Leilani Simon will spend the rest of her life behind bars after a jury convicted her of murdering her 20-month-old son, Quinton Simon.
A judge sentenced Simon on Thursday in Chatham County, nearly two years after the toddler’s remains were found in a landfill.
🔍 What Happened: Simon initially reported her son missing in October 2022, claiming an unknown intruder abducted him. But investigators pieced together evidence, revealing a far darker story.
• Authorities conducted a massive five-week search, combing through over a million pounds of trash before finding Quinton’s remains in a landfill.
• The eight-page indictment detailed how Simon assaulted her son, causing his death, and later discarded his body in a dumpster.
Community Impact: This case rocked the Savannah community and the entire state of Georgia. An extensive search for Quinton — who was believed to be missing — brought residents of the Peach State together in prayer and hope and then left them searching for answers when the child’s body was found in a landfill.
The Sentence: Chatham County Judge Tammy Stokes handed Simon a life sentence with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 years for her other charges. Simon was convicted in October of malice murder, felony murder, and related crimes, including filing false reports.
The Bigger Picture: Child abuse cases like this often shine a light on systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children. At the time of Quinton’s disappearance, custody of the toddler had been granted to his grandmother, Billie Jo Betterton, who was later arrested for contempt of court. This case raises questions about intervention and oversight in families dealing with abuse allegations.
Quinton Simon’s death leaves behind a legacy of pain for his family and community. For those who worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, justice may bring some closure, but the scars remain.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
