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LAKE CITY, S.C. (BFMG) — Authorities have arrested three people in connection to a murder-for-hire scheme that claimed the life of Lindsey Lashawn Simmons in September 2004, just days before her 20th birthday. The arrests bring a significant breakthrough in a case that has left her family searching for justice for over two decades.
Kim Burgess, 56, of Florence; Tonya Burgess, 49, of Lake City; and Mack Hanna, 60, of Florence, were taken into custody Wednesday. All three suspects are being held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center, Lake City Police Chief Patrick Miles announced in a news release Thursday.
Simmons was found dead in her Kroger Circle apartment on Sept. 5, 2004, after being stabbed multiple times in the neck. Warrants allege Hanna hired Tonya and Kim Burgess to kill Simmons in a bid to gain full custody of an infant child he shared with her according to WBTW.
Charges and Allegations
- Tonya Burgess is charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and criminal conspiracy.
- Kim Burgess faces charges of murder; murder/homicide by child abuse, aiding and abetting; criminal conspiracy; and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
- Mack Hanna is charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder and criminal conspiracy. He also faces separate charges issued by Florence County authorities.
Witnesses reported seeing Hanna leave Simmons’ home around 9 a.m. on the day of the murder, just hours after Simmons was killed, according to police.
A Pattern of Violence
The charges against Kim Burgess also include allegations of child abuse stemming from a 1992 incident. According to warrants, she concealed the body of a newborn child under a bed in her home after claiming the infant was stillborn. A medical examination later determined the child was born alive and could have survived with proper medical care.
Decades of Pain and Persistence
For years, Simmons’ family has sought answers, even erecting a billboard to draw attention to the case. In 2006, family member Charles Nero expressed the family’s determination: “It would really be heartwarming just to know that whoever did this to her for no just cause is brought to justice and put away.”
Chief Miles praised the collaboration between local authorities, FBI special agents, and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, who worked tirelessly to reinvestigate the case, review evidence, and uncover new information.
“Our team has essentially gone through this case with a fine-tooth comb,” Miles said. “They have done an outstanding job.”
More Work Ahead
Miles emphasized that the investigation is far from over. “Investigations into Ms. Simmons’ case have led to the discovery of other serious, tragic offenses,” he said. “All of these investigations are actively being worked and will continue to be worked until convictions have been secured.”
The arrests mark a significant step toward closure for Simmons’ family and a reminder of law enforcement’s commitment to solving long-standing cases.
