Investigation continues along roads near killing

WINTHROP — The search for evidence in the fatal shooting of a town of Stockholm man continued Friday along rural roads believed used as an escape route by his killers.

"We are probably going to be taking it all the way up through the Mahoney Road," said Sheriff Kevin M. Wells, who is spearheading the investigation into the death of Daniel P. Simonds.

Mr. Simonds, 31, of 649 Porter Lynch Road, died at a Vermont hospital Tuesday morning after suffering a gunshot wound to the lower back. The shooting took place about 12:40 a.m. during a struggle with at least three unidentified suspects, according to investigators. They are said to have fled the scene in two dark sport utility vehicles.

In the hours after the shooting, investigators discovered 140 pounds of plastic-packaged high-grade marijuana, $50,000 to $60,000 in cash and a Russian-made hunting rifle at the Simonds home.

An electrician who worked until recently on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, Mr. Simonds moved to the home after separating from his wife, Jessica, about a year ago.

The shooting was reported by Mr. Simonds's girlfriend, a reservation resident. Mr. Wells declined to release her name out of concern for her safety.

No charges have been filed against the woman, and Mr. Wells declined to discuss whether she could face charges because of the marijuana discovered at the Simonds home.

"She was a person in the house and a person that is being interviewed. She is being interviewed along with everyone else," Mr. Wells said.

The woman spoke to investigators immediately after the shooting but has since hired attorney Stanley L. Cohen.

Mr. Cohen, a New York City attorney with a high profile in the north country, frequently appears in St. Lawrence County Court, representing alleged drug traffickers. He did not return telephone calls Thursday.

A preliminary search shortly after the shooting turned up a bloodstained hooded sweatshirt believed to have been worn by one of Mr. Simonds's attackers. Since then, a pair of gloves and a bandana also have been turned up along the road.

"There have been some other items," Mr. Wells said. "We are determining whether they were involved with this."

The search for evidence in the case is being coordinated out of a command post set up at the Brasher-Winthrop fire station. Investigators are continuing to ask anyone with information to call the command post at 389-1537 or the sheriff's office in Canton at 379-2222.

State forest rangers have been assisting deputies and state police with the ground search.

"There are probably 50 plus people working on it," Mr. Wells said.

The search has included not only the roads and adjacent fields but also the streams and wetlands nearby, Mr. Wells said.

The small-caliber handgun believed used in the shooting has not been recovered, he said.

In addition to the search, investigators have fanned out throughout the area, conducting interviews that may shed light on Tuesday's fatal encounter.

"We are developing more and more information every day about every aspect of the case," Mr. Wells said.

Depending on where that information leads, federal as well as local charges could be filed, said District Attorney Nicole M. Duvé, who was appointed a special U.S. attorney in October.

"I have already been in touch with federal authorities and will be talking with them further. It is still too early to say what direction this will go, but we are keeping our options open," Ms. Duvé said.