Major Quinton Simon update as missing toddler ‘believed to be dead with mother Leilani Simon named as prime suspect’
A MISSING toddler is believed to be dead and cops have named his mother as the prime suspect in his disappearance, investigators say.
Family of 20-month-old Quinton Simon was made aware of the tragic development on Wednesday, which marked one week since the little boy went missing.
Quinton’s mother, Leilani Simon, has been named the prime suspect in his death, however, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed at this time.
"We are saddened to report that CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simon’s family that we believe he is deceased," the Chatham County Police Department said.
"We have named his mother, Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect in his disappearance and death.
“We know that thousands of people around the world will be heartbroken by this news, and we share your sorrow."
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Video on social media showed Leilani Simon blocking her face and ignoring reporters’ questions as she sped away from the house where her son was last seen.
Her whereabouts at the time of the police department's shocking announcement were unclear.
The police chief planned to give an update on the case on Thursday with the time yet to be announced.
SEARCH LAUNCHED
Police were embroiled in a frantic search for little Quinton, who mysteriously vanished from his home in Savannah, Georgia, on October 5.
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Chatham County Police said on Tuesday that investigators had "seized evidence" they believed would help them "move the case forward."
That came 24 hours after investigators were spotted draining the pool at the family's Savannah home.
"We went back today and re-searched the home where he was last at," Chatman Police Chief Jeff Hadley said.
However, at the time of the announcement, police failed to disclose what evidence was recovered.
Over 40 FBI agents assisted in searching for Quinton at his home, a pond, drainage pipes, dumpsters, and in the nearby woods.
STRANGE TEXT
Diana McCarta - who babysat little Quinton and his brother for the past six months - revealed that she got a strange text from the boy's mother the day the toddler went missing.
“I’ve been keeping Quinton and Zane for six months. I kept them yesterday, and they went home last night [October 4],” McCarta told WSAV.
“I got a text this morning [October 5] saying they would not be here, would not be babysitting them at 5.29 [am], which was kind of odd because I have them even when she doesn’t work."
Quinton was last seen at around 6am and McCarta said that other family members asked her where Quinton might be.
“And then I get a text at 9am saying, have I seen Quinton?” McCarta recalled to the outlet.
“I immediately go to their house. I try to help them look, but they didn’t want that. So, I’ve been just waiting around like everyone else.
“My heart is broken. I’m not his mother. I’m not his family.
"But I love him very much, and I just don’t know what could happen."
FAMILY DILEMMA
Court documents obtained by WJCL showed that the family was at odds before Quinton's disappearance.
Records showed Billie Jo Howell, Quinton's grandmother, wanted to remove Leilani, and her boyfriend, Daniel Youngkin, from her home.
The papers claimed that the pair have “damaged” Billie Jo’s property and that Leilani allegedly had a history of stealing from the family.
"She hasn't always done the right thing," Billie Jo previously said of her daughter.
"Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesn't. I don't know what to think right now. I don't know what to believe because I don't think anybody ever believes this is going to happen to them.
"I don't know if I can trust her or I don't. I just know I'm hurting, and I want this baby home. He's my baby."
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Quinton’s grandfather said that the child’s mother had lied to the family before: "I don’t know.
"That’s just bad to say, but she just likes to lie,” he told WSAV.