On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the Colorado Springs Police Department Communications Center received an anonymous tip regarding human remains being in a bag inside a drainage culvert near the 500 block of West Polk Street. CSPD officers responded and, with the assistance of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, were able to gain access to the culvert. A preliminary inspection led officers to believe that human remains were present.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Investigators from the Metro Crime Lab responded. With the assistance of the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, it was confirmed unidentified human remains were found inside a bag in the drainage culvert.
On Friday, October 6, 2023, an autopsy was conducted on the unidentified human remains. On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, the Coroner’s Office positively identified the human remains as those of Daxcimo Ceja of Colorado Springs. Mr. Ceja had previously been identified as the victim of a homicide, but his remains had not been located.
The investigation into Mr. Ceja’s homicide began last year, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for murder in the first degree for 38-year-old Deka Simmons of Colorado Springs.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, Deka Simmons was arrested by the CSPD Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force (VOFTF) and the Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU). Ms. Simmons is still in custody at the El Paso County Jail.
During the investigation, CSPD was able to identify Mr. Ceja as the victim. However, CSPD did not locate his body until October 5, 2023.
While the El Paso County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death, Mr. Ceja’s death continues to be investigated as a homicide. Mr. Ceja’s death is being investigated as the 17th homicide investigation in the City of Colorado Springs in 2022.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.
A photo of Mr. Ceja has been provided by his family below.
