In the quiet town of Mayflower, Arkansas, a welfare check on a Tuesday afternoon led to a somber discovery that would leave the community in search of answers. On July 30, 2024, officers with the Mayflower Police Department were dispatched to the First Baptist Church on Highway 89 North. What they found inside would cast a pall over the town.
There, they discovered the bodies of a man and a woman, both of whom had sustained apparent gunshot wounds.
The deceased were identified as 24-year-old Antonio Quatez Simmons of Conway and 45-year-old Jalesha Jeffrey. The initial scene provided investigators with immediate, though tragic, clues as to what may have transpired.
As the investigation into the deaths of Simmons and Jeffrey unfolded, details emerged that painted a grim picture. Alongside the two individuals, authorities located two firearms at the scene. Evidence gathered by investigators led them to believe that both Simmons and Jeffrey succumbed to self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Based on the evidence at the scene, law enforcement officials stated that they did not suspect the involvement of any other individuals in the incident.
To confirm the cause and manner of death, the bodies of both Antonio Simmons and Jalesha Jeffrey were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsies. The investigation by the Mayflower Police Department remains ongoing as they work to provide a conclusive understanding of the events that led to the tragic loss of two lives.
