Pleasanton police say 67-year-old Lori Simonds and her 28-year-old son Evan Simonds were found dead in their Joanne Circle home shortly after 10 a.m. on February 18. A landscaper working by the backyard pool heard gunshots and a scream, then more shots. When officers arrived, both were already gone, each suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators did not find a weapon inside the house.
Authorities quickly tracked movements tied to a 2025 Toyota Camry seen on surveillance heading toward the Simonds home the morning of the killings. That car belonged to Allen Swadley, a 32-year-old athletic trainer from San Jose who previously dated the victims’ daughter, Melissa Simonds. Public records show Swadley knew the family’s hidden key from visiting before a December breakup.
Police arrested Swadley in San Jose the following day after an automated license plate reader alerted officers to his vehicle. During questioning, he acknowledged being at the house around the time of the shooting, according to the arrest report. Law enforcement also recovered several firearms from his car and residence, though tests to link any directly to the murders are ongoing.
Swadley was booked into Santa Rita Jail without bail and arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Prosecutors allege he entered the home with intent to commit a felony, pointing to planning and his position of trust. If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court date is a plea hearing scheduled for March 9.
Friends and neighbors describe the killings as shocking in a quiet Pleasanton neighborhood near Ken Mercer Sports Park. Family members and community members held a vigil days after the violence, remembering Lori as warm and welcoming and Evan as a dedicated young man pursuing tax work and wrestling. A fundraising effort to support Melissa has drawn significant donations to help with funeral expenses and immediate needs.
Investigators continue to piece together a motive. Police officials stress the case appears isolated and urge anyone with further information to come forward to help understand what led to the sudden, devastating loss in a family already marked by past tragedy.
