Chatham County Police, FBI to search landfill for remains of 20-month-old Quinton Simon

Drew Favakeh, Savannah Morning News
·2 min read
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At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley announced the CCPD and Federal Bureau of Investigation were entering a new phase in the search for the 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who went missing on Oct. 5.

“A short time ago, we began in what will be an extensive search of the waste management landfill located here in Chatham County,” said Hadley.

Hadley said they believe Simon was placed in a “specific dumpster at a specific location” and was brought to the landfill by “regular means.” He added that they have specific evidence that leads CCPD and the FBI to the landfill, but declined to specify what that evidence is.

Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley points to a photo of Quinton Simon that investigators placed on the wall at the L. Scott Stell Park Community Center, which is being used as a command center as they search for the remains of Quinton Simon in a Waste Management landfill near the park.
Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley points to a photo of Quinton Simon that investigators placed on the wall at the L. Scott Stell Park Community Center, which is being used as a command center as they search for the remains of Quinton Simon in a Waste Management landfill near the park.

“I have every belief that we will find his remains here at the landfill,” said Hadley.

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Leiliani Simon remains the primary suspect and the only suspect, but she still has not been arrested or charged, Hadley said. He added that he believes she is still in Chatham County, and is not a flight risk. Simon recently attended a Chatham County court hearing on the custody for her two other children, a six-month-old and a three-year-old.

Yesterday, Hadley said, the CCPD posted a picture of a smiling Simon on the wall before he went missing as a “reminder of who we are searching for and why we continue to work so terribly hard.”

“We want to find his remains so we can give him a proper resting place,” said Hadley.

To help CCPD, FBI has brought in special agents from Quantico, Atlanta and all of their personnel in Savannah, FBI Senior Supervisory Residency Agent Will Clarke said. Spearheading the search for Simon is the FBI’s Evidence Response team, which has experience in searching through similar landfills.

'Sadly, we still have not found Quinton': Chatham police, FBI identify mother as prime suspect

“This will be a complex and strenuous effort,” said Clarke. “This will not be quick. This will not be easy. And the outcome is uncertain.”

FBI and Chatham County investigators begin to search a landfill off Little Neck Road for the remains of Quinton Simon.
FBI and Chatham County investigators begin to search a landfill off Little Neck Road for the remains of Quinton Simon.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham police, FBI to search landfill for remains of Quinton Simon