Opening Statements Detail Accusations in Quinton Simon’s Death
The trial of Leilani Simon, a Georgia mother accused of killing her 20-month-old son, Quinton Simon, and discarding his body in a trash bin, began on Monday in Savannah. Simon faces 19 charges, including malice murder, felony murder, concealing a death, and making false statements. She has pleaded not guilty.
Timeline of Events Leading to the Arrest
On the morning of October 5, 2022, Leilani Simon called 911 to report that her son, Quinton, had gone missing from his playpen at their home near Savannah. Authorities launched an extensive search of the neighborhood and the home. Days into the investigation, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley announced that police believed Quinton was dead and named Simon as the primary suspect.
Two weeks after Quinton’s disappearance, police and FBI agents began searching a landfill, where they spent more than a month sifting through trash. Human bones were eventually found, and DNA tests confirmed they belonged to Quinton Simon.
Prosecutor’s Opening Statement: Drugs and Deception
Prosecutor Tim Dean used his opening statement to paint a picture of Simon’s troubled life at the time of her son’s death. He described her strained relationship with her then-boyfriend, Daniel Youngkin, and her drug use the night before Quinton’s disappearance. According to Dean, Simon was under the influence of cocaine and Percocet when she killed her son, placed his body in a trash bag, and dumped him in a dumpster before going to sleep.
“She killed him, her own son, got in her car with his body, drove to a dumpster, and threw him away like a piece of trash,” Dean told the court.
Dean also presented video footage from Simon’s interviews with the police. He claimed Simon repeatedly changed her story, at one point admitting that she may have blacked out and did not remember what happened.
Defense Response: Lack of Hard Evidence
In contrast to the prosecution’s detailed presentation, Simon’s defense attorney, Robert Persse, took just three minutes for his opening statement. Persse argued that the state’s case was built on rumor and speculation, lacking concrete evidence to prove Simon had murdered her son.
“The core conclusion is that Leilani Maree Simon murdered her child. The evidence will simply not support that bold conclusion,” Persse said.
Testimony from Law Enforcement and Witnesses
The prosecution called Sgt. Bobby Stewart, the first officer to arrive when Quinton was reported missing. Stewart testified about Simon’s demeanor during the initial investigation, stating that her behavior did not align with that of other parents in similar situations.
“Did you view her demeanor as consistent with that of other parents you’ve spoken to in missing children cases?” the prosecutor asked.
“No sir, I didn’t,” Stewart replied.
Further testimony is expected from Chatham County Police Department employees and witnesses, including the child’s babysitter and her daughter.
