Double-murder suspect gets life without parole
Dean Simms killed brother, sister
Dean Simms appeared in court April 3, where he received a life sentence without the chance for parole. Photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – The man who killed his siblings at their Hinckley home last year received life without the chance for parole April 3.
Dean Simms, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder for using a shotgun to shoot sister Cynthia Gesaman, 52, and brother Randy Szychowicz, 45, in the head during a domestic incident in the early morning hours of Feb. 5, 2016. The murder occurred at their shared home on Babcock Road in Hinckley Township.
Common Pleas Judge Christopher Collier could have sentenced Simms to a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20, 25 or 30 years, but decided not to.
During the sentencing hearing April 3, Simms' attorney Bob Campbell said his client had never committed an act of violence before the murders and asked Collier to give Simms a chance for parole.
Assistant County Prosecutor Scott Salisbury asked for the maximum sentence of life without parole.
"This is the worst form of the offense," he said. "It's a crime against two victims and their family, which is also his family ... He should never be a free man."
No one from the family spoke during the hearing, but reportedly sent letters to Collier stating they wished for a life without parole sentence.
Simms, didn't speak during sentencing, claimed afterward he couldn't hear what the judge said, and when Campbell told him life without parole, he said. "I figured."
After killing his siblings, Simms called 911 and told a Brunswick Police dispatcher he used a shotgun to kill them and added their “heads were gone.”
Simms was told to stay on the phone while he put on pants and shoes and the dispatcher wanted him to go outside to meet the officers. Simms then told the dispatcher that he called a friend of his before calling police to tell what he had done.
Hinckley Township Police later revealed they had been at the residence earlier that evening to respond to a domestic complaint.
Dean Simms, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder for using a shotgun to shoot sister Cynthia Gesaman, 52, and brother Randy Szychowicz, 45, in the head during a domestic incident in the early morning hours of Feb. 5, 2016. The murder occurred at their shared home on Babcock Road in Hinckley Township.
Common Pleas Judge Christopher Collier could have sentenced Simms to a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20, 25 or 30 years, but decided not to.
During the sentencing hearing April 3, Simms' attorney Bob Campbell said his client had never committed an act of violence before the murders and asked Collier to give Simms a chance for parole.
Assistant County Prosecutor Scott Salisbury asked for the maximum sentence of life without parole.
"This is the worst form of the offense," he said. "It's a crime against two victims and their family, which is also his family ... He should never be a free man."
No one from the family spoke during the hearing, but reportedly sent letters to Collier stating they wished for a life without parole sentence.
Simms, didn't speak during sentencing, claimed afterward he couldn't hear what the judge said, and when Campbell told him life without parole, he said. "I figured."
After killing his siblings, Simms called 911 and told a Brunswick Police dispatcher he used a shotgun to kill them and added their “heads were gone.”
Simms was told to stay on the phone while he put on pants and shoes and the dispatcher wanted him to go outside to meet the officers. Simms then told the dispatcher that he called a friend of his before calling police to tell what he had done.
Hinckley Township Police later revealed they had been at the residence earlier that evening to respond to a domestic complaint.