HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — A 92-year-old millionaire developer was found dead inside his beachfront home after a seven-hour SWAT standoff with a suspect who barricaded inside during what began as a routine welfare check Saturday afternoon.
Demetrius Doukoullos, a prominent local real estate developer, was discovered deceased after police ended the lengthy standoff with Robert Phillip Simmons, 39, who also uses the name Elanor Beaulieu. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has taken over the investigation, with prosecutors charging Simmons with murder Tuesday. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly residents living alone and the unpredictable nature of welfare checks that can quickly escalate into major criminal investigations.
Hermosa Beach police responded to Doukoullos’ home in the 500 block of The Strand around 12:30 p.m. Saturday after a property manager requested a welfare check. Realtor Neil Chhabria, whose company manages the building, said tenants living above Doukoullos reported they hadn’t seen the elderly man for about a week and noticed a foul odor coming from his unit. “Despite his age, Demetrius was very active,” Chhabria told local media. “He still drove. Prior to retiring, he built perhaps more homes on the Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Strand than any other builder.” Property management had tried knocking on Doukoullos’ door for two days before requesting police assistance. When officers entered with the property manager, they encountered Simmons inside the residence.
The situation rapidly escalated when Simmons became uncooperative and claimed to be armed, according to the Hermosa Beach Police Department. “The individual was uncooperative, made statements indicating possibly being armed, and barricaded themselves inside the residence,” police said in a statement. SWAT teams from multiple agencies, including El Segundo and Hawthorne police departments, responded to the scene along with crisis negotiators. The standoff lasted approximately seven hours, with officers using bullhorns to communicate with the suspect. “Eleanor, come out with your hands up,” an officer called out during the final moments. “This has been going on long enough.” Simmons eventually surrendered around 8 p.m., emerging wearing a distinctive black suit, black fedora, and black sunglasses that witnesses compared to the Blues Brothers movie characters.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators discovered Doukoullos’ body inside the home showing signs of decomposition, suggesting he had been dead for several days before the welfare check. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as deferred, pending further investigation and additional tests. Law enforcement sources told NBC4 Los Angeles that the victim’s body showed signs of trauma. Court documents indicate prosecutors believe Simmons killed Doukoullos sometime between March 7 and March 14. Doukoullos had been renting the ground-floor unit of the triplex for about a year after selling his longtime Hermosa Beach home. His wife had passed away in 2012, and he had been living alone at the beachfront property. Neighbors in a local Facebook group had expressed concerns about not seeing him for about a week and the strong odor emanating from his residence.
Los Angeles County jail records show Simmons has had previous contact with law enforcement in recent months. He was detained by Redondo Beach police on February 23 for petty theft from a store and released with a citation the same day. County booking information for that arrest identified Simmons as nonbinary. He was also arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire division on February 5, 2025, but was released the following day after charges were dismissed. The relationship between Simmons and Doukoullos remains unclear to investigators. “We’re still in the early stages of the investigation,” said Lt. Steve De Jong of the sheriff’s homicide bureau. “We’re still trying to determine how, and if, the victim and the suspect might have known each other.” Court filings identify Simmons as the legal name, with Elanor Beaulieu listed as an alias.
The crime shocked the tight-knit beachfront community where Doukoullos was well-known for his contributions to local development. Chhabria, who knew Doukoullos professionally and had helped him with real estate transactions, described the news as “definitely bizarre and crazy.” He characterized Doukoullos as put together, orderly, and proud of his Greek heritage. “It’s too bad how he passed,” Chhabria said, “but you can’t take away his contributions to the local economy.” The developer’s legacy includes numerous beachfront homes in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach that he constructed during his career. Neighbors described him as having a very set routine of coming and going from his home, which made his absence particularly noticeable. The Strand, where the crime occurred, is one of Southern California’s most prestigious beachfront neighborhoods, making the violent incident particularly jarring for residents.
Simmons is being held at Los Angeles County’s Men’s Central Jail in lieu of $2,001,000 bail on the murder charge. He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday following his Tuesday arraignment. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau is requesting public assistance with the investigation, asking anyone with information to contact them at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 213-628-2013. Investigators have not publicly identified a motive for the alleged killing, and the exact circumstances of how Simmons gained access to Doukoullos’ home remain under investigation. The case represents an ongoing challenge for law enforcement in protecting elderly residents who live alone and may be vulnerable to crime.
