A 34-year-old woman was charged with fatally beating her aunt Friday in West Baltimore, after telling 911 dispatchers that she had "hurt my aunt and I don't know why."
When police arrived at the scene, they found D'Lana Simmons with her hands, face and clothes covered in the blood of her aunt, Cecelia Mitchell, 66. The murder weapon was believed to be "The Club," the device used to lock the steering wheel of a vehicle, police said.
Police and medic units responded to the 1500 block of N. Stricker St. on Friday at about 7:50 p.m. for a report of an injured person. Mitchell was in the living room when officers arrived, with Simmons in the dining room. When an officer asked what happened, she did not respond and was placed in handcuffs.
According to charging documents, Detective Joseph Landsman reviewed a report of the 911 call, in which a female voice could be heard saying, "My aunt is lying on the floor dying because I hit her with The Club." She identified herself as "D'Lana."
A woman who arrived at the scene told detectives that Simmons was her daughter and that Mitchell was her sister. Relatives could not be reached for comment Monday.
Simmons was ordered held without bond, and a preliminary court hearing was set for Oct. 19, records show.
Simmons, of the 200 block of W. 33rd St., does not appear to have a prior criminal record in Maryland. According to what appeared to be her Facebook page, she said she attended Villa Julie College and was working toward a graduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
justin.fenton@baltsun.com
twitter.com/justin_fenton