Quinton Simon - update: Mother of missing Georgia toddler under fire as search enters fourth week

The 20-year-old was last seen at his home in Savannah around 6am on 5 October.

His babysitter has told local media she received a text that morning telling her she was not going to be needed to take care of Simon and one of his siblings.

Leilani Simon, Quinton’s mother and the prime suspect in his disappearance, called authorities hours later saying “somebody took him.” Early reports also suggested that he had wandered off, according to CNN.

Investigators searched several areas and bodies of water near the residence where Quinton was last seen before announcing last week that he was believed to be dead.

They’re now focusing their search on a Chatam County landfill, where they think Quinton is buried after his remains were reportedly disposed of in a dumpster.

Gino Spocchia and Gustaf Kilander have everything we know about the case:

Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at a press briefing on Tuesday: “We know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team”.

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

FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke also said that “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,” he added.

Investigators added that the search will not be quick, and the outcome is uncertain.

After Quinton disappeared, authorities searched a nearby pond, a backyard swimming pool and the Savannah house where he was last seen.

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, and it was revealed that Quinton was believed dead.

On Tuesday, 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.

According to court records obtained by WJCL, 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. Ms Howell reportedly tried to evict the couple over alleged “damage” and a lack of “peace”, the outlet 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.”

The father of one of Leilani Simon’s children told the US Sun that she is “unpredictable.”

“She’s always been unpredictable,” Cody Wharton told the outlet. “But I wasn’t worried about Zayne’s safety until all this started going on. She was a good mother. I don’t know what happened.”

Mr Wharton added that at times when he was picking up his child for a visit, Ms Simon would seem “overwhelmed.”

He also told the Sun: “Even now, I’m questioning everything. Is he hurt? What is he doing? I don’t want to get a call saying your son is hurt and going to the hospital.”

Ms Simon’s other two children have been removed from the home.

Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said Tuesday that the search ahead would be a “physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team.”

No arrests have been made in the case, according to WJCL. Quentin is believed to be buried in a landfill and his mother, Leilani Simon, is considered the “prime suspect.”

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”. “We did not want to end up at this point. But the evidence has taken us here,” he added.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has more details:

Speaking in an interview with WSAV last week, Quinton’s babysitter said she was surprised to receive a message on the day the toddler disappeared that she would not be needed to look after him and his sibling.

“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, who expressed surprise at the seemingly last-minute decision.

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.”

On Tuesday, local Georgia police and the FBI revealed they believe Quinton is buried in a landfill after his body was disposed of in a landfill.

Pictures released also on Tuesday show investigators combing through the 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 more details:

As the FBI continues searching for Quinton’s body in a landfill in Savannah, 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 at the bar said: “They were here, they drank, they left.”

Speaking in an interview with WSAV on 10 October, Quinton’s babysitter said she was surprised to receive a message on the morning that Quentin went missing that she would not be needed to look after Quinton and his sibling.

“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”.

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia has the story: