In a quiet Sanford, Florida home, a family's simmering tensions erupted into deadly violence on the evening of February 3, 2026, leaving Bill Toth dead and his son-in-law facing a lifetime behind bars. The man, a husband and father, was shot and killed in the residence he shared with his wife, Carol Toth, their daughter Jennifer Simon, and her husband, Shaun Simon.
For months, the household had been a pressure cooker of discord.
Family members later told investigators that Bill Toth had been exhibiting signs of dementia, leading to ongoing turmoil. These issues were compounded by suspicions that he had been unfaithful to his wife. The situation reached a breaking point on that Tuesday evening when, during an argument, Bill allegedly slapped Carol. This act, witnessed by their son-in-law, appears to have been the final catalyst for the tragedy that followed.
Visibly angered by the disrespect shown to his mother-in-law, Shaun Simon, 42, retrieved a firearm. He then confronted his father-in-law, fatally shooting him. When deputies from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home in the Lake Markham Woods subdivision, they found paramedics already attempting to render life-saving aid to Toth, who was subsequently transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, Shaun Simon was taken into custody. In interviews with detectives, he reportedly admitted to the killing, describing his father-in-law as a "narcissist" who was making his life miserable. Simon was arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder. He made his initial court appearance the following day where a judge ordered him to be held without bond. His arraignment has been scheduled for a later date. The investigation into the full circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.
