A Phoenix mother accused of murdering her eight-year-old daughter and disposing of her body in a dumpster may be spared the death penalty due to an IQ score of 53.
Sophia Simmons, a resident of Maricopa County, was investigated by the Phoenix Police Department after an anonymous tip led officers to discover the body of Dior Echoles in a dumpster near Thomas Road in December 2023. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Simmons's residence and found evidence suggesting an attempt to clean a crime scene on December 25, 2023. Simmons was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder and child abuse, along with tampering with physical evidence.
According to an Arizona Court of Appeals document, the state of Arizona had sought the death penalty if Simmons is found guilty. However, execution may be barred if Simmons is determined to have an intellectual disability. A psychological expert's examination indicated Simmons has an IQ of 53, which is significantly below the general human average of 100. Arizona law requires further expert examinations for individuals with an IQ of 75 or below.
Judge David B. Gass noted in a court opinion that Arizona law prohibits the execution of individuals with an intellectual disability. Simmons had requested the superior court assess whether her intellectual disability could prevent her execution. "The legislature enacted a process governing discovery when the State seeks the death penalty and the defendant's intellectual ability is in question," Judge Gass stated.
Judge Gass also outlined that Arizona law mandates experts to wait at least 20 days after the superior court's deadline for submitting records to allow for the submission of evidence regarding Simmons's intellectual ability. The state had scheduled its expert examination before this extended disclosure deadline passed. This ruling is expected to apply to future death penalty cases across Arizona.
Court documents revealed that the victim's body showed multiple injuries to her legs, arms, and torso, with some wounds in different stages of healing and evidence of prior injuries. Police reported that Simmons allegedly kept her daughter's body for up to five days before discarding it. A witness reportedly informed police that Simmons claimed she had "beaten her child and it went too far" during a phone call on December 25, 2023.
The court acknowledged that the questions surrounding Simmons's intellect are "of statewide importance and is likely to rise again." The appeals document stated the court typically declines jurisdiction over discovery disputes but accepted this case due to its statewide importance concerning capital cases and defendants' intellectual disabilities. "If the superior court finds Simmons has an intellectual disability and she is later convicted of a capital offense, she 'shall not be sentenced to death but shall be sentenced to life or natural life,'" Judge Gass wrote.
No definitive determination has yet been made regarding Simmons's intellectual disability. Her trial is currently scheduled for April 2027.