A Georgia woman, Leilani Simon, has been sentenced to life in prison for the heartbreaking murder of her 20-month-old son, Quinton Simon. The judge, however, decided to give her a chance for parole in the future, sparing her the harshest penalty of life without parole. The sentencing happened in Chatham County Superior Court, a month after a jury found her guilty of malice murder and 18 other charges related to her son’s death.
It all started on the morning of October 5, 2022, when Leilani called 911, claiming her toddler had vanished from his playpen at their home near Savannah. At first, it seemed like a desperate plea from a mother searching for her child. But as police and neighbors combed through the area, searching for little Quinton, doubts began to grow.
Two weeks after Quinton was reported missing, investigators made a chilling announcement—they believed the boy was no longer alive, and Leilani was their prime suspect. The focus of the search shifted to a landfill, where law enforcement and FBI agents spent over a month combing through piles of trash. Their determination paid off when they discovered human bones. DNA tests later confirmed the devastating truth: the remains belonged to Quinton.
Under Georgia law, a murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence. The big question for the judge was whether Leilani should ever be eligible for parole. Along with the life sentence, the judge added 10 more years for trying to hide her son’s death. Prosecutors argued that Leilani showed no real remorse, pointing out her lack of accountability during the trial. “She doesn’t seem sorry at all—just sorry she got caught,” said Tim Dean, the Special Assistant District Attorney.
During the sentencing, new details came to light. The lead detective on the case revealed that Leilani had tried to blame innocent people and was even out partying the same night investigators announced they’d be searching the landfill for Quinton’s remains.
Leilani didn’t speak much in court, except to give permission for her son’s remains to be released to her family. Her voice cracked as she said, “My son’s been through enough. I want my baby home.”
The case has left the local community shaken, with many struggling to understand how a mother could commit such a crime against her own child. For now, justice has been served, but the story of Quinton Simon is one that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
