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Leilani Simon (Chattham County Sheriff’s Office)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The second day of Leilani Simon’s murder trial continued Wednesday, with extensive testimony from law enforcement officials and more information about the investigation surrounding the death of her 20-month-old son, Quinton Simon, in 2022.

Leilani Simon, charged with intentional murder, felony murder and concealing a death, is accused of killing Quinton and dumping his body, ultimately ending up in a landfill. Detective Marian Lemons, a former detective with the Chatham County Police Department, provided crucial details about the investigation during her testimony. Lemons described his first observations at Simon’s home, including a strong smell of vomit coming from Quinton’s park, stained bedding and no traces of blood at the scene.

Prosecutors also presented testimony on investigative procedures, including the use of the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit helped develop detailed questionnaires to facilitate neighborhood surveys, which Lemons said helped generate investigative leads, such as potential sightings of vehicles or camera images. These best practices were crucial from the early stages of the research, with Simon’s residence as well as a nearby mobile home park being examined.

Special Agent Brad Snyder of the FBI testified about the role of Team Adam, a group of retired law enforcement volunteers from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Two landfill experts from the group assisted in the investigation by using data to identify a specific area at a local landfill where Quinton’s remains were likely located, significantly narrowing the search area.

The testimony also provided details about changes in Simon’s account of the events on the day of Quinton’s disappearance. Initially, Simon said she went to a Chevron gas station to get Orajel for her tooth pain, but she later admitted to meeting with a drug dealer to settle a $20 debt. According to the transcript, Investigators confronted Simon with phone data showing messages about purchasing Percocet pills in the days before Quinton’s death, which Simon said were intended for a friend.

Quinton Simon (Chatham County Police Department)

During a smoke break with law enforcement, Simon admitted to experiencing sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of anger, explaining how she could “snap” without realizing it. Simon’s confession about his anger issues was later brought up in court to highlight his behavioral tendencies, raising questions about his temperament and his potential role in Quinton’s death.

Prosecutors plan to continue presenting evidence, including the final moments captured on security footage and additional testimony from law enforcement.

Simon maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges.

The trial will resume Thursday, with more testimony expected from law enforcement and FBI agents.

Recap of the first day of the Leilani Simon murder trial

On Monday, the trial began with opening statements and testimony from law enforcement. Prosecutors called the officers who were among the first responders when Quinton was reported missing. Cpl. Cody Jepsen testified that he searched Simon’s residence and surrounding areas with no sign of the child, while body camera footage showed Simon describing Quinton’s last known clothing.

Detective Shawn Wilkins recalled Simon’s initial account, stating that she last saw Quinton before going to bed and woke up the next morning to find him missing, with the front door open .

Another key testimony came from Detective Kiana Robins, who used the Flock camera system to track Simon’s vehicle. Although Simon initially denied leaving the house, Robins’ data showed his car on the night of October 4, and Simon later admitted to going to a store. Lt. Eugene Foster, who led the search, described the intensive effort to find Quinton’s remains in a landfill, where they were eventually discovered, damaged by the trash compactor.

Simon’s defense argued the state lacked concrete evidence proving she intentionally killed her son.