Quinton Simon (Chatham County Police Department)
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. – On Monday, the FBI confirmed that the bones found in a Georgia landfill belong to Quinton Simon, the 20-month-old boy who was reported missing by his mother in October. The mother was arrested a week earlier and charged with his disappearance and murder.
QUINTON SIMON: POLICE CHARGE MOTHER IN GEORGIA TODDLER DEATH AFTER RECOVERY OF REMAINS FOUND
In a statement, the FBI said their lab vision used DNA analysis to match Quinton to the human remains found after a nearly four-week search at Waste Management Superior’s Savannah landfill. The search there began a week after the toddler was reported missing on October 5. Investigators said they had “evidence” pointing them to the location.
Missing toddler Quinton Simon is believed to be dead, police say
Chatham County Police say investigators now believe 20-month-old Quinton Simon is dead and have named his mother, Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect.
QUINTON SIMON CASE: MOTHER SAYS SHE HOPES TODDLER IS ALIVE WHILE POLICE SEARCH FOR BODY
22-year-old Leilani Simon, the baby’s mother, was arrested on November 21 when police first found the remains. She was charged with malicious murder, covering up the death of a person, reporting false information and giving false information. At the time, she was the only suspect the police were considering.
Mother charged with murder after child found in landfill
The Chatham County Police Department announced Monday the arrest of 22-year-old Leilani Simon. She was taken into custody and charged with malicious murder, concealing the death of a person, false reporting and false information.
QUINTON SIMON CASE: POLICE RACE LANDFILL FOR MISSING TODDLER DEPOSITS FROM GEORGIA
The FBI thanked management and landfill workers for weeks of opening their facilities to investigators, Georgia Southern University forensic anthropologists who helped screen potential human remains, experts on missing and exploited children, and all officials, agents and MPs who did this searched the landfill every day.
Investigators search a landfill for the body of a missing child
Police search garbage at a landfill for the remains of 20-month-old Quinton Simon.
“The case of Quinton Simon and the trial of his mother is now in the hands of the Chatham County Attorney’s Office,” the FBI said in its statement.
Leilani Simon (Chatham County Sheriff’s Office)
Leilani is being held in the Chatham County Jail.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.