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

Quinton Simon: Missing toddler's body believed to be in landfill, police say

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.

Key Points

• Quinton Simon’s mother seen out drinking at bar amid landfill search
• Search for Quinton Simon focuses on landfill
• Quinton Simon’s babysitter raised concerns with Child Protective Services

[20 October 2022 13:00 · Andrea Blanco]

FBI searches for Quinton’s remains in landfill

The FBI has released chilling new images that offer an insight into the “gruelling” search for Quinton after it was revealed on Tuesday that evidence led authorities to believe that the 20-months-old’s remains were disposed of in a dumpster and then taken to a Waste Management landfill in Savannah.

Quinton was reported missing on 5 October. His mother, 22-year-old Leilani Simon, made the 911 call reporting that she had woken up to find her son was gone and that she believed “someone came in and took him”, WJCL reported.

Ms Simon, who has two other children who have since been removed from the home, is now the prime suspect in Quinton’s disappearance.

Andrea Blanco has the story:

[20 October 2022 14:27 · Andrea Blanco]

Quinton’s mother seen drinking at Tybee Island bar

Quinton Simon’s mother and grandmother were seen drinking in a town near where the toddler went missing two weeks ago.

As the FBI continues searching for Quinton’s body in a landfill in Savannah, Georgia, local news station WSAV first reported that Leilani Simon, now the prime suspect in the investigation, and her mother Billie Jo Howell were seen drinking at Sting Ray’s, a bar in the neighbouring Tybee Island.

When contacted by The Independent, a staff member said: “They were here, they drank, they left.”

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has more:

[20 October 2022 15:42 · Andrea Blanco]

Leilani Simon is prime suspect in Quinton’s disappearance

Georgia authorities and the FBI have named Quinton’s mother as the prime suspect.

Police also announced that they believed Quinton is dead and his remains were likely disposed of in a dumpster and then taken to the Waste Management landfill in Savannah.

A search for remains was launched on Tuesday, and just hours later, local news station WSAV reported that Ms Simon was seen drinking tequila at a bar in a nearby town.

Investigators have not made arrests and declined to disclose details about the evidence that led them to believe that Quinton was dead, citing concerns about the investigation.

A picture of Quinton Simon shared by police in Chatham County. Georgia (Chatham County Police Department / Facebook)

[20 October 2022 16:49 · Andrea Blanco]

Timeline of Quinton’s disappearance

Quinton Simon was first reported missing on 5 October by his mother, Leilani Simon, who is now the prime suspect.

A dispatch call by emergency service, which has been obtained by local media, suggested the front door to the family home was found open and that Ms Simon told 911 she “thinks someone came in and took him.”

During a press conference last week, police announced that they had come across solid evidence that suggested Quinton was dead.

On Tuesday, authorities revealed that Quinton’s body was likely disposed of in a dumpster and then taken to a Waste Management landfill in Savannah.

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia has more:

[20 October 2022 17:38 · Andrea Blanco]

Quinton’s grandmother shared odd post

Last week, Billie Jo Howell, who reportedly has legal custody over the 20-month-old and his three-year-old brother, shared an old Facebook post from “years ago”, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

In the post, Ms Howell thanked those who stood by her side throughout her life and that “calm” was coming following a “storm”. The meaning behind the message remained unclear, however.

“Seems there’s always a storm before the calm in my life,” the post reportedly read. “Boy let me tell you it felt like a tornado was spinning everything at once. Finally, I feel the calming peaceful sunshine hitting my face.” Ms Howell posted that the message “stands true today.”

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia has more:

[20 October 2022 18:54 · Andrea Blanco]

Gruelling search continues in Savannah landfill

In a grim update on Tuesday, the FBI said that the search is now focused on a landfill where Quinton’s body is believed to be buried.

Quinton was reported missing on 5 October. His mother, 22-year-old Leilani Simon, made the 911 call reporting that she had woken up to find her son was gone and that she believed “someone came in and took him”, WJCL reported.

“We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team,” Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said during a press briefing announcing the landfill search on Tuesday. “We want justice for Quinton just like everyone else.”

Ms Simon, who has two other children who have since been removed from the home, is now the prime suspect in Quinton’s disappearance.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has more:

[20 October 2022 20:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Leilani Simon and mother seen at bar amid landfill search

As the FBI wrapped up their first day searching for Quinton’s body in a landfill in Savannah, Georgia, local news station WSAV reported that his mother, now the prime suspect in the investigation, and his grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, were seen drinking at Sting Ray’s, a bar in the neighbouring Tybee Island.

When contacted by The Independent, a staff member said: “They were here, they drank, they left.”

The Independent has the story:

[20 October 2022 21:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Authorities say they have ‘one shot’ at arresting Leilani Simon

During a press conference on Tuesday, Chatam County Sheriff Jeff Hadley said that Ms Simon was believed to be in Chatham County and that she was not a flight risk.

He added that authorities wouldn’t be releasing more information about the evidence they had encountered, noting they had “one shot” at arresting Ms Simon, who is now the prime suspect in the investigation.

“We’re in for the long haul,” Chief Hadley said.

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia and Gustaf Kilander have more:

[20 October 2022 22:33 · Andrea Blanco]

Leilani Simon did not have custody of Quinton

Quinton’s grandparents reportedly had guardianship of him. Court documents obtained by the US Sun allege that Ms Simon had problems with substance abuse and her parents had custody of at least two of her children.

Billie Jo Howell, Ms Simon’s mother, had also tried to get Ms Simon and her boyfriend Daniel Youngkin to leave the residence, WJCL reported.

“She hasn’t always done the right thing,” Ms Howell previously said about her daughter in the WJCL report. “Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesn’t.”

[21 October 2022 00:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Investigators announced tragic update on Tuesday

Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley told a press briefing on Tuesday that Quinton’s body is believed to have been taken to the landfill after being placed in a dumpster at some point after he vanished on 5 October.

“We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team,” Mr Hadley said of the narrowed search.

“We want justice for Quinton just like everyone else.”

FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said during the press conference that “we, along with our law enforcement partners, go into this process with heavy hearts”.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has more: