Identified remains found in landfill

Quinton Simon

The FBI has confirmed the worst possible news in the search for a missing 20-month-old infant: the human remains recently found belonged to a Georgia landfill Quinton Simon.

“The FBI laboratory has confirmed through DNA analysis that the bones found at the Superior Landfill are those of missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon,” the Atlanta field office said Monday afternoon.

It is a tragic, uncomplicated and crucial development in the case against the infant’s 22-year-old mother Leilani Simonaccused of Quinton’s murder.

“On Monday, November 28, authorities officially ceased operations at the landfill and began removing command post facilities from L. Scott Stell Park,” the FBI said.

#FBI Atlanta has confirmed through DNA analysis that the bones found at the Superior Landfill are those of missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon. @ChathamCountyPD pic.twitter.com/GxsYnQ3ukX

— FBI Atlanta (@FBIAlanta) November 28, 2022

The Chatham County Police Department previously announced that it had arrested Leilani Simon on charges of malicious murder, covering up the death of another person, false reporting and providing false information.

“On Friday, November 18, 2022, law enforcement searchers discovered what they believed to be human remains at the landfill,” officials said in a statement last week. “This afternoon, testing at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia provided preliminary confirmation that the remains are human remains. Further testing – including DNA evidence – is being conducted to confirm that the remains are indeed human and whether the remains are Quinton’s.”

Leilani Simon reported her son missing from her home on October 5, officials said. Seven days later, police said they believed he was dead and his mother the prime suspect.

Law enforcement said they combed through 1.2 million pounds of rubbish in more than 30 days.

“The FBI’s expertise was critical in solving this case and locating Quinton,” said the Chatham County Police Commissioner Jeff Hadley, speaking before the FBI, positively identified Quinton. “They are the undisputed experts in missing children cases and have been with us at every turn in our investigations. Their expertise, manpower and resources are second to none and we are extremely grateful to the FBI for their support.”

For details of Leilani Simon’s arrest in connection with the death and disappearance of her infant son Quinton, please see our press release:https://t.co/CphvbTeEcW pic.twitter.com/JJIx1tvtlj

– Chatham County Police Department (@ChathamCountyPD) November 22, 2022

“We believe it was placed in a specific dumpster in a specific location and brought here through the regular route,” Hadley told reporters in an Oct. 18 news conference.

Leilani Simon expressed hope that her son would be found.

“I’m here, I’m here, every day since,” she said WTOC in an October 24 interview. “I don’t run and I don’t hide. And if something comes up that’s my fault, I’ll take myself to that police station.”

“We want him back in our arms, holding us, that’s what we want,” she said. “We just hope that he’s at someone’s house and they feed him, or hope they wanted a baby or couldn’t have a baby. Maybe they thought they were his saviors. That is our best hope at this point.”

[Image via FBI]

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