Quinton Simon: Mother suspected in missing Georgia toddler's disappearance, death, cops say - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

“We are saddened to study that CCPD and the FBI person notified Quinton Simon’s household that we judge helium is deceased,” Chatham constabulary said Wednesday. “We person named his mother, Leilani Simon, arsenic the premier fishy successful his disappearance and death.”

Leilani Simon is not successful custody and does not presently look immoderate transgression charges, Chatham constabulary Chief Jeffrey Hadley explained to reporters during a Thursday quality conference. There are nary different suspects astatine this time, helium added.

“We volition lone (make an arrest) erstwhile we consciousness we person everything that we request to — we lone get 1 changeable astatine this, right? We’re going to bash it right,” Hadley said. “We’re going to bash the champion that we can. We’re going to usage the resources astatine our disposal. We’re thankful to the FBI, and erstwhile we get to that constituent and we consciousness comfy with counsel with the FBI and the (district attorney), that’s erstwhile we volition scope that conclusion.”

Hadley said helium did not cognize wherever Leilani Simon is, but added she is not considered a formation risk. He said helium could not elaborate.

Quinton Simon was reported missing Oct. 5 from a Buckhalter Road home successful Savannah aft helium was past seen by his mother’s fellow astir 6 a.m., according to police. He was wearing a airy bluish Sesame Street garment and achromatic pants astatine the clip of his disappearance, which was reported by his parent astir 4 hours later.

“Today marks 1 week since Quinton Simon was reported missing. We volition beryllium astatine his location wherever helium was past seen with a squad of hunt dogs and investigators. We volition walk contiguous gathering and analyzing evidence,” the constabulary section wrote conscionable hours earlier announcing that Simon’s parent was a suspect.

On Tuesday, the constabulary section said they seized grounds that would assistance determination the lawsuit guardant but did not accidental what was obtained. It was not wide wherefore they present judge the lad is dead, and nary further details were provided Thursday.

“What I tin accidental is the grounds that we person truthful far, based connected aggregate hunt warrants and interviews, has led america to the decision that Quinton is deceased,” Hadley said. “The probe doesn’t extremity close there. We volition proceed to analyse this until its last conclusion.”

The home, which is owned by Quinton Simon’s grandparents, was besides searched earlier this week, the Savannah Morning News reported. Multiple FBI agents were seen taping acheronian integrative to the windows Monday.

More than 40 national agents and enactment unit person been progressive successful the investigation, said Will Clarke, supervisory peculiar cause for FBI Savannah. Their engagement was requested little than 3 hours aft the toddler was reported missing.

“Our bosom breaks on with yours successful trying to comprehend what we judge happened here,” Clarke told the community. “The FBI, on with our instrumentality enforcement partners, person followed each lead, each extremity and each portion of grounds to get to this point, and we volition proceed to bash so.”

According to the Savannah newspaper, the toddler and his older sibling were successful the custody of their grandmother, Billie Jo Howell. She filed a dispossessory announcement with the Chatham County Magistrate Court successful aboriginal September to evict Leilani Simon and her fellow from her home.

“We cognize that thousands of radical astir the satellite volition beryllium heartbroken by this news, and we stock your sorrow,” the department said connected Facebook.

— Please instrumentality to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.