Aysoni Lewis arrested for murder of James Simmons Jr

A Tampa woman was arrested Wednesday on charges she killed James Simmons Jr. in April and stole his car. Tampa Police and U.S. Marshals arrested Aysoni Lewis in her Tampa home and now faces charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and grand theft motor vehicle.

Lewis, 26, was arrested Wednesday morning, 8:20 a.m. at her home on East 24th Avenue in East Tampa, according to officers from Tampa police.

Aysoni Lewis
Aysoni Lewis

Witness interviews and other leads pointed law enforcement toward Lewis as a suspect in connection to Simmons’ death on the evening of April 25. His body was found at his home on East Curtis Street by his mother.

“Homicide detectives were able to identify Lewis as a suspect in the murder through a combination of witness interviews and investigative leads,” an email from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force said.

The 2005 blue Chevrolet Cobalt owned by Simmons, 48, was taken following the homicide, but was recovered a few days later in the Grant Park area, police said.

Police have not said how Simmons died.

Neighbors said he had been attending classes at the Ultimate Medical Academy in Tampa. Wednesday would have been his 49th birthday.

Lewis has been charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and grand theft motor vehicle, according to police. She is being held without bond at the Hillsborough County jail.

 

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