Cold-case murder still frustrates Beverly Hills

Who killed Jon A. Simmons? The Chicago gay-rights activist was found dead in a Beverly Hills alley 14 years ago -- by a West Hollywood councilman. But despite various leads and twists and turns, detectives have not been able to solve this case and it remains open, which is rare in Beverly Hills. City News Service has an update:

“New leads were pursued over the past year. However, no significant new evidence was developed, and the case remains open,” Beverly Hills police Lt. Tony Lee told City News Service. Koretz said a woman walker told him she thought she saw a body in the alley, about a block south of Sunset Boulevard. He walked closer and found the victim naked and lying face down. A burned-out car rented by Simmons was found more than 20 miles away in El Monte later on Oct. 2, 1994, according to Beverly Hills police. Simmons was vacationing in Southern California. Family members said he had been at the Abbey Cafe in West Hollywood the night before his body was found and may have visited other bars nearby, police said.

Back in 2005, detectives thought they had a big break in the case with some new DNA evidence.

-- Shelby Grad