April 29th, 2010
Sheriff IDs 'person of interest' in Buda fire death

Mark David Simmons.

STAFF REPORT

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has identified Mark David Simmons, 51, as a person of interest in the homicide investigation stemming from the death of Steven Wayne Woelfel in Buda on April 17.

Simmons is one of the last persons known to have been in Woelfel’s company and, according to the HCSO, is a long-time associate.

Simmons has an active warrant from Rockport in reference to a failure to appear on a weapons violation. The HCSO said Simmons should be considered armed and dangerous.

Simmons is reported to be operating a 2008 blue/silver Hyundai Sonata, which is reported stolen from Aransas County. The vehicle should be displaying Texas license plate No. FKR-062.

At about 10:50 a.m. on April 17, the Buda Fire Department (BFD) responded to a reported structure fire at 1132 Live Oak Loop, located in the Hays Country Oaks subdivision just northwest of Buda. Arriving fire units found the detached garage at that location to be fully engulfed. Once the fire was extinguished, Woelfel’s body was discovered in the remains of the fire.

Evidence collected at the fire scene has led investigators to believe that the fire was actually set in an attempt to cover up the murder of Woelfel.

The case is being investigated by the HCSO Criminal Investigations Division and the Texas Rangers.