Release Date/Time: 11/3/2017 9:19 AM
Incident: Homicide Arrest
Date: Friday, 11/3/2017
Time: 9:19 AM
Location:Motel 6 Kern St/ San Francisco CA
Release Authorized by:Stan Cooper, Commander
Telephone:831-758-7350
On 10/12/17, Salinas Police responded to the Motel 6 on Kern St to conduct a welfare check on a female who was not responding to a relatives multiple attempts to reach her. Upon arrival, officers discovered Shantel Llamas (30) alone and deceased in the room. At the time there were no obvious signs of cause of death and the investigation, while being investigated as a possible homicide, was categorized as suspicious pending formal findings.
Detectives were quickly able to determine the last person to be with Llamas was Richard Eugene Simmons (51). It was also discovered that Simmons was already wanted on an outstanding $1,000,000 warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. Detectives worked locally to try and locate Simmons. When it became apparent that he was no longer in the area, the US Marshall's Service was contacted to attempt in locating him.
On 11/1/17, Detectives were notified by the Monterey County Coroner's Office that Llama's death was in fact being ruled a homicide, by means of asphyxiation. The same day, there was a sighting of Simmons in the South Bay area and Marshalls began focusing on the area. On 11/2/17 at approximately 1300 hours, US Marshals' found Simmons and his vehicle in the Ocean Beach area of San Francisco; Simmons was taken into custody without incident. Salinas Police Detectives responded and transported Simmons back to Salinas where he was later booked into the Monterey County Jail for the outstanding warrant and one count of Homicide.
Investigations Commander Stan Cooper will be available for media follow-up today at 1:30 in front of the Salinas police Department lobby.
****Original Press Release******
Suspicious Death
Release Date/Time: 10/12/2017 4:28 PM
Incident: Suspicious Death
Date: Thursday, 10/12/2017
Time: 4:28 PM
Today at approximately 0900 hours, Salinas Police Officers were detailed to the Motel 6 on Kern Street to conduct a welfare check on a female who had failed to respond to attempted contacts by a relative. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 30-year-old female deceased in the room. While there was nothing indicating she was the victim of violent crime, her death is considered suspicious as she had no known prior medical conditions. Salinas Police Detectives responded and, working with the CSI Unit, processed the scene in the event that it is later determined that a crime did, in fact, take place. We are currently awaiting autopsy results to make that determination. At this time, no further information, to include identification, will be released.