Prosecutors accuse Kansas City man of beating blind ex-girlfriend with hammer

Jackson County prosecutors have accused a man of clubbing his blind ex-girlfriend with a hammer, cutting her with a knife and threatening to kill her and her friend Monday.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Larry D. Simms, 54, of Kansas City with first-degree domestic assault, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in connection with the attack Monday inside the ex-girlfriend’s apartment in the 8300 block of Blue Parkway. Simms remained in jail Wednesday in lieu of a $100,000 cash-only bond.

The victim suffered a cut on her thumb, an open wound to her head and brain bleeding.

She had broken up with Simms two days before the attack, according to court records.

The victim told police her friend gave her a ride home Monday so she could change clothes for work. They were chatting about her dating another man when Simms popped out of the master bedroom, where he had been hiding.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for!” he shouted, according to court records. “I knew your (expletive) was up to no good.”

Simms ordered the victim’s friend to leave, but she refused, the records said. Simms allegedly grabbed a knife, poked the victim with it and said, “You feel that? (Expletive) I’m about to kill you.”

Simms allegedly punched the victim’s friend to prevent her from calling for help. He allegedly punched the victim in the face, then repeatedly hit her in the head. She could not see what he was using to hit her, but her friend later told police it was a hammer, according to court records.

The friend ran out when Simms was distracted. He allegedly threatened to kill her too, the records said.

As the victim struggled with Simms over control of the knife, Simms reportedly let go of it. When he went into the kitchen for another knife, the victim fled out a sliding glass door, according to court records.

Police on Tuesday arrested Simms at a casino. He denied most of the attack but said he punched the women in self-defense because they were attacking him with a knife. He said he didn’t report the attack because he still loved his ex-girlfriend.

This story was originally published May 14, 2014 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Prosecutors accuse Kansas City man of beating blind ex-girlfriend with hammer."