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Police have said missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon, who had been missing for more than a week, is believed to be dead.
Leilani Simon, the boy’s 22-year-old mother, was identified as the prime suspect in the case by the Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) on Wednesday night, however no arrests had been made or charges filed.
‘We are saddened to report that CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simon’s family that we believe he is deceased. We have named his mother, Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect in his disappearance and death.
‘We know that thousands of people around the world will be heartbroken by this news, and we share your sorrow,’ police wrote on Twitter.
Quinton was last seen alive on October 5th at 6am and reported missing a few hours later.
Police say 20-month-old toddler Quinton Simon is presumed dead having been missing from his home in Savannah, Georgia, since October 5
His mother, Leilani Simon, 22, has been named by police as the ‘prime suspect’ however no charges have yet been filed
‘We are saddened to report that CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simon’s family that we believe he is deceased. We have named his mother, Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect in his disappearance and death,’ police tweeted on Wednesday night
His mother had claimed that when she woke, her little boy was nowhere to be found. Her fiancé, Danny Youngkin, told police he’d last seen the toddler at 6am.
Earlier, police in Savannah, Georgia, said they were investigating the boy’s disappearance as a criminal matter and not as a missing person’s case.
One of Quinton’s babysitters, Diana McCarta, said she received a text early that morning, at 5:30am tell her she did not need to come over to watch him that day.
Later that same morning, McCarta then got text from Quinton’s grandmother asking if she had seen the 20-month-old toddler.
Police in Savannah, Georgia, said they were investigating the little boy’s disappearance as a criminal matter and no longer as a missing person’s case
Quinton was last seen alive on October 5th at 6am and reported missing a few hours later
‘I got a text at 9 o’clock, saying ‘have you seen Quinton?’ said McCarta. ‘I immediately go to their house and try to help them look, but they didn’t want that. So I have just been waiting around like everyone else.’
The police were then called with Quinton reported missing at 9am.
Since that time, a massive search involving local police and the FBI have seen dumpsters, drains and ponds searched together with the Simon’s home.
Cellphone data is being analyzed by the police who have now determined Quinton’s vanishing is a criminal investigation.
Investigators returned to the home with sniffer dogs on Wednesday with Chatham County Police say a further update will be made on Thursday.
Quinton’s grandmother, 45-year-old Billie Jo Howell, was filmed screaming at his babysitter that he is ‘still alive’ after the babysitter raised concerns online
Babysitter Diana McCarta says she received an ‘odd’ text from Quinton’s stepfather the morning he vanished, telling her she didn’t need to look after him that day
Quinton’s grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, had legal custody of the toddler and his brother. She had a tempered relationship with his mother, and had evicted her.
The family babysitter, McCarta has been vocal about the child’s disappearance, speaking to the media repeatedly and alleging that child services had been involved with the family.
On Tuesday night, the boy’s grandmother stormed into her home to confront her, telling her she had ‘overstepped’ and insisting that he is unharmed.
‘My baby is alive! My baby is alive!’ she screamed at McCarta while being filmed on a cellphone.
Quinton is pictured with his stepfather, Danny Youngkin, mother Leilani and another young boy. They lost legal custody of him for unknown reasons. He was being cared for by his grandmother, but Leilani and Danny were who reported him missing
Leilani, the boy’s 22-year-old mother, had been ordered by the state to start paying child support
Quinton’s grandmother herself has a lengthy rap sheet.
Her 18 prior arrests include charges of grand larceny for using stolen credit cards, prostitution, burglary, driving with a suspended license, cocaine possession, cannabis possession, assault, battery and fraud.
Billie Jo previously spoke of how her daughter, Leilani, ‘didn’t always do the right thing’.
A week before Quinton’s disappearance, Leilani was ordered by the state to pay child support for the boys.
Starting November 1, she owes $150 for the two boys. Paperwork revealed that if one of them ‘died’, she would owe $50 less.
Leilani has not issued any public comment since her son’s disappearance.
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