Victim Murdered over Sixty-Three Dollars
Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions against a murderer who beat and stabbed a man to death in order to steal $63. A jury found Steven Michael Simpson, 46, guilty-as-charged and convicted him of First Degree Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery. Judge Scott Green imposed a life sentence on the murder count and set the case for sentencing on November 22 on the robbery count.
In a three-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Hector Sanchez and Kevin Allen explained to the jury that on April 13, 2018, Knoxville Police Department Investigators Clay Madison and Mike Washam responded to a call at a residence on Sevier Avenue. Their investigation revealed that the victim had given Simpson a place to stay, allowing him to sleep on his couch. Earlier in the day, Simpson took the victim to cash a check. When the two returned to victim’s residence, Simpson struck the victim in the head with a jack handle then stabbed the victim twenty-one times. Simpson then took the victim’s wallet containing approximately $63 and purchased crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Simpson also tried to clean up the crime scene with bleach and destroy evidence, throwing the murder weapons and bloody clothes into a dumpster on Moody Avenue.
“This victim was brutally murdered after he gave Simpson a place to stay,” said DA Charme Allen.”Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved in this case, the defendant now has a place to stay for the rest of his life.”
Simpson was sentenced to life in prison on the First Degree Murder count, meaning he must serve at least fifty-one years in prison before he can meet with the parole board. Especially Aggravated Robbery is a Class A felony that carries a punishment of fifteen to twenty-five years in prison without the possibility of parole.
If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.