Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Zenger
Zenger
National
Joseph Golder

Minnesota Man Brutally Murders Ex-Girlfriend And Mother Of 3

The fire at the house of Patrick Morris Simmons after the murder of Kelli Goodermont. Simmons is under arrest. (Bloomington Fire/Zenger)

A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend, a mother of three, before pouring gas on her and lighting her on fire.

The incident took place at a warehouse in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 15.

The suspect has been named as Patrick Morris Simmons and his alleged victim, Kelli Goodermont. Both the victim and the suspect reportedly worked at the warehouse.

The Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) said in a statement that officers went to the scene of the incident after receiving reports that a woman was on fire.

Minnesota man Patrick Morris Simmons allegedly murdered his ex-girlfriend Kelli Goodermont. He is accused of stabbing her and setting her on fire. (Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office/Zenger)

The SPPD said: “Saint Paul police are investigating after a woman was found deceased on Tuesday, March 15, in Saint Paul’s Como Park neighborhood. Just before 9 a.m., officers were dispatched to a shipping warehouse on the 1700 block of Wynne Avenue for a report of a woman on fire.”

The police said they found the woman unresponsive and badly burnt, and then called medics to the scene, who pronounced her dead.

The police said: “When officers arrived, they located a woman in her 40s who was unresponsive and not breathing and appeared to have been badly burned.

“Officers secured the scene and called for Saint Paul Fire medics. Medics arrived and pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Homicide investigators responded, along with the Forensic Services Unit, who will process the scene for evidence.”

The police said that they quickly identified a suspect, saying that Simmons had previously been in a relationship with Goodermont.

Officers shared information about his whereabouts with members of Bloomington Police Department, because the suspect resided there. The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) arrested the suspect near his home, which was on fire.

Bloomington Officers observed a vehicle described by neighbors as leaving the address of the fire. A male exited the vehicle. Officers detained the man, later identified as Simmons.

There was a fire at the home of Patrick Morris Simmons after the murder of Kelli Goodermont. Neighbors saw Simmons leave the premises and authorities later arrested him near his home. (Bloomington Fire/Zenger)

The police said: “Patrick Morris Simmons, 47, was transported to the Saint Paul Police Department headquarters, where he was taken into custody without incident. He was interviewed by homicide investigators and will be booked at the Ramsey County jail for murder.”

A GoFundMe page was set up by Goodermont’s friends to provide financial assistance for her three daughters and pay for her funeral costs. To date, it has raised over $55,000. The goal is $75,000. The fund was established because her children were left without their main caretaker and support system.

This is the 11th homicide this year in Saint Paul.

Edited by Fern Siegel and Kristen Butler

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.