Mother of Child Found Dead in Coral Springs Arrested on Unrelated Charge

Destene Simmons posted bond Tuesday, but she wasn't seen publicly coming out of jail

The mother of a 4-year-old found dead in Coral Springs posted bond Tuesday on an unrelated charge, records showed, though she wasn't seen publicly leaving the North Broward jail.

Destene Simmons was being held at the jail in Pompano Beach on a $500 bond for driving with a suspended license, Broward Sheriff's Office jail records showed earlier Tuesday.

Her family waited hours for her to be released. When it was time for Simmons to leave, deputies called in her mother. Minutes later, Simmons' mother walked out of the facility and seemed to mouth the words "she's not coming" – then used the towel to cover herself and walk to a car.

Online BSO records said Simmons was released Tuesday at 5:56 p.m. Deputies at the jail would not say what happened to her.

It wasn't immediately known if Simmons had an attorney.

Simmons, 23, was released from the police station Monday after being questioned about the death of her son, Antwon Hope. She was later arrested for the unrelated charge.

The boy was found dead at the Coral Springs apartment after police responded to various 911 hangup calls.

Police arrived to apartment 202 of a complex on the 9000 block of Northwest 28th Drive before noon on Monday.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, but the medical examiner is conducting an autopsy, Coral Springs police spokesman Lt. Joe McHugh said Tuesday.

Neighbor Jennifer Snolis, who lives downstairs from the family, said she heard something between 10 and 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.

"You heard a noise like sneakers sound in the dryer. You know, that bum boom bum boom bum boom," she said. Police wouldn't say if those noises had anything to do with the death.

Neighbors said the family had recently moved in. It wasn't clear where the father was.

"He liked to dance and play with other kids," said Danny Hope, the boy's paternal uncle.

Department and Children and Famlies said the boy had previously been placed in the care of a relative but wouldn't comment on the case.

The paternal family said that relative was the maternal aunt , and that Simmons had tried to smother her child a year ago, and based on that incident he was placed with that aunt.

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