Two men charged with death of woman found on 412 appear before judge
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HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Two men appear before a judge Tuesday as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation takes the stand. Juan Ramirez and Luis Mendoza are both charged with felony murder and especially aggravated kidnapping of Brittney Simpson, 25. On July 10, Simpson was found lying in the road on Highway 412 in Darden. She later died at Vanderbilt Hospital. The TBI explained what the two men say happened the night Simpson was found by a car driving by. Agent Michael Parsons testified what Ramirez said happened as Simpson tried to call 911 from the back of Ramirez’s truck. “He’s(Mendoza) attempting to retrieve the phone from Miss Simpson and the door opens, Mr. Ramirez acknowledges he’s driving down the road and he sees Mr. Mendoza do this kind of a motion,” Parsons says as he shows a pushing motion. The TBI said Mendoza told agents Simpson jumped. Her grandfather said he does not believe that. “The whole “jumping” I don’t believe that. Like I said, she wouldn’t.. At carnival rides she wouldn’t ride no scary rides. So jumping out of a vehicle? No way.” Butch Watkins said. Agent Parsons said Ramirez asked Mendoza if they should turn around. “He said something to the effect of ‘ouch, that hurt,’ should we go back and check on her?’ According to Ramirez, Mendoza says keep driving, she can walk back to Lexington,” Parsons said. Both Ramirez and Mendoza will stay in the Henderson County Jail without bond. The case was bound over to the grand jury. The next grand jury meets October 20. Ramirez also told TBI agents he had sex with Simpson after she was kidnapped but that it was consensual. TBI said it was waiting for results from a rape kit.
