Boutte man charged with attempted murder

Suspected infidelity is motive

Troit A. Simmons, 36, Boutte

After supposedly hearing that his live-in girlfriend was romantically entertaining another man, a Boutte man became so enraged that he took her to a remote wooded area where, according to police reports, she was savagely beaten.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on July 1. The suspect in question is Troit A. Simmons, 36, of 116 Simmons Lane, Boutte.

"He took her to a wooded area, where they got into an argument. He then began physically assaulting her," said Sgt. Dwayne LeGrange of the St. Charles Sheriff's Office.

According to reports, Simmons attacked his girlfriend so violently that she sustained multiple fractured ribs, multiple head injuries, abdomen injuries and internal bleeding, including bleeding from her kidneys.

After viciously attacking her, Simmons then took her back to their home in his car. "According to a witness, the victim was in such bad shape, already slumped over in the vehicle, that when Simmons opened the car door she fell out. He then closed the door and drove off," said LeGrange.

The victim then managed to crawl up the front steps of her home, said police reports. After she entered her residence, a witness contacted the St. Charles Sheriff's Office.

"Upon arriving at the scene, officers noted that the victim was slumped over with her head between her knees and both arms were limp," said LeGrange. As officers approached the victim, they noted that her eyes were swollen shut and she was in extreme pain, said police reports. The victim was also fading in and out of consciousness.

Immediately, deputies radioed for an ambulance, where she was transported to St. Charles Parish Hospital. The victim had to be sedated for her pain, which made interviewing her difficult. According to the police reports, deputies, however, still were able to ascertain the identity of her attacker.

"Based on her doctor's comments, she was lucky to be alive," said LeGrange.

Deputies began canvassing the area of their residence, and Simmons was picked up a short time later. He was charged with attempted first degree murder. Simmons bond was set at $500,000 by Judge St. Pierre. As of Tuesday morning, Simmons had yet to post bond and remains in custody at Nelson Coleman Correctional Center.

“This is a pathetic act. No one should ever have to go through anything like this,” said LeGrange, “and any person that is in a violent relationship should seek help with the sheriff’s office or through a shelter.”

As of Tuesday, the victim was out of the Intensive Care Unit and expected to make a full recovery