Seven unanswered questions in mystery disappearance of Quinton Simon as cops admit they don’t know where the suspect is
THE disappearance of Quinton Simon has so far raised more questions than answers as cops continue their hunt for the little boy.
Police on Wednesday conceded that there is now enough evidence to conclude that the 20-month-old is dead, despite not yet finding his body.
But they have not arrested his mom Leilani Simon - who they have named as a prime suspect - and even went as far as to admit they did not know her exact whereabouts as of Thursday afternoon.
That update is one of a number of mysteries surrounding the case, which was first reported to cops in Chatham County, Georgia on the morning of October 5 by the youngster's mother.
THE FAMILY DRAMA
Police reports and court documents show there was turmoil in recent weeks between the child’s mother Leilani and grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, who had legal custody of him and an older sibling.
Quinton, his mother and his mother’s boyfriend lived with Howell.
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Simon called the police on September 7 following an argument with her mother over laundry in which she said Howell had shoved her against a wall, according to a police report.
No one was charged and an officer found no injuries other than Simon’s reddened elbow.
The following day, Quinton’s grandmother filed papers in Chatham County Magistrate Court to have Simon and her boyfriend evicted from her home, WTOC-TV reported.
“Just want them to move out as quick as possible. ... They have damaged my property and at this point, no one is living in peace,” the September 8 court document read.
A few weeks later, on September 28, a Superior Court judge ordered Leilani Simon to pay $150 per month in child support.
Quinton’s mother reported him missing a week later.
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THE 911 CALL
The toddler’s mother called 911 on the morning of October 5 to report him missing, saying she had last seen her son inside his playpen.
Police and volunteers quickly fanned out across the neighborhood just outside Savannah to look for the child, who was described as last seen wearing a Sesame Street T-shirt and black pants.
Cops have so far refused to release the 911 call in the bizarre disappearance, citing the ongoing investigation.
But Leilani told cops "her door was open" the morning she discovered her son has vanished, according to the emergency dispatch call.
In that, an official can be heard explaining: "Complainant advised her one-year-old son is missing.
"She woke up, her door was open. Advised he's unable to open a door. Thinks someone came in and took him."
THE BABYSITTER TEXT
Diana McCarta - who babysat little Quinton and his brother, Zane, for the past six months - revealed that she got a strange text from the boy's mother, Lelani, 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."
THE POOL SEARCH
In the days that followed, police obtained a warrant to search the child’s home with assistance from FBI agents.
More than 40 FBI agents are assisting with the aggressive search for Quinton, Chatham County police Chief Jeff Hadley said on Monday.
That same day, the pool behind his home was searched for the second time.
Investigators arrived at the family home as footage emerged of a pump running in the backyard, hinting that authorities were draining the family’s pool.
A fire engine was brought to the scene after the pump wasn’t flowing fast enough.
The pool was previously searched on Friday, October 7, along with a pond near the home.
Search dogs were also used to comb woods near the house.
THE FURIOUS ROW
New footage then revealed a furious argument between the boy's gran Billie Jo Howell and Quinton's babysitter.
In it, raging Billie Jo is heard screaming "my baby's not dead" after childminder Diana McCarta spoke about creating a memorial.
The shocking footage was recorded by Diana’s daughter and passed to the local news channel WSAV.
Billie Jo - who reportedly has custody of Quinton, 20 months - and his babysitter Diana accuse each other of lying in the furious bust-up.
At one point Diana dares the gran: “Hit me, hit me” - and Bille Jo replies: “Do you think I would do that?”
She then shouts at Diana: “Do you have Quinton? You’re the only one who can go into my house and take him.”
THE HUNT FOR A BODY
Authorities confirmed during a news conference on Thursday that they still searching for the body of the 20-month-old.
The boy's gran Billie Jo has told local reporters that officers believe the boy's remains are in a landfill.
But chief Hadley declined to specify what led police to believe the boy is dead.
“What I can say is the evidence we have so far based on multiple search warrants and interviews have led us to the conclusion that Quinton is deceased,” the cop said.
FBI agent Will Clarke, who supervises the bureau’s office in Savannah, said agents were also assisting local police in their search for Quinton within a few hours of him being reported missing.
Clarke said the FBI sent a team that specializes in child abductions to help.
Hadley said his officers and the FBI had conducted an “exhaustive” search. He vowed that they won’t stop.
“Sadly, we still have not found Quinton,” Hadley said. “But our search and our investigation will continue, and it will continue with every available resource we have.”
THE PRIME SUSPECT
Police consider the boy’s mother, Leilani Simon, a suspect, but Hadley said she hadn’t been charged as of Thursday afternoon.
They even admitted they were not exactly sure of her whereabouts during a press conference about the case on Thursday.
Chief Hadley said he believes her to not be a flight risk, but added: "'I do not know where she is right now today."
He also wouldn’t say why police suspect the boy’s mother, though he said she is currently the only suspect.
Asked why police named her as a suspect but hadn’t charged her, Hadley said: “We will only do that when we feel we have everything we need.”
Police said that they don't believe she is a flight risk but they'll likely have her under surveillance, former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told The U.S. Sun.
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"They don't want to have a death investigation and a fugitive investigation at the same time," Coffindaffer said.
It wasn’t immediately known Thursday if Simon had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.
