Just over two years ago, a Georgia woman reported her 20-month-old son missing. On Friday, a Chatham County jury convicted her of murder in the boy’s death.
Investigators believed Leilani Simon killed the toddler before dumping his body in a trash bin, and the jury agreed. On Friday, Leilani Simon was found guilty of all 19 charges against her in the death of her son, Quinton Simon, local news outlets reported. That includes counts of malice murder, felony murder, concealing the death of another and making false statements.
The case made national headlines after the mother reported her toddler missing, launching a massive search for the toddler. The guilty verdict came after a “two-year quest for justice” for Quinton, Chatham County police Chief Jeff Hadley said in a social media post Friday.
Every single person who worked for our agency — both sworn officers and civilians — played a part in this case,” Hadley said in a Facebook post. “From detectives who worked more than 48 hours straight with no break for sleep when Quinton was first reported missing, to civilians who put in marathon days making sure we had supplies and support for our landfill search — this case took every bit of physical, mental and emotional strength our employees had to offer.
“I have never been prouder of any group of professionals than I am of that team,” Hadley continued. “They were extraordinary.”
The jury heard eight days of witness testimony and began deliberating Thursday, news outlets reported. They deliberated for about two hours that afternoon before breaking for the day. Jurors resumed their deliberations around 9:30 a.m. Friday and their unanimous verdict was announced at 2:30 p.m.
Leilani Simon called 911 the morning of Oct. 5, 2022, to report her son was missing from his indoor playpen at their home outside Savannah. After police spent days searching the home and surrounding neighborhood, Hadley said that investigators believed the child was dead. He also named Simon as the sole suspect.
In November 2022, Simon was arrested and charged with murder. Later the same day, Hadley said he believed remains found in a landfill could belong to the little boy.
Police and FBI agents focused their investigation on a landfill two weeks after the boy was reported missing. They sifted through 1.2 million pounds of trash for more than a month before finding human bones, which DNA tests confirmed belonged to Quinton.
“The working conditions were grueling and hazardous, and searchers knew that the chances of finding Quinton were low,” Chatham police said at the time. “Historically, the FBI says landfill searches are only successful 5% of the time.”
Later in November 2022, the FBI confirmed the bones belonged to the toddler.
“The FBI Laboratory Division has confirmed through DNA analysis the bones found in the Superior Landfill are those of missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon,” the agency said in a statement.
On Friday, Hadley also thanked District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones and assistant district attorneys Tim Dean and Jenny Parker for their work prosecuting the case.
“Quinton Simon truly became Chatham County’s child during the weeks that our community was gripped by his disappearance,” Hadley said. “It is fitting that today, 12 men and women from our county delivered the final measure of justice for little Quinton with their guilty verdict. We hope this brings some measure of peace and comfort to everyone who loved Quinton.”
Sentencing for Simon will be held at a later date.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
