Police believe missing Georgia toddler is dead, boy's mom considered only suspect

Quinton Simon, 20 months old, has been missing since Oct. 5.

October 13, 2022, 1:16 PM

Police in Savannah, Georgia, said they believe the toddler who mysteriously vanished one week ago is dead, and they've named the boy's mother as the primary suspect.

Chatham County police on Wednesday brought search dogs to the home of the 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who has been missing since Oct. 5.

Police later on Wednesday named Quinton's mother, Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect in his disappearance and death.

No one else is considered a suspect, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at a news conference Thursday.

Quinton's body has not been found.

Quinton was last seen at his Savannah home around 6 a.m. on Oct. 5 by his mother's boyfriend, the chief said. After Quinton's mother woke up, she reported him missing around 9:40 a.m., he said.

Police said last week that the case didn't appear to involve a custody dispute.

PHOTO: Police and other investigators conduct an evidence search for the case of the missing child Quinton Simon in Savannah, Ga., Oct. 10, 2022.
Police and other investigators conduct an evidence search for the case of the missing child Quinton Simon in Savannah, Ga., Oct. 10, 2022.
WJCL
PHOTO: Police search for missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who was reported missing from his home in Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 5, 2022.
Police search for missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who was reported missing from his home in Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 5, 2022.
WJCL

Hadley added Monday that police have had contact with Quinton's biological father and said he's not a suspect.

Chatham County police requested FBI assistance the day Quinton was reported missing and over 40 FBI agents joined the case.

"To the Chatham County community: Our heart breaks, along with yours, in trying to comprehend what we believe happened here," the FBI's Will Clarke said Thursday.