May 20th, 2010
Simmons charged with capital murder in Buda fire death

Mark David Simmons.

STAFF REPORT

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has filed capital murder charges Mark David Simmons, 51, in the death of Steven Wayne Woelfel in Buda on April 17. District Court Judge Bill Henry signed the warrant this week.

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. On April 29, investigators identified Simmons as a person of interest in the case.

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 Texas Ranger Jimmy Schroeder.