
Arrest Made in January Death of Texas Man Found at Arkansas Rest Area
An arrest has been made after a month-long investigation into the deadly Arkansas roadside attack. This investigation has crossed several state lines and has led to the arrest of 30-year-old Darius Simmons.
U.S. Marshals took Simmons into custody in Grand Rapids, Michigan last Friday, January 31, 2025. Authorities say he now faces multiple serious charges, including First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property, and Failure to Provide Information of an Accident Involving Injury.
This investigation started with the tragic death of 59-year-old German Portillo-Batres of Richmond, Texas. Early on January 4, a motorist discovered a man lying unresponsive on the shoulder of a rest stop access road around 1:45 AM. The call set off a multiple-state investigation.

The Ozark Police Department wasted no time in bringing in the Arkansas State Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to dig deeper into what happened that night. After weeks of going through the evidence, Special Agents identified Simmons as the suspect, leading to felony warrants for his arrest.
Simmons is currently awaiting extradition to Arkansas. Investigators still have not stated a possible motive or any other details about how the crime unfolded. More updates are expected as the case progresses.
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