In lower than two weeks what started as a lacking individuals report has was a horrific tragedy that has lead regulation enforcement to the conclusion that 20-month-old Quinton Simon was killed — and thrown right into a dumpster.
On October 5, Leilani Simon known as police round 10 a.m. to report her son lacking. She mentioned her toddler was final seen by her mother’s boyfriend round 6 a.m. Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley mentioned regulation enforcement labored till 2 a.m. gathering info on the case, then returned early the subsequent morning at 8 a.m. to proceed with their investigation. This was an actual effort. They searched by safety footage, telephone data, the house of his grandparents, and even known as on outside search professionals and dive groups to assist try to find the toddler. Sadly, solely 5 days later, the whole investigation would change.
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October 10 rolled round and Hadley confirmed through public assertion this was now not a lacking individuals case — now the PD suspected foul play, and the FBI was in on the search as effectively. Forty brokers have been current in the course of the investigation as they started to do one other search inside his grandparents’ residence. The Chatham County Police Department even obtained further warrants for the property, together with the pool behind the house. They had cause to consider this child’s disappearance was an inside job.They haven’t revealed what the proof was, however no matter they discovered was positively pointing fingers within the household’s course.
Only two days later, on October 12, did law enforcement officials and FBI brokers reveal by Twitter the conclusion they’d come to amidst the searches — they consider Quinton is useless, and his mom Leilani is a first-rate suspect:
“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. But, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.”
We are saddened to report that CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simon’s household that we consider he’s deceased. We have named his mom, Leilani Simon, because the prime suspect in his disappearance and dying. But, no arrests have been made and no fees have been filed.
— Chatham County Police Department (@ChathamCountyPD) October 13, 2022
Just terrible. And it solely will get extra harrowing when CCPD mentioned the place they have been looking for the boy’s stays: a landfill…
In a public convention posted to Facebook Watch on Tuesday, Chief Hadley as soon as once more selected to maintain the precise new proof personal — however mentioned it lead officers straight to go looking this particular landfill for Simon’s physique:
“A short time ago, we began what will be an extensive search of the waste-management landfill located here in Chatham County. After every step we have taken [in] this case, the need for this search was based on where the evidence led us.”
In a Q&A towards the top of the video, he additionally revealed how regulation enforcement believes the boy ended up on this big disposal space — his physique was thrown in a dumpster and by accident sorted with the trash into the dump:
“[We believe Quinton] was placed in a specific dumpster at a specific location [outside the landfill] and it was brought [inside the landfill] by regular means of disposal.”
See the total press convention (beneath):
Gut-wrenching. He was only a child…
Hadley talked about on Tuesday how CCPD isn’t “ready” to file any fees or make an arrest but as a result of the investigation remains to be ongoing. He expressed his workforce’s want to present the boy “justice” and a “final resting place” as effectively.
As to why Leilani is a suspect? We could not know what the police know, however now we have extra info because of some native eyewitnesses. One informed The Sun that whereas dozens of regulation enforcement have been looking out by trash at a landfill for the corpse of her baby, this girl has been doing photographs at a close-by beachfront bar together with her mom, Billy Jo Howell. A bar worker claimed:
“They were here. She was at a table, but they were drinking. We have someone who works here following the case and she noticed them. She said they were acting normal and having a good time and enjoying themselves.”
“Having a good time.” At a time like this. People react to emphasize in a different way, however come on. Another witness marked the identical conduct, posting on Twitter:
“Spotted the mom and grandma of missing 20-month-old #QuintonSimon on #TybeeIsland at Stingrays restaurant about 7pm.”
Reporters and sufferer advocates who heard concerning the mom and daughter spending their days consuming and taking it straightforward apparently went to Tybee Island confront them — resulting in “two verbal arguments” which the police bought known as about on Wednesday. Apparently Howell complained folks have been “harassing” her.
So disturbing. We clearly do not know what occurred but — however we hope the authorities can provide Quinton some type of justice. May he relaxation in peace.
[Image via FBI/Chatham County Police Department]