Ga. mom pleads not guilty to killing missing son whose remains were found in landfill

SAVANNAH, Ga. (TCD) -- A Chatham County judge denied bond for a 23-year-old woman facing 19 charges in connection with the disappearance and death of her 20-month-old son, who was found in a landfill weeks after he went missing.

WSAV-TV reports Leilani Simon appeared in court Thursday, March 23, and pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. Her attorneys reportedly filed a motion to throw out the three murder charges, but the judge said hearings for those motions will be scheduled at a later date.

Simon’s son, Quinton, was reported missing Oct. 5 from his home on the 500 block of Buckhalter Road. The FBI got involved, and officials conducted searches using drones, K-9 teams, and other methods. About a week after Quinton disappeared, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley announced Simon was the "prime suspect" in the case, but they did not arrest or charge her then.

Hadley said at the time, "We will only do that when we feel we have everything we need. We only have one shot. We are going to do it right."

As the search continued, officials transitioned their focus to a landfill, and on Nov. 18, "uncovered what they believed to be human remains at the Waste Management Landfill site."

Police arrested Simon on charges of malice murder, concealing the death of another person, false reporting, and making false statements, with 19 counts total.

WSAV reports prosecutors believe Quinton was beaten to death, then left in a dumpster.

MORE:

• Judge denies bond for Leilani Simon, defense requests jury trial - WSAV
• Leilani Simon facing 19-count indictment, including malice and felony murder, 12/22/2022 - WSAV
• Quinton Simon’s mom arrested, charged with murder after human remains found in landfill, 11/22/2022 - TCD
• Quinton Simon case: Investigators sift through landfill as search for missing toddler continues, 11/3/2022 - TCD
• Missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon believed to be dead; mom named 'prime suspect', 10/13/2022 - TCD
• Georgia toddler missing for almost a week, 10/10/2022 - TCD