Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison For Second Degree Murder and Threats in Writing

For immediate release: November 8, 2024

Chesapeake, Va. - Matthew R. Hamel, Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Chesapeake, announced that Harvion Simpkins, 37, of Chesapeake, VA, was convicted on his guilty pleas to Second-Degree Murder and Threats in Writing on July 8, 2024, and sentenced on November 8, 2024, to the maximum 40-years of active incarceration on the murder charge and 5-years on the Threats in Writing charge, with 5-years suspended.

The Commonwealth's evidence established that on or about March 28 through March 29, 2023, Officers responded to investigate several vulgar and threatening text messages from the defendant, Harvion Simpkins, to the mother of his child. Through the course of their investigation, they attempted to help the mother retrieve her minor children from a hotel room she was sharing with the defendant.

One of the minor children was found to be acting abnormally and showed bruising. The child was crying as if in pain after having been in the sole care of the defendant. The child was transported to CHKD emergency department. The child died as a result of blunt-force head trauma and abdominal trauma.

Upon his completion of the 40-year prison sentence, Simpkins will be on indeterminate supervised probation and uniform good behavior. A lifetime protective order, pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-152.10, was also entered prohibiting Simpkins from having any contact with the victim's family.

The Honorable Robert McDonald, Judge, presided over the guilty plea hearing and sentencing hearing. The investigation was led by Detective T. Alexander and Detective J. Evans and prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Michael Peterson and Jaclyn Aranibar with the assistance of Victim Advocates Patty Strathmann and Angela Mingin. For further media inquiries, please contact Gloria Nuss at 757-382-3200