Leilani Simon, Sentenced to Life for Murder of 20-Month-Old Son, Wants Child’s Remains Given to Her Brother

Mar. 15, 2025

Leilani Simon was sentenced in the death of her son, Quinton Simon.Photo:Chatham County Police Department

Chatham County Police Department

Leilani Simon, the Georgia motherwho was convicted of murder in the death of her 20-month-old son, has been sentenced to life in prison — and she says she wants her son’s ashes to be given to her brother.

According to reports from theSavannah Morning News,WSAVandNewsweek, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes sentenced 22-year-old Simon to life in prison with the possibility of parole plus 10 years.

Her sentencing comes over one month after she was found guilty ofall 19 charges against herin connection with her 20-month-old sonQuinton Simon’s death more than two years ago.

Quinton Simon.Chatham County Police Department

“The one thing that I will say before pronouncing sentence is clearly little Quinton Simon’s life and death impacted many, many individuals but also the community at large,” the judge said at the sentencing, per WSAV.

Although Simon did not testify, she answered questions from the press, and stated that she wanted her son’s remains to be released to her brother, Paul Simon.

Quinton was first reported missing in early October 2022 when his mother called 911 to tell police the boy had vanished from his playpen at the family’s Georgia home.

The 22-year-old mother said at the time that she hoped her son would be found “happy and alive. We want him back in our arms, holding us. That’s what we want.”

Quinton Simons.Chatham County Police Department

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Defense attorneys for Simon argued that the state’s case didn’t have enough evidence and was too based on emotions to convict her.

“We said at the beginning that most, if not all, of the State’s case was based on speculation and character assassination,” defense attorney Martin Hilliard said during closing statements, per Newsweek.

Simon was convicted last month of two felony murder counts, a malice murder count, concealing a death, reporting a false crime and 14 counts of making false statements to investigators.

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source: people.com