Robert Simmons.
So the victim knew this nog because he’d previously worked at her home.
But what kind of “work” can a homeless nog even do? And why would a 93-year-old let such a creature into her home in the first place?
A South End homeless man was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with killing 93-year-old Isabella Mehner for her wedding ring in late September.
Robert Simmons, 51, whose address is the men’s shelter on Pacific Street, was charged with felony murder, murder and home invasion. Both felony murder and murder carry minimum sentences of 25 years but can be punishable by up to 60 years in prison.
Police say Simmons targeted Mehner and it was not a random act of violence. They said Simmons was familiar with Mehner and had worked at her home in the past.
On Sept. 25, at about 8 p.m., police responded to 565 Cove Road after Mehner’s daughter found her unresponsive at the bottom of the cellar stairs. Through an investigation and with the assistance of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, police determined the injuries sustained by Mehner were not consistent with a fall and her death was ruled a homicide.
Based of video footage of the area, investigators tracked down Simmons two days later only to discover he was wearing jeans with Mehner’s blood on them, according to his arrest warrant.
At Simmons’ arraignment at the Stamford courthouse early Wednesday afternoon, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Ferencek said Simmons had numerous convictions for larcenies and violations of probation going back 30 years.
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Capt. Richard Conklin called Mehner’s murder one of the most “heinous and vile” crimes he has been a witness to in his 39-year career with the Stamford Police Department.
Isabella Mehner.