Metro Police make arrest in Las Vegas toddler’s death

By Aida Ahmed

Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 | 2:05 p.m.

Metro Police arrested a 35-year-old Las Vegas man in the death of a toddler Thursday night.

Cory Terrell Simmons, 35, of Las Vegas was arrested Friday morning and charged with one count of murder by child abuse.

Officers say they responded about 10:21 p.m. Thursday to the 6300 block of Rose Tree Lane in northeast Las Vegas to investigate reports of a toddler in medical distress. Emergency medical personnel treated the toddler at the scene and later transported the child to University Medical Center’s Pediatric Trauma Center. About 11:44 p.m., the boy was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

Police said Simmons, who was in a relationship with the toddler’s mother, was the sole caregiver in the residence at the time of the incident.

Two other children were asleep in the home at the time, police said, and have been placed in protective custody with Clark County Child Protective Services.

Police said Simmons was booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

The toddler’s name and the cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office. Police have not released the toddler’s age.

The investigation into the boy's death is ongoing, and police encourage anyone with information concerning the crime to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide section at 828-3521. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.