Quinton Simon - update: Mother of missing Georgia toddler under fire as search enters fourth week
Follow for the latest updates on the search for Quinton Simon
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The search for missing toddler Quinton Simon has entered its fourth week in Savannah, Georgia.
The 20-month-old vanished on 5 October and is now presumed dead and buried in a landfill, Georgia authorities said. His mother, 22-year-old Leilani Simon, is considered the prime suspect in the case but has not been arrested or charged.
Speaking to WTOC on Monday for her first interview since Quinton was reported missing, Ms Simon complained that she has been a victim of “devastating harassment” by protesters camped outside her home.
“I’ve been here every day since this. I’m not running and I’m not hiding,” Ms Simon told the outlet. “And if something does come up that I am at fault, I will take myself to that police station.”
Curiously - given investigators’ confidence that Quinton is dead due to actions of his mother - Ms Simon said she hopes the boy is found “happy and alive”.
Investigators renewed their dedication to finding Quinton’s body in a statement on Wednesday, marking three weeks since he disappeared.
Quinton’s grandmother had guardianship of him
Court records obtained by WJCL show that Leilani Simon’s mother, Billie Jo Howell, had custody of Quinton and his three-year-old brother.
Ms Howell lived at the home with their mother and her boyfriend, who she also tried to evict over alleged “damage” and a lack of “peace”, the news station reported.
“Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesn’t,” Ms Howell told ABC3 of her 22-year-old daughter last week.
“I don’t know what to think right now. I don’t know what to believe, because I don’t think anybody ever believes this is going to happen to them.”
Authorities ‘not ready to charge anyone yet'
FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said during a presser on Tuesday: “We, along with our law enforcement partners, go into this process with heavy hearts.
“We did not want to end up at this point. But the evidence has taken us here.”
Mr Clarke said that “this will not be quick” and “it will not be easy, and the outcome is uncertain”.
“We’ve been following the evidence, where it has taken us and the evidence has taken us to this landfill.”
Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said he was unable to share what evidence led the authorities to the landfill.
“I can’t thank the FBI enough for all that they have done,” the chief said. “They have been tremendous and phenomenal.”
“We’re not ready to charge anyone yet, we still have work to do,” he added. “We still have an investigation to do and we are not going to do anything preemptively that would harm future prosecution.”
Gustaf Kilander has more:
Missing toddler Quinton Simon believed to be buried in landfill, police say
‘We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team’
Quinton’s mother named prime suspect by police
Early into the search for Quinton, Chatham County police said they did not believe foul play was involved in his disappearance and that they hoped to find him alive, WJCL reported.
Despite that, police said they were “saddened” to report on 12 October that they believed the 20-month-old was dead and that his family had been informed.
In a statement that was shared on Facebook, police said. “The CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simon’s family that we believe he is deceased”.
His mother, Ms Simon, has been named a prime suspect.
The Independent’s Gino Spocchia and Gustaf Kilander have the story:
FBI is assisting in the search for Quinton’s remains
The FBI is supporting the Chatham County Police Department in the investigation, with law enforcement spending 18 to 20 hours a day looking for the 20-month-old child, CNN reported.
Chatham County police said in an earlier statement that it had executed search warrants and continued to interview “those who might have information that could be helpful in the investigation” with the help of the FBI.
In the days after Quinton was reported missing, search warrants were carried out on a nearby pond, a backyard swimming pool and the house itself in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road in Savannah, police said.
However, police said that unspecified evidence had led them to believe Quinton was placed in a dumpster and taken to a landfill.
Gustaf Kilander has more:
Missing toddler Quinton Simon believed to be buried in landfill, police say
‘We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team’
Quinton’s remains believed to be in a landfill
In the aftermath of Quinton’s disappearance, authorities searched a nearby pond, a backyard swimming pool and the house itself.
Those areas were re-canvassed on 10 October when the pool in the backyard of the home was drained.
While it was unclear if any evidence was found or removed from it, police announced on 11 October the discovery of evidence “that we believe will help move this case forward”. That evidence went under analysis, police said.
On Tuesday 18 October, police announced that Quinton is believed to have been buried in a landfill.
Local Georgia police and the FBI think the 20-month-old was placed in a dumpster and taken to a landfill in the area, prompting a search that is now underway.
The Independent’s Gino Spocchia and Gutsaf Kilander have more:
Quinton Simon: What we know about search for missing toddler feared dead in Georgia
20-month-old went missing from address he shared with mother and grandparents
Quinton believed to be buried in a landfill
The toddler was reported missing from his family home in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road 9.39am by his mother, Lelani Simon, police said.
In an update last week, Chatham County police said the discovery of evidence “that we believe will help move this case forward” had been located and that evidence was now undergoing analysis.
No further details were given. Chatham County Chief Jeffrey Hadley said “everybody” was being interviewed and that all parties had cooperated with the investigation, which has seen as many as 40 FBI agents on the ground.
Authorities announced last week that Quinton was feared dead. On Tuesday, they revealed he is believed to be buried in a landfill.
The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Missing toddler Quinton Simon believed to be buried in landfill, police say
‘We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team’
Quinton’s babysitter received ‘odd text message’ before he went missing
The woman told WSAV that she was surprised to receive a message that she would not be needed to look after Quinton and his sibling on the day the 20-month-old went missing.
“I got a text this morning saying they would not be here, would not be babysitting them at 5.29 [a.m.],” said Diana McCarta.
She continued: “Which was kind of odd because I have them even when she (their mother) doesn’t work.”
“And then I get a text at 9am saying have I seen Quinton,” said Ms McCarta of her exchange with Quinton’s mother. “I immediately go to their house. I try to help them look, they didn’t want that. So, I’ve been just waiting around like everyone else.”
Gino Spocchia has more details:
Babysitter reveals odd text before Quinton Simon’s disappearance
‘I’ve been just waiting around like everyone else’, says woman
Leilani Simon ‘used drugs during pregnancy’
The US Sun reports that Ms Simon was described as a “chronic, unrehabilitated substance abuser of cocaine and cannabis,” in court documents.
According to the outlet, she consumed illegal substances while she was pregnant and tested positive for cocaine at the time of one of her births.
Ms Simon’s mother, Billie Howell, had custody of Quinton and another one of their children.
The minors have been removed from the home following Quinton’s disappearance.
Quinton Simon believed to be buried in landfill, police say
After announcing on 12 October that Quinton was feared dead, local police and the FBI announced the grim developments on Tuesday.
He is now believed to be buried in a landfill after his remains were disposed of in a dumpster, police said.
FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said during the press conference: “We, along with our law enforcement partners, go into this process with heavy hearts.
“We did not want to end up at this point. But the evidence has taken us here.”
Mr Clarke said that “this will not be quick” and “it will not be easy, and the outcome is uncertain”.
The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has the story:
Missing toddler Quinton Simon believed to be buried in landfill, police say
‘We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team’
FBI releases chilling photos of investigators digging in landfill
The FBI has released several photos of investigators combing through the landfill where Quinton Simon’s body is believed to be hidden.
The photos show more than 20 crew members dressed in white forensic suits, heavy-duty boots and neon vests as they rake through the garbage.
Backhoes are also being used to loosen the packed ground.
The photos were released hours after authorities announced evidence led them to believe Quinton’s body was placed in a dumpster before being transported to the landfill.
It’s unclear how long the body may have been there. Quinton was last seen on 5 October.
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