The trial of a Georgia woman accused of killing her 20-month-old son and dumping his body in a trash bin began with opening statements on Monday. Leilani Simon from Savannah faces 19 charges, including malice murder, felony murder, concealing the death of another, and making false statements in the death of her son, Quinton Simon. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. Simon called 911 on the morning of October 5, 2022, to report that her son was missing from his playpen at their home near Savannah.
After an extensive search by the police, the child’s body was not found until investigators focused their efforts on a landfill two weeks later. It took over a month of sifting through trash before human bones were discovered, and DNA tests confirmed that they belonged to Quinton. The prosecution, represented by Tim Dean, outlined the challenging circumstances in Simon’s life leading up to her son’s disappearance. Dean mentioned Simon’s strained relationship with her boyfriend and her substance abuse issues, alleging that she killed her son after getting high on cocaine and Percocet.
During the trial, videos of Simon’s interviews with the police and body camera footage were presented to the jurors. Simon changed her story multiple times regarding her whereabouts and actions on the night of her son’s disappearance. In one of the interviews, she admitted to using cocaine and expressed regret over her actions. The prosecution did not specify how they believe Simon killed her son, as the child’s body was too decomposed to determine the cause of death.
In contrast to the detailed opening statement by the prosecution, the defense kept their statement brief, accusing the state of relying on rumors and speculation rather than concrete evidence. Defense attorney Robert Persse emphasized that the evidence does not support the allegation that Simon murdered her child. The trial is expected to continue with testimonies from various witnesses, including police officers, the child’s babysitter, and her daughter.
One of the initial witnesses, Sgt. Bobby Stewart, testified about Simon’s behavior when he arrived at the scene where the toddler was reported missing. Stewart noted that Simon’s demeanor was different from that of other parents in similar cases. The prosecution is likely to present more evidence and testimonies in the coming days to build their case against Simon. The defense will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s claims and present their own arguments in support of Simon’s innocence. The trial is ongoing, and the outcome will determine the fate of Leilani Simon in this tragic case.
