A Phoenix mother who has been accused of murdering her eight-year-old daughter may avoid the death penalty due to her IQ score of 53.
Sophia Simmons, a Maricopa County resident, was investigated by Phoenix Police Department detectives in Arizona after an anonymous tip led officers to find little Dior Echoles's body tossed into a dumpster near Thomas Road in December 2023.
Authorities reported they secured a search warrant for Simmons's house and found evidence of someone attempting to clean a crime scene on December 25, 2023.
She was then arrested and charged with felonies of first-degree murder and child abuse. Simmons was also accused of tampering with physical evidence.
According to an Arizona Court of Appeal document, the state of Arizona is seeking the death penalty if Simmons is found guilty of her charges.
However, execution may be barred if the state finds that Simmons is intellectually disabled, after an examination by a psychological expert determined that she has an IQ score of 53.
The court stated that an IQ of 75 or below requires more expert examinations to take place. The general average IQ for a human being is around 100.
Judge David B Gass noted in his court opinion that Arizona law bars the execution of anyone found to have an intellectual disability.
Sophia Simmons, a Maricopa County resident, who has been accused of murdering her eight-year-old daughter may avoid the death penalty due to her IQ score of 53
Simmons was investigated by Phoenix Police Department detectives in Arizona after an anonymous tip led officers to find Dior Echoles's (pictured) body tossed into a dumpster by 31st Avenue and Thomas Road on December 2023
Echoles remains were found in dumpster near a business on 31st Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix, Arizona on December 2023
'Simmons asked the superior court to assess whether her intellectual disability bars the State from executing her.
'The legislature enacted a process governing discovery when the State seeks the death penalty and the defendant's intellectual ability is in question,' Judge Gass said in his opinion of court statement.
Judge Gass stated that Arizona law requires experts to wait at least 20 days from the superior court's deadline for records proving Simmons's intellectual ability to be submitted.
'The State scheduled its expert to examine Simmons before the extended disclosure deadline passed,' Judge Gass said in the court ruling.
This ruling will now be applied to death penalty cases across Arizona state.
According to ABC 15 News, court documents said the young girl's body appeared to have multiple injuries to her legs, arms and torso.
Investigators reported that some of her wounds were in different stages of healing and that she had scars from other prior injuries.
Police reported that Simmons stayed with the victim's body for up to five days before disposing of it in a dumpster where it was found on December 24, 2023.
Simmons was then arrested and charged with felonies of first-degree murder and child abuse for the death of Dior Echoles. Simmons was also accused of allegedly tampering with physical evidence
Authorities reported they secured a search warrant for Simmons's house and found evidence of someone attempting to clean a crime scene on December 25, 2023
The outlet reported a witness informed police that Simmons claimed she had 'beaten her child and it went too far,' during a phone call exchange on December 25.
During their ruling, the court stated the questions surrounding Simmon's intellect is 'one of statewide importance and is likely to rise again.'
According to the Appeals document: 'The court generally declines special action jurisdiction over discovery disputes.
'But the court has accepted special action jurisdiction when the case presents a question of statewide importance concerning discovery in a capital case related to a defendant's intellectual disability.
'If the superior court finds Simmons has an intellectual disability and she is later convicted of a capital offense, she 'shall not be sentenced to death but shall be sentenced to life or natural life,'' Judge Gass said in his opinion statement.
At this time no decision has been made yet to determine if Simmons is intellectually disabled.
Simmons has an upcoming trial scheduled for April 2027.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office and Phoenix Police Department for comment and additional details.
