Background: News footage of the home in Sanford, Fla., where Bill Toth was shot on Feb. 3 (WOFL). Inset: Shaun Simon (Seminole County Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida resident is facing murder charges after allegedly confessing to shooting his father-in-law, whom he described as a “narcissist.”
Shaun Simon, aged 42, appeared in court for the first time this Wednesday, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Bill Toth. According to a police report accessed by Law&Crime, Bill Toth was the father of Shaun’s wife, Jennifer Simon. The couple lived with Jennifer’s parents, Bill and Carol Toth, in their Sanford home. Late Tuesday night, Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the residence following reports of a shooting incident.
Upon arrival, deputies found fire rescue personnel already on the scene, administering emergency aid to Bill Toth, who sadly passed away after being transported to the hospital.
Following the incident, Shaun and Jennifer Simon, along with Carol Toth, were taken to the sheriff’s office for questioning. Both women informed the police that Bill Toth had exhibited possible signs of dementia leading up to the shooting. This condition had reportedly caused ongoing conflict within the household, exacerbated by recent suspicions of Bill’s infidelity against Carol Toth.
Carol and Jennifer Toth recounted to authorities that earlier that evening, Bill Toth allegedly slapped Carol, prompting her to seek refuge in the bedroom where her daughter and son-in-law were. Upon hearing this, Shaun Simon became “visibly upset” and left the room to confront Bill Toth.
Moments later, both women reported hearing a loud “bang.” Rushing to the kitchen, they discovered Bill Toth “lying on the kitchen floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.”
Shaun Simon was read his rights by police and continued to speak during his questioning. He told police that upon hearing that Bill Toth had struck his mother-in-law, he “made the decision to shoot Bill Toth.” Police said Shaun Simon admitted to retrieving a handgun from underneath a “makeshift ‘dog ramp’” and shooting Bill Toth once in the chest in the home’s kitchen.
According to the report, Shaun Simon told police that he unloaded the handgun “knowing that law enforcement would be arriving shortly.” He told police that Bill Toth was a “narcissist” who was “making his life miserable.”
Shaun Simon was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and ordered to be held without bail. His arraignment is scheduled for March 24.
