Missing toddler Quinton Simon's mom arrested, charged with his murder

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Missing Quinton Simon: Chatham County investigators search landfill

Georgia police officials said Tuesday they had reason to believe Quinton Simon's body was discarded in a "specific dumpster" and transported to a local landfill by "regular means."

Missing toddler Quinton Simon's mother was arrested Monday for murder after police found the boy's remains in a Savannah, Georgia, landfill on Friday, officials announced.

Leilani Simon, 22, was booked at the Chatham County Detention Center, where she will be held while she awaits a bond hearing, the Chatham County Police Department.

Police, who made the announcement on Facebook Monday, said no additional arrests are expected.

Simon reported Quinton missing Oct. 5, 2022, and days later she was named the prime suspect in his disappearance and death. 

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Leilani Simon, 22, (right) was charged her son Quinton's murder Nov. 21 nearly two months after she reported him missing. (Facebook/ Chatham County Detention Center)

"Since that time, millions of people have followed Quinton’s case and have been awaiting answers," the police said in the statement. "We are deeply saddened by this case, but we are thankful that we are one step closer to justice for little Quinton."

Simon is charged with murder, concealing the death of another and falsely reporting a crime, records show.

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Investigators, including specialists with the FBI, spent weeks combing through the landfill in search of the little boy's remains – a process that the police called "more grueling than anyone could have imagined."

Chatham police officials said Tuesday they had reason to believe the Quinton Simon's body was discarded in a "specific dumpster" and transported to a local landfill by "regular means." (Chatham County PD)

Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at an Oct. 13 press conference that they believe Quinton's remains were discarded in a "specific dumpster at a specific location" and taken by "regular means" to the Waste Management landfill.

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The toddler's babysitter, Diana McCarta, previously told Fox News Digital that she believes the child may have accidentally drowned in the family's pool. 

Missing Georgia boy Quinton Simon with his grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, who had custody of him when he vanished.  (Facebook)

As investigators painstakingly combed through the city's trash last month, Simon's mom, grandmother and friends were spotted at Sting Ray's on Tybee Island downing top-shelf tequila shots.

"They were having a great time, like they didn’t have a care in the world," a server told the New York Post. "They were drinking Patrón shots in the deck area, being loud and laughing. It’s almost like they were trying to draw attention to themselves."

Leilani Simon, mother of Quinton Simon, posing for an undated photo.  (Chatham County Police Department/ Facebook)

Quinton was last seen inside the family's Buckhalter Road home in Savannah, where he lived with his siblings, his mom, his mom's boyfriend and his maternal grandparents, authorities said. 

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Simon called police at 9:40 a.m. and reported her son missing. Simon's grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, had custody of little Quinton. Simon's two other children were placed in foster care after Quinton's disappearance.