St. Lawrence County Investigators Recover Evidence in Homicide Case

Investigators have recovered some pieces of evidence from the scene of Tuesday’s homicide in the town of Stockholm, but the search for the suspects continues.

Officials held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in the shooting death of 31 year old Daniel Simonds.

They said they found a bloodstained hooded sweatshirt, believed to have been worn by one of three suspects.

It was recovered from a ditch on the Mahony Road.

Between $50,000 and $60,000 in cash, 140 pounds of high grade marijuana packaged for sale in 198 bags and a high-powered hunting rifle were found in Simonds’ house and in a truck.

Investigators said they believe Simonds was involved in drug trafficking and the homicide was linked to his criminal activity.

“This was not a random act by the suspects. This was a targeted residence looking for possibly cash or drugs and we’re still actively looking for several suspects,” said St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells.

Simonds was an electrician who had connections to the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, where he had previously worked.

It appears Simonds was struggling with one of his assailants when he was fatally shot in the lower back with what may have been a small handgun just inside the front door of his Porter Lynch Road home.

The suspects then fled in two dark colored SUV’s.

A bloodstained exterior wall and a large hole in the entryway wall show the violence of the altercation.

“There has been an increase in the number of case where drugs and violence are related where guns are involved,” said District Attorney Nicole Duve.

While investigators track down several leads, sheriff’s deputies and troopers searched the roadside and fields near the crime scene looking for anything that could help lead them to the suspects.

Neither the weapon used in the shooting nor the suspects have been located.

Authorities said they will need some exceptional police work, the public’s help and some luck to help crack the homicide case.

If you have information about the case, call the St. Lawrence Sheriff’s Department at (315) 379-2222.

See our earlier reports.