About Ronald Gene Simmons
Ronald Gene Simmons Sr. was an American spree killer and former military serviceman who murdered 16 people, including 14 members of his own family, over a week in December 1987 in Arkansas. The killings, considered the deadliest case of familicide in United States history, occurred at his home near Dover and later at a nearby law office, convenience store, and workplace. Simmons served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy and Air Force before retiring. He was convicted and sentenced to death, waived all appeals, and was executed by lethal injection in 1990, becoming the first person executed by that method in Arkansas. During his over 20-year administrative specialist military career, Simmons was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. A relative noted that Simmons would relentlessly exploit perceived weaknesses, and reports from the time describe him as violent toward animals—frequently striking a family cat until it became aggressive.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.