It’s not all snowmen and sparkles around the holidays in Arkansas. Around this time in 1987, Dover endured the worst murder spree the state has ever had. Hold your loved ones tight as we recap this bone-chilling horror story.

This is the haunting face of Ronald Gene Simmons, a monster who earned the title of Arkansas' worst mass murderer.
Wikipedia
Born in 1940, Simmons lived around central Arkansas most of his adolescent life. He had a successful military career, including a bronze star and ranking to master sergeant. After that, things turned unusual and then disturbing.
He married Becky and over the course of 18 years the two had 7 children together.
Flickr/M FISHER
Around the early 80s, they moved from New Mexico to Dover, AR after being investigated for (true) allegations of fathering a child with his daughter. The family lived in a makeshift double wide that didn't have a phone nor plumbing.
Right before Christmas 1987, Simmons decided to kill all of his family members.
Flickr/Evan Mitchell
He killed half on the 22nd and then murdered the rest of the family that were driving in for the holidays on the 26th. His family of 14 were shot, strangled, or drowned. The youngest was his grandson, Trae, who was only 20 months old.

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Simmons collected the bodies into the lounge and went out to the bar.
Flickr/Matthew
When he returned he spent the night and the next day drinking and watching TV in a room full of corpses.
The blood lust didn't end there.
Flickr/Eva Peris
On December 28th, Simmons drove to Russellville and shot 6 people. Two were killed and the others were luckily just injured. He ended the terror at the Woodline Motor Freight Company where he simply sat and waited for police.
Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder; he plead guilty.
Flickr/mitchell haindfield
He was sentenced to death and never appealed. On May 31st, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton signed Simmons' execution warrant. Simmons died by lethal injection on June 25th, 1990.
"To those who oppose the death penalty - in my particular case, anything short of death would be cruel and unusual punishment."
Flickr/Luke Price
This bone-chilling quote came from Simmons during the trial. We are fortunate that justice came to Ronald Simmons, but this is one case that will not be soon forgotten.

To know more details about the case, read this news feature.

For a much needed palate cleanser, read about this cheerful family light display.

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