On February 22, 2024, Rebecca Anne Simmons, a 66-year-old woman from Patton, Pennsylvania, was tragically killed in her home. An argument with her husband of several decades, William Edward Simmons, 69, escalated after she announced her intention to leave him. This led to a violent confrontation that ended her life.
During the argument, Rebecca made a desperate call to 911 at 3:15 p.m., stating that her husband had shot her in the back and that she was dying. A muffled shot was reportedly heard during the call. According to court documents, William Simmons first shot his wife with a 12-gauge shotgun. She then took refuge in the coal/furnace room, holding the door shut. William Simmons then fired a second shot through the middle of the door, fatally wounding her. He later admitted to police that he saw her lying on the floor with the phone next to her but did not check on her condition. After the shooting, he contacted his daughter and confessed to killing her mother.
When law enforcement arrived at the Grozanick Road home, they took William Simmons into custody. During a subsequent phone call with an officer while police were en route, he admitted to shooting and killing his wife. An autopsy confirmed that Rebecca Simmons died from two gunshot wounds to her lower torso, and the death was ruled a homicide.
William Edward Simmons was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. He was held at the Cambria County Prison without bail. In March of the following year, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one felony count of third-degree murder. In May 2025, a judge sentenced him to 20 to 40 years in a state correctional facility. As part of the plea agreement, other charges against him were to be dismissed. During the sentencing, family members gave emotional testimony, with Rebecca's sister describing her as a tireless worker who endured a controlling relationship, while their daughter expressed the profound loss of both parents.
