12 Facts About Simon Nelson

Simon Peter Nelson was an American mass murderer who was convicted of murdering his six children, aged 12,10,8,7,6, and 3.

Simon Nelson said he could not recall the killings, claiming he snapped when his wife called to say she didn't love him anymore and was divorcing him.

Simon Nelson's defense failed, and he was convicted of six counts of murder.

Simon Nelson was spared execution after the jury deadlocked during the sentencing phase.

Simon Nelson was sentenced to six concurrent terms of 100 to 200 years in prison, and officials recommended that he never be released from prison.

At a parole hearing in 2004, Simon Nelson said he had benefited from anger management therapy in prison and would never be violent again.

Simon Nelson claimed he experienced auditory and visual hallucinations and felt his dead father's presence during the crime.

At a parole hearing in 2008, Simon Nelson said he didn't know if he deserved parole, but his job as a prison library clerk, which he had held since the 1980s, was proof he could be a productive member of society.

At a parole hearing in 2014, Simon Nelson repeated his claims that he didn't remember the crime very well and was a sincere Christian.

Simon Nelson was an inmate at Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Illinois.

Simon Nelson died in prison on June 18,2017, aged 85, at St John's Hospital in Springfield.

Simon Nelson had been awaiting another parole hearing at the time of his death.