Son of murdered man pleads for leads

By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers HOPING TO CATCH THE COWARD-Bruce Simmons, center, talks with Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks, right, and Moorpark Mayor Patrick Hunter following a press conference set up to urge people to come forward with information leading to the arrest of 71-year-old Dennis Wood's murderer. Simmons offered a $25,000 reward. The city of Moorpark and the sheriff's department added $5,000 each, bringing the reward to $35,000.

A tearful Bruce Simmons, at a press conference in Moorpark last Thursday, pleaded for information that would bring closure to his father’s murder. A $35,000 reward was also offered to persuade witnesses to come forward.

The purpose of this conference is to attract attention to this case and resolve it, said Simmons.

"My father was a very kind and gentle man and he never lost his temper," said Simmons. "He was murdered in his home and we don’t know who the coward is," he said.

"Detectives are working diligently, but we need the public’s help," he said.

Dennis Wood, 71, was found dead in his home in the 12500 block of Mountain Trail last April 16.

Wood died from multiple head and chest gun wounds.

"One possible scenario for this crime is that it may have been a ‘follow-home’ robbery," authorities said.

Simmons said that three weeks prior to his death, his father had purchased an expensive gold coin. He speculated that perhaps someone may have overheard him talking about his investment. However, the coin was in the hands of a broker at the time, Simmons said.

The investigation revealed that Wood was killed two to three weeks prior to being found. Police still have no witnesses to this crime.

The murder didn’t receive the publicity it should have because several other homicides occurred at that time, said Sheriff Bob Brooks.

"A lot of people have never heard of it," he said.

Now the family, with the help of the city of Moorpark and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, wants to change that.

Simmons raised $25,000 for a reward, and the sheriff’s department and the city of Moorpark are adding $5,000 each.

"There are lots of unanswered questions and somebody knows who this person is," said Simmons.

"This may give detectives the boost they’re looking for," he said.

To come up with the money, Simmons sold his home in Oxnard and moved to his father’s house in Moorpark because probate prevented him from selling the house.

"After my father was killed, managing two estates got to be very burdensome, and I wanted to get a reward fund started to create awareness about the case," Simmons said.

With the reward, the family hopes to bring closure to this painful event. They also want to prevent others from suffering the same agony, said Simmons.

Anyone with information about this case should call (805) 654-2311. The reward will be given if the information provided leads to an arrest, said a spokesperson from the sheriff’s department.

Wood, a graduate of Syracuse University, was a Biblical scholar and a devout Christian. In addition to his son, Bruce, he is survived by a stepdaughter who lives in Idaho and a stepson in Nebraska. He also had three brothers, one sister and five grandchildren.