Arkansas – An Arkansas State Police investigation led to the arrest of an Atlanta man in Michigan in connection with the January death of a man found at the Interstate 40 rest area near Ozark.
Darius Simmons, 30, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Friday, January 31, 2025.
He was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property, and failure to provide information on an accident involving injury in the death of German Portillo-Batres, 59, of Richmond, Texas.
A motorist discovered Portillo-Batres lying on the shoulder of the rest stop access road at approximately 1:45 a.m. on January 4, 2025.
The Ozark Police Department requested assistance from ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division, leading to felony arrest warrants for Simmons. His extradition to Arkansas is pending.