Man charged in murders to get mental evaluation

Defendant linked to 2 killings, including a Crown Point Lyft driver

A man charged with the unrelated murders of a Crown Point Lyft driver and a Park Forest, Illinois, man within a week will get a mental health competency evaluation, court records show.

Robert Simms, 34, of Chicago and Gary, is facing murder, robbery and arson charges in the Sept. 23 death of Lyft driver Glynon “Coach” Nelson, 38. Co-defendant Isaih Lenburg is also charged in the case.

Simms’ next hearing is June 24 before Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas.

Nelson was cooperative during the robbery, but Simms “killed him anyway,” according to a criminal affidavit.

He was later found shot twice in the back of the head at Old Hobart Road and Atchison Drive in Gary’s Miller section.

Simms is also charged in the Sept. 29 death of Nicholas Kowalski, 29, of Park Forest. Court records allege he killed Kowalski while trying to rob him.

About a week before, Kowalski drove over to Simms’ place, police wrote. Days later, Kowalski, Simms and Isaih Lenburg drove away in Kowalski’s blue van, the affidavit states. Sometime later, Simms returned, dropping Lenburg off, it said.

After Kowalski and Simms took off a second time, Simms returned alone, charges state.

The next day, Simms and Lenburg appeared to pull Kowalski’s body out of the van, wrapped in a tarp, then buried the body in the backyard, police wrote.

Kowalski’s van was taken to Lowell, then set on fire, the affidavit states. Indiana State Police later found it in a cornfield.

Police recovered Kowalski’s body from Simms’ backyard in a shallow grave. He was shot in the head and torso, according to documents.

Simms is charged with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, arson and unlawful disposition of a dead human body, according to Lake Superior Court records.

The day before Nelson’s slaying, Simms was accused of the Sept. 22 Waffle House robbery in Floyd County, according to court documents and local news reports.

Another Oct. 10 armed robbery case in Porter County is still pending.