Frank Lewis | Daily Times
Tierra Simeona (seated next to Judge William T. Marshall) on the witness stand Tuesday. Her boyfriend, Brandon Wilson is on trial for murder in the death of her 10 month old baby.
Frank Lewis
PDT Staff Writer
Tierra Simeona painted a picture of a stormy on-again, off-again relationship when she took the stand Tuesday in the murder trial of her live-in boyfriend Brandon Wilson. Wilson is charged in the death of Simeona’s 10-month-old son Neyland Wilson.
Simeona said the points of contention between the two centered around resentment by Wilson that the baby was not his, and Simeona’s constant anger with Wilson not working, spending the day doing nothing, having a drug problem and spending periods of time in jail.
Simeona talked about an incident on Nov. 1, 2012, when she came home from work and the child appeared ill, and the subsequent visit to the Southern Ohio Medical Center Urgent Care facility in Wheelersburg.
“He (Brandon Wilson) didn’t want me to tell the doctor that Neyland fell out of a chair,” Simeona said. She said Wilson’s mother had warned them against going to the Urgent Care for fear that they would ask questions and that law enforcement would be there, and say the baby was abused. However, after being treated for ear and respiratory infections, the child was sent home and later went trick or treating in New Boston.
The arguing between the couple continued in the weeks before the baby died.
“I was always having to work and pay bills and he was staying home and using my money to get high,” Simeona said.
She also accused the defendant of selling her food stamps for drugs.
On cross examination Gerlach asked Simeona, “As you look at him (Wilson) today, do you love him?”
To which she replied, “no.” She explained it was because he was emotionless on the day Neyland had died.
“Brandon took care of your children and you trusted him?” Gerlach asked.
“Yes,” Simeona replied.
During the day of testimony, Simeona accused Wilson of using marijuana, Oxycodone, Suboxone, and Methamphetamine.
“Have you used drugs?” Gerlach asked.
“I have tried marijuana,” Simeona replied. “With the children in the house?” Gerlach asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
Gerlach also asked her who she had talked to about the case and she said the first person she had talked to was Scioto County Sheriff’s Detective Jodi Conkel and that she had also talked with detective Denver Triggs and to social workers.
Simeona said she came home from work on Nov. 18, and the baby’s bedroom door was closed, which she said was not normal. When she found the baby, he was stiffened out and unresponsive and sounded like he couldn’t get his breath.
She called 911, as verified by a recording played for jurors and another witness, dispatcher Linda Shannon. Simeona said during the 911 call Brandon Wilson continued to tell her not to call, telling her he (Neyland) had done the same thing earlier.
Porter Township EMS responded and registered nurse practitioner Pam Bradshaw of the EMS squad also took the stand to testify as to the baby’s condition. She and another earlier witness, Bobby Lowe, who was also at the house at the time described the defendant as calm.
Bradshaw said Neyland’s breathing became more and more erratic, and she felt his head was not as soft as it should be, which could mean intercranial pressure.
Simeona said Neyland, who reportedly had fallen earlier in a grocery cart, was diagnosed by doctors with a skull fracture.
“And doctors kept telling us it couldn’t have been from the fall 20 days before,” Simeona said.
Some of the questioning centered around Wilson as being quiet, and calm. Simeona said he yelled at her and called her names.
“Was he quiet at that time?” Apel would ask.
“No,” she replied.
At the end of the day, Judge William T. Marshall told Simeona to be prepared to be called again by the defense later in the trial.
Six doctors are expected to testify today as expert witnesses in the case.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com.
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