"My roommates and I are afraid," she wrote in the order.

Police said Sprenger noticed a strange smell in her car on her way home from work Saturday night. The smell persisted the next day as she drove friends to church in the Bradford Heights neighborhood, said Gastonia Police Detective Sgt. Jimmy West. About 6 p.m., she opened the trunk of her 2007 Ford Taurus and found Simonds inside.

West said preliminary autopsy reports indicated that Simonds died from overheating. West did not expect any charges to be filed. Weekend temperatures climbed above 90 degrees.

West said Simonds may have climbed into the trunk on his own. He said police found a set of car keys in Simonds' pocket. Sprenger had reported her purse stolen from the car last week, West said.

West said it was not clear why Simonds didn't use the trunk's working emergency latch.

"If you get into that trunk and that heat is that intense, I'm sure that panic may set in," he said.

West said he couldn't say whether Simonds had any weapons with him.

His cousin, Paul Husky of Charlotte, said Simonds had met Sprenger in 2003 when he started working as a painter for her family's business.

Husky said Sprenger left her husband, her South Charlotte home and her three children to live with Simonds. Her record shows that she began building up charges for fraud, writing bad checks and shoplifting.

Simonds' criminal record includes similar charges for stealing and fraud stretching to the 1980s.

Husky, 51, said Simonds had been a good person when they were young. He said they used to go on double dates to the drive-in movies, but lost touch after high school.

"When I did see him later he was a totally different person," Husky said. "He made enemies everywhere he went."

In 1986, Simonds, then 25, was convicted of manslaughter for strangling former girlfriend Donna Miller, 24, in her Bessemer City home.

After the slaying, Simonds was hospitalized for a drug overdose and later charged with first degree murder. While awaiting trial, he was admitted to a state mental hospital after threatening suicide. He was sentenced to 20 years but released on parole in 1992, according to state records.

Recently, police said he had been a "person of interest" in the disappearance of Jamie Michelle Fraley, 22, of Bessemer City, who was reported missing April 8. Gaston County Police Sgt. Chris Reynolds said Simonds was one of Fraley's neighbors on Lowell-Bethesda Road. Reynolds said Simonds was of interest because he knew Fraley -- she was dating and living with his son, Ricky Dale Simonds Jr., 31.

Submitted on 06/10/2008

Submitted by: Steve Bowen
Reference: The News & Observer June 10, 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Given this guys history I'll gladly vote for a DA. Stalking women is one thing, but stalking them by climbing into the trunk of their car is another. I don't know about you but if I had gotten trapped in a trunk and was panicking I'd make all the noise I could to attract attention. Thanks, Steve.

Tracy said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I hate sitting on the fence here, but I'm not convinced this is a DA - yes, he was stupid for not screaming and shouting, but the fact that he didn't makes me wonder..... was this an actual planned suicide - making sure his ex would be the person to find the body would (maybe) have given him a certain satisfaction..... Sorry - but I'm going to stay here on the fence.....

Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Other
I have read this story a few times and as much as id like to vote DA, I cant... He went into that trunk he knew the risks, we have all seen how hot our cars get in summer. Whether he intended to surprise her at some point and kill her.. or whatever.. I just see a planned event here and not a Darwin worthy one.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'll give this low-life a DA only because he had his priorities so screwed up he probably didn't even THINK of the heat in the trunk!

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