In the late summer of 2015, the quiet of a Kansas City neighborhood was shattered by a house fire that revealed a deeper tragedy. On August 23rd, firefighters were dispatched to a blaze in the 300 block of Oakley Avenue. After extinguishing the flames, which were primarily contained to a bedroom, they made a grim discovery: the body of 61-year-old William Paul Simmons. It was immediately clear to investigators that his death was not an accident, and the case was quickly classified as a homicide.
William Simmons, a male resident of Kansas City for the past two decades, was a mechanic by trade. In the days leading up to his death, he had reportedly been having issues with someone concerning his black 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. This vehicle, which was missing from his home after the fire, became a central clue in the unfolding investigation. The loss was a profound shock to his family, who remembered him as a generous and helpful man.
The investigation into William Simmons' death eventually led police to a 25-year-old woman named Shameece S. Mosby. According to court records, Mosby had known Simmons for about four months after meeting him at a local casino. She informed investigators that she had been staying at his residence and that he had recently purchased the Hyundai Santa Fe for her to drive. The vehicle was later found abandoned, crudely painted with white spray paint and purple house paint. Inside, investigators discovered bags of clothing and a receipt from a transaction made with a food stamp card registered to Mosby. This evidence, along with DNA connecting her to pants found in the car, pointed to her involvement.
In February 2017, Shameece S. Mosby was arrested in connection with the homicide. Initially charged with arson, the complaint was amended in March 2017 to include the more serious charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, Mosby confessed to shooting Simmons and then intentionally setting the fire to cover up the crime. She was subsequently held on an increased bond as the legal proceedings against her commenced.
