Search Ends After Remains Confirmed To Be Of GA Toddler Quinton Simon

SAVANNAH, GA — The remains found in a landfill have been confirmed to belong to Quinton Simon, the 20-month-old toddler who was reported missing in early October, authorities confirmed Monday afternoon.

Police had been looking for Quinton since he was reported missing, spending five weeks conducting a landfill search that led them to uncover the remains on Nov. 18, Chatham County Police said last week.

The FBI said Monday the search is officially completed.

"The FBI is thankful for the partnership with (Chatham County Police) Chief Jeff Hadley and the entire Chatham County Police Department. A monumental team effort was put forth by everyone involved in bringing closure to this horrific situation," the agency said in a statement.

Quinton's mother, Leilani Simon, is charged on suspicion of murder and other charges in connection with her son's disappearance and death. She was the person to report Quinton missing, Hadley said.

Police have yet to say how Quinton died.

The case is being turned over to the Chatham County District Attorney's office.

Quinton is reported missing.

Quinton was first reported missing from his Buckhalter Road home around 9:45 a.m., Oct. 5. He was last seen around 6 a.m. that day at his home, police said on Oct. 6.

The FBI joined 75 police officers and trained volunteers in the effort to find Quinton the day after he went missing. Law enforcement used drones, K-9 teams, helicopters and horses in the search.

A special tip line was set up for anyone who might have known the whereabouts of Quinton or had any information in the case.

Throughout the early days of the investigation, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley repeatedly said he had hope that Quinton would be found alive.

On Oct. 10, Hadley said that all angles were being explored in the missing child's case with crews working 18-hour days to find Quinton.

An Amber alert was never issued because Hadley said there was no evidence of an abduction.

A suspect is named.

Shortly after Quinton went missing, Hadley said on Oct. 13 he believed Quinton was dead.

No charges had been filed in the case, and no arrests were made at the time.

Simon was named a prime suspect in Quinton's disappearance and death but authorities said they were not charging her at the time. They did not specifically say why they were not arresting her, but throughout the case, police have continuously said they were working to preserve the case for legal proceedings.

Police have not released details about what led them to name Simon as a prime suspect.

The search for Quinton goes to a landfill.

Law enforcement began searching for Quinton in a Waste Management Superior landfill on Oct. 18. Hadley expressed he was confident the toddler's remains would be found in the landfill.

The FBI and experts from as far as Atlanta assisted Chatham County Police in the weekslong search.

Several days of planning went into preparing for the landfill search, police said at the time.

Will Clark, senior supervisory resident agent in charge of the FBI’s Savannah and Brunswick offices, told media authorities did not want the investigation to "end up at this point, but the evidence has taken us here."

Clark said authorities knew the search in the landfill would not be a quick one.

Law enforcement went through 1.2 million pounds of trash in a 30-day time span, police said, noting "working conditions were grueling and hazardous, and searchers knew that the chances of finding Quinton were low."

On Nov. 2, police said the missing child case prompted "the largest search and most far-reaching investigation in the history of the Chatham County Police Department."

Simon speaks to media.

For the first time since being named a prime suspect in her son's disappearance and death, Simon gave a media interview late October.

She told WTOC-TV that she had hoped someone somewhere was caring for her missing son.

Despite being harassed, she told the outlet she was not running away or hiding.

Protests spark the enforcement of two local ordinances.

The disappearance of Quinton caused large protests outside of his Savannah home, police said.

“The behavior of many YouTubers and people calling themselves protestors has gone beyond anything acceptable in a civil society,” Hadley said on Nov. 4. "We have to return the neighborhood back to the residents. It is their neighborhood."

Multiple people have been arrested due to the protests, police said.

Police announced they would apply the parade and public assembly ordinance and the loitering ordinance to control the protests.

Simon is charged.

"We were 100 percent committed to bringing justice for Quinton," Hadley said during a media conference shortly after authorities announced on Nov. 21 that Simon was being charged in her son's case.

The 22-year-old woman is being charged on suspicion of malice murder, concealing the death of another person, false reporting and making false statements.

Authorities have still not identified the evidence that led them to arrest Simon.

Hadley said there are no other suspects in the case.