Deputies name woman found in Inks Lake

LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - The Llano County Sheriff’s Office identified a body found at the bottom of Inks Lake in July as Holly Marie Simmons, who disappeared in 2006. She was 45.

Simmons’ body was found in early July by some recreational divers under the Highway 29 bridge. A couple of days later, a dive team from the Department of Public Safety was able to recover the badly decomposed remains.

Officials sent the body to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, where sheriff’s deputies said the medical examiner was able to identify the body as that of Simmons’ using dental records.

A former neighbor, Ron Harris, said many in the area thought she just left without telling anyone.

"Well, we didn't see her around for a while," Harris said. Then over on the Exxon station on 261, I noticed there was a marker put up on the door saying, 'Have you seen this woman?'"

Llano County Chief Deputy John Neff said Simmons was reported missing under suspicious circumstances from her home on Cortez Trail near Buchanan Dam in November 2006. They have ruled Simmons’ death as a homicide.

Simmons' two teenage daughters reported her missing when they arrived at their Buchanan Dam home after school.
One of those girls was the last person to see her, when her mother dropped her off at the school bus stop.

Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn said such an old case will be difficult to solve, but the discovery of the body also provided new clues.

"We do know how she died, but we're not divulging that at this time," Blackburn said. "Her vehicle, cell phone, keys were all home, but she was not. More than likely, it was probably someone she knew."

No arrests have been made. The sheriff urges anyone with information about this case to call his office at 325-247-5767.

Harris said the news brought up a mystery many had put past them. Now he wants answers.

"Well, yes for sure," he said, "and certainly for the daughters, so there's some resolution to the death."

For an indepth look at this case's history, check out Josh's " Living Off The Air" blog post.