A Georgia jury recently convicted Leilani Simon of murdering her 20-month-old son, along with several other charges, including concealing a death and making false statements. The verdict was reached in Savannah's Chatham County after a trial that lasted over eight days.
Simon initially reported her son Quinton missing over two years ago, claiming she had last seen him in his playpen one early morning in October 2022. However, weeks later, Quinton's remains were discovered in a landfill, confirmed through DNA analysis by the FBI.
The 24-year-old was indicted on 19 charges, including malice murder, felony murder, concealing the death of another, and making false statements. Despite the defense arguing that the state's case was built on rumor and speculation, the jury found Simon guilty on all 19 counts.
Prosecutors presented over 40 witnesses and nearly 100 pieces of evidence during the trial to support their case that Simon killed Quinton and disposed of his body in a dumpster. The lack of certain key evidence, such as an autopsy report and cause of death, made the prosecution challenging.
Following the verdict, Simon's attorney expressed disappointment and confirmed plans to appeal after sentencing. The judge denied a request for a directed verdict of acquittal on the murder charges and concealing the death of another.
Chatham County Police Chief Hadley remarked that Quinton had become 'Chatham County's child' during the community's search for him. He stated that the jury's guilty verdict provided a sense of closure and justice for the young victim.
