardella in April 2022. Although she has not been charged in connection with these cases or any other homicides besides Ceja’s, investigations are ongoing. Furthermore, she faces four open criminal cases in El Paso County related to felony menacing, aggravated robbery, witness tampering and intimidation, and probation violation from an assault case dating back to 2019.

Simmons has an extensive criminal history in Colorado prior to her arrest for Ceja’s death. Notably, she was convicted in 2003 as an accessory to murder concerning the shooting death of Donna Oliveto while both were inmates at El Paso County jail.

Victim Impact Statements

Ceja’s parents provided victim-impact statements during sentencing to express their grief and admonish Simmons’ actions. They highlighted that Ceja’s past actions did not justify his murder and expressed relief that justice had been served.

VIDEO: Woman sentenced to life in prison after two-year long murder investigation in Colorado Springs | https://youtu.be/UAHZTf48YHE

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