From Match to Mayhem: Woman Alleges Armed Robbery by Dating App Encounter

This series discusses sensitive topics including sexual assault, trafficking, and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

In the early morning hours of July 16, 2022, a U-Haul truck engaged in a dramatic police chase on Southern California freeways. The vehicle was not only easy to spot with its standard white and orange logo, but it was also linked to an armed robbery that took place in Anthem, Arizona. Police attempted to pull over the truck due to a traffic violation, but the driver refused to stop.

For over an hour, the U-Haul fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit through Orange County until police were forced to disable its tires. Once immobilized, the truck came to a halt, inadvertently facing numerous police officers. Witnesses described the driver’s demeanor as unbothered while the female passenger appeared visibly distressed.

This passenger, 18-year-old Helen Simmons, reflected a far more alarming reality—an experience of fear and trauma since meeting her companion, Matthew Jones, just weeks earlier through a dating app. The conclusion of this chase would thrust Helen into a complex interplay between victimhood and criminality.

The robbery occurred just four days prior, on July 12, when employees at Andrew Z Diamonds + Fine Jewelry were preparing to close. As staff moved jewelry out of display cases, two masked individuals stormed in—one wielding a gun, the other a hammer. The chaotic scene unfolded rapidly; within 22 seconds, they fled without taking any valuables, leaving the jeweler seriously injured.

Longtime Anthem resident Joe Alvarez, who witnessed the aftermath, questioned the intention behind targeting the small store. “How did they decide to choose this little store?” he pondered, recalling the immediate police activity that followed. From that moment, authorities began their investigation, combing through surveillance footage and witness testimonies.

As the community rallied around the injured jeweler, the suspects remained unidentified until the dramatic series of events in California. Investigators soon learned that the U-Haul used in the police chase might have been staged for the robbery.

This connection to the robbery became evident when police discussed the arrest of the driver and Simmons. Officers apprehended 22-year-old Matthew Jones and Helen, alleging their involvement in the earlier robbery. A subsequent search of the U-Haul revealed items crucial to the investigation, including a motorcycle and tools matching descriptions of those used during the robbery.

Alvarez expressed relief at their capture, believing the risk to the community had diminished. Local news channels disseminated the chase footage, with some outlets describing the pair as modern-day outlaws akin to Bonnie and Clyde. However, the reality was more nuanced, particularly for Helen Simmons.

Before becoming entwined in the robbery, Simmons insisted she had been a victim of domestic violence and trafficking, a sentiment echoed by her family. As the investigation unfolded, her complexity as both a suspect and victim became a focal point of this case.

After their arrest, Helen Simmons requested to talk to police about her experiences. Days before the heist, Helen’s family had high hopes for her future as she prepared for college at Arizona State University, yet she found herself caught in an unhealthy relationship with Matthew Jones. This connection began shortly after Helen’s arrival in Phoenix, where the two quickly became inseparable, raising alarms for her sister.

Natasha Simmons, Helen’s sister, recounted her concerns about the intensity of the relationship. Initial impressions of Matthew gave way to suspicion as Helen was drawn deeper into behavior dictated by him. Court documents show Helen’s account of escalating control that culminated in violence.

By July 12, Helen felt trapped. As she tried to escape, her efforts met resistance; she described chilling instances of physical abuse and threats to her life, with incidents leaving her severely injured while also under Jones’s manipulation.

In police interviews, Helen detailed her harrowing experiences, claiming she was coerced into criminal activities such as the robbery. “He made me take all these pills,” Helen recounted. “He told me he was going to kill me and my sister if I didn’t help him.” She expressed feeling powerless and trapped, reflecting on her attempts to seek help from her family and authorities but finding herself continually thwarted.

Helen portrayed a life dominated by fear, where attempts to assert independence led to brutal retaliation, further complicating her narrative as both a victim of abuse and a suspect in a crime. Her interactions with police highlighted a pressing question: how can someone who has been victimized also be perceived as a criminal?

As investigators grappled with her dual status, the pursuit for justice continued, intertwining Helen’s story with the broader issue of human trafficking, abuse, and the complexities of the criminal justice system.

The unfolding tales of violence, manipulation, and desperation emphasize the need for comprehensive investigations—ones that do not simply categorize individuals as either victim or perpetrator without understanding the full context of their experiences.

Part two of this ongoing story will delve further into the aftermath of the chase, highlighting continued challenges for those like Helen Simmons who navigate the fraught dynamics of victimization intertwined with criminal allegations.