A South Dakota man, aged 44, is potentially facing a life sentence for allegedly murdering a 40-year-old woman in 2023. Pedro Simental is charged with first-degree manslaughter using a dangerous weapon, in this case, a can of beans, in the death of Edleigha Little, according to court documents.
Under South Dakota law, a conviction for first-degree manslaughter can result in a life sentence in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $50,000. The incident occurred in Rapid City, South Dakota, where local law enforcement responded to a call from Monument Hospital’s emergency room in the early hours of November 9, 2023.
Hospital staff had reported a female patient with suspicious injuries. Emergency medical personnel had transported the woman, later identified as Little, from the Stardust Motel in Rapid City late on the night of November 8, following a 911 call from an unidentified male requesting medical assistance.
Upon arrival at the motel, police found Little unconscious with multiple bruises on her head, neck, and face. Despite being alive at the time, Little later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead a few hours later.
An autopsy conducted on November 13 determined that Little’s death was a homicide, resulting from “significant blunt force trauma” to the left side of her head. Simental, who was present at the motel when first responders arrived, initially did not implicate himself in any way during his first interview with the police.
However, during a subsequent interview on November 13, Simental reportedly confessed to having a physical altercation with Little on the night of November 8. He allegedly told investigators that he might have hit Little on the left side of her head with a can. Simental claimed that he struck Little after she grabbed his Denver Broncos jersey and tore it.
The can Simental allegedly used to bludgeon Little was identified as a can of beans. Simental’s attorney argued in court that Little’s hematoma could have been spontaneous due to her alleged history of severe alcoholism. Simental is due to appear in court again on August 26.