Arizona court ruling could affect examinations in death penalty cases

Arizona’s Court of Appeal has ruled on the timing of expert examinations in a death penalty case involving Sophia Simmons, who is accused of murdering her eight-year-old daughter, Dior Echoles. The ruling could affect capital cases across Arizona, and Simmons may not be eligible for execution if she is found to have an intellectual disability.

A psychological examination gave Simmons an IQ score of 53; under Arizona law, a score of 75 or below requires further expert assessment, and people found to have an intellectual disability cannot be executed. The court said the state’s expert examination was scheduled before the deadline for submitting relevant records had passed. Simmons faces charges including first-degree murder and child abuse; police found Dior’s body in a Phoenix dumpster in December 2023.