Missing Ga. toddler’s mom on probation out of Burke County

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The mother of a missing toddler – the only suspect so far in his disappearance – is on probation for a Burke County burglary case, according to law enforcement records.

The loot: $50 in coins.

Mother of missing child, the only suspect in the case, speaks out

Leilani Simon’s son Quinton Simon, 20 months old, has been missing for three weeks in Chatham County and is presumed dead. His mom is the only suspect, although there have been no arrests, and authorities are searching a landfill for the boy’s body.

Months before Quinton disappeared, she was sentenced in April to 12 months of probation in the local burglary case, according to court records.

According to an incident report from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, a victim stated that when he returned home to 152 Wise Drive after work on June 16, 2020, he discovered that the camper he lived in had been broken into through a back window.

When he entered the camper, he discovered that his change jar, which contained approximately $50 in coins, was empty.

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When asked who he thought was responsible, he pointed out Leilani Simon, who lived next door and was standing outside, according to the incident report.

“I then spoke with Ms. Simon and while doing so, she admitted to entering the camper and taking all of the change from inside of the coin jar,” a deputy wrote in the incident report. “Ms. Simon added that her child’s father, Henry ‘Bubba’ Moss, came over ... and convinced her to help him enter the camper.”

Simon stated that since he couldn’t fit through the window, she did instead and while inside the camper, she took all of the change from the jar before exiting the camper through the same window, the deputy wrote.

Simon added that Moss took all of the change from the camper after she exited with it, the deputy wrote.

She was indicted in Burke County Superior Court along with Moss and the probation sentence after pleading guilty (nolo contendre) to a reduced sentence of criminal trespass, according to court records.

In the case of Simon’s missing son, Chatham County police say they have no reason to believe he was abducted or kidnapped, and their evidence suggests he was placed in a dumpster and that his remains are in the landfill they’re currently searching.