111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116
June 4, 2014 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today that Lucius Crawford (DOB 07/19/52) of 7 Beekman Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York, was convicted of:
- one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony,
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony,
relating to the murder of Tonya Simmons on Dec. 4, 2012 in Mount Vernon.
Regarding the second two counts against the defendant, a mistrial was declared, as the jury was unable to reach a verdict, in the Yonkers death of LaRonda Shealy on Sept. 13, 1993.
On Dec. 4, 2012, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Tonya Simmons, was seen going into 7 Beekman Avenue in Mount Vernon with the defendant. Shortly thereafter, defendant leaves alone.
Suspect calls 911 twice, telling them that someone was hurt at that location. NYPD and MVPD locate the victim, deceased with 31 stab wounds to the torso in the defendant’s apartment.
Defendant was apprehended by Mount Vernon police a short time later.
In July 2012, a DNA match from the federal CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) linked the defendant to a body of a Yonkers woman found on Oct. 23, 1993 on Liebig Avenue in the Bronx.
NYPD detectives and New York State Parole, along with Yonkers Cold Case detectives, began an investigation ultimately leading them to the defendant.
The Bronx homicide is being prosecuted by the Bronx County District Attorney.
Sentencing will be on July 1, 2014.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty-five years to life in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Patricia Murphy, Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division and Senior Assistant District Attorney Paula Branca-Santos of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.
|
|
| Lucius Crawford |
