Family Still Seeks Answers In Homicide Five Years Later

As the five-year anniversary of a Toccoa homicide passes, the victim’s family is again asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for his death.

46-year-old Robert Lee Simmons, Jr. of Toccoa was found dead by a family member on the evening of March 1, 2011 at the Glendale Apartment Complex.

Family members of Mr. Simmons say that five years later, they do not want people to forget.

His sister said it is hard not having answers and they just want the person or people with information on Simmons’ death to come forward and tell authorities what they know.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell said that his department and the GBI continue to keep the case as an open investigation and follow up on any and all information that authorities receive.

The GBI said that authorities believe Simmons was killed sometime between 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. on March 1, 2011.

However, 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 did not announce Simmons’ death as a homicide until January 2013, almost two years after it happened.

Jarrell has said he does not know why that information was not released initially.

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.