In Arkansas, USA, a family faced a tragic and horrifying December that shattered the usual festive cheer. Ronald Gene Simmons Sr., a former military serviceman with a long history in the US Navy and Air Force, carried out a brutal killing spree in 1987, claiming the lives of 16 individuals, including 14 of his own family members.
This appalling massacre unfolded over a week that December, leaving a lasting impact that endures to this day. Ronald meticulously executed his deadliest familicide, targeting his wife, children, grandchildren, co-workers, and even strangers in a chilling display of violence.
Beginning on December 22, Ronald’s atrocities unfolded in three phases. He started by shooting his wife Becky and their son Gene, then proceeded to strangle their three-year-old granddaughter. Subsequently, he awaited the return of four more children from school during the Christmas break, where he individually murdered each one through suffocation. The bodies of his victims were callously disposed of in a pit on his property.
Four days later, on December 26, Ronald extended his killing spree to other family members who visited for Christmas. His victims included his son Billy, daughter-in-law Renata, and their toddler Trae, whom he drowned. Additionally, he targeted his daughter Sheila, her husband Dennis, and their grandson, employing various violent methods.
After the vicious acts, Ronald nonchalantly completed errands, picking up Christmas gifts for his deceased family members before indulging in a drink at a club. He then proceeded to Russellville on December 28, where he continued his rampage, targeting multiple individuals at different locations.
Upon police intervention, Ronald surrendered peacefully, leading to his subsequent conviction and the distinction of being the first person in Arkansas to face execution by lethal injection on June 25, 1990. The killer, who waived all appeals, was found guilty in separate trials in 1988 and 1989 for the brutal slayings.
The harrowing events of that Christmastime in 1987 serve as a chilling reminder of the heinous actions of Ronald Gene Simmons Sr., leaving a dark stain on the history of Arkansas.