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Quinton Simon case: FBI confirms remains found in landfill belong to Georgia toddler

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published  November 28, 2022 4:26pm EST
Georgia
FOX 5 Atlanta
Quinton Simon article

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 and charged with his disappearance and murder a week prior.

QUINTON SIMON: POLICE CHARGE MOTHER IN GEORGIA TODDLER'S DEATH AFTER REMAINS FOUND

In a statement, the FBI said that their laboratory vision used DNA analysis to match Quinton to the human remains found after a nearly four-week-long search at Waste Management Superior Landfill located in Savannah. The search there began a week after the toddler was reported missing on Oct. 5. Investigators said they had "evidence" that pointed them to the location.

Missing toddler Quinton Simon 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 primary suspect.

QUINTON SIMON CASE: MOM SAYS SHE HOPES TODDLER ALIVE AS POLICE SEARCH FOR BODY

22-year-old Leilani Simon, the baby's mother, was arrested Nov. 21 when police first found the remains. She was charged with malice murder, concealing the death of an individual, false reporting, and making false statements. At the time, she was the only suspect police were considering.

Mother charged with murder after child remains found at landfill

The Chatham County Police Department announced the arrest of 22-year-old Leilani Simon on Monday. She was taken into custody and is charged with malice murder, concealing the death of an individual, false reporting, and making false statements.

QUINTON SIMON CASE: POLICE SEARCH LANDFILL FOR MISSING GEORGIA TODDLER'S REMAINS

The FBI thanked the management and workers at the landfill for opening their facilities to investigators for weeks, the forensic anthropologists from Georgia Southern University who aided in verifying potential human remains, experts in missing and exploited children and all the officers, agents, and deputies who searched the landfill every day.

Investigators search landfill for body of missing child

Police are sifting through trash at a landfill for the remains of 20-month old Quinton Simon.

"Quinton Simon's case and legal proceedings against his mother are now in the hands of the Chatham County District Attorney's Office," the FBI advised in their statement.

Leilani Simon (Chattham County Sheriff's Office)

Leilani is being held in the Chatham County Jail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.