After 7 Years a Toccoa Homicide Case Remains Open

Today marks the seven-year anniversary of a Toccoa homicide that remains unsolved.

The victim, Robert Lee Simmons, Jr., 46, of Toccoa, was found unresponsive on March 1, 2011 at approximately 7:20 p.m. in his apartment, at the Glendale Apartment Complex, by a family member.

The victim’s family continues to ask for the public’s help in finding those responsible for his death.

Simmons’ sister Katina Aaron urges anyone who has information to come forward.

“I’m reaching out to the public, for anyone who has information to please contact the Toccoa Police Department. We are still hurting after our loved one was murdered. Put yourself in our shoes, if one of your family members were murdered and you didn’t know who did it and you continue to wonder why,” Aaron said.

The Toccoa Police Department and EMS responded to the scene and confirmed that Simmons was deceased.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause-of-death to be a homicide, and that the incident that lead to Simmons death is thought to have occurred between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. the same day.

Authorities have said they cannot release any information about how he died because of the sensitivity of the investigation, noting it is something only the person or persons responsible would know.

Toccoa Police Department’s Interim Police Chief Jimmy Mize tells WNEG News that it is an open and active homicide investigation with both the city and the GBI, and both agencies continue to follow-up on any and all leads they receive.

A reward has been established for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Simmons death.

Anyone with information about the death of Robert Lee Simmons, Jr. is encouraged to call the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-8477, or the Toccoa Police Department at 706-282-3277.