Buda murder suspect now in custody

BRANSON, Mo. (KXAN/KYTV) - Mark David Simmons is now in custody in Missouri, where he was in a standoff with local police.

A Hays County Sheriff's Department deputy, along with a Texas Ranger, are en route to Branson, Missouri to gather evidence and continue the investigation into the death of Steven Wayne Woelfel.

In a standoff with authorities since 6:30 a.m. Tuesday hundreds of miles away , accused murderer Mark David Simmons still faces a capital murder charge back in Texas in the death of a Buda man .

Missouri authorities in Branson have been in the hours-long standoff at the Walnut Lane Motel - in a tourist town consisting mainly of elderly folks, according to KXAN's affiliate KYTV in Missouri .

Police were reportedly tipped off to Simmons following two motel robberies throughout the weekend in Missouri. With a description of the vehicle involved, police ran the plates on a vehicle in another motel parking lot that came up stolen out of Hays County, Texas - reported stolen by Simmons' mother.

The Hays County Sheriff's Office charged Simmons in mid-May with capital murder in connection with the April 17 death of Steven Wayne Woelfel, 55.

While fighting a blaze at 1132 Live Oak Loop in Buda , firefighters found Woelfel dead in his garage.

Authorities said Simmons was one of the last known people to have been with the victim and was considered armed and dangerous.

Simmons also had an active warrant out of Rockport connected to a failure to appear in court on a weapons violation.

Authorities said Simmons was last believed to be driving a blue/silver 2008 Hyundai Sonata with the Texas license plates FKR-062, stolen from Aransas County.