Leilani Simon murder trial day 4: Prosecutor paints picture of abuse for toddler Quinton

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SAVANNAH, Ga. – Thursday was day 4 of the trial of Leilani Simon, the Georgia mother accused of killing her toddler son Quinton and disposing of his remains, which were eventually found in a landfill.

Simon is charged with malice murder, felony murder, concealment of a death and making false statements in connection with her son’s death in 2022. She is charged with malice murder, felony murder, concealment of a death and making false statements.

Day 3 Leilani Simon Murder Trial Summary: Youngkin’s Cross-Examination

The fourth day of Leilani Simon’s murder trial on Thursday revealed testimony about drug use, disturbing text messages and witness accounts of possible child abuse.

The day started with the defense cross-examining Simon’s ex-boyfriend, Danny Youngkin. Defense attorney Martin Hilliard questioned Youngkin about his history with alcohol and drug use. The court reviewed text messages exchanged between Youngkin and Simon, including one from September 30, days before the disappearance of Simon’s son, Quinton. Youngkin read aloud, “Like I always have to deal with your assholes and the mean kids when you get mad and dunk and take things from me.” When Hilliard further researched the term “s***,” Youngkin clarified, “Money, drugs,” confirming that he called “all three” of Simon’s children the “mean a** kids.”

After Youngkin’s testimony, David Mullen, his former boss, briefly took the stand, followed by Melissa “Missy” Bray, Simon’s former colleague. Bray testified that Simon told her she had left the house the morning her son was reported missing to pick up Orajel from a friend. However, Bray claimed that Simon never came to collect the drugs from her.

Leilani Simon (Chattham County Sheriff’s Office)

Dr. Amanda Puentes, Quinton’s last pediatrician, was next to testify, stating that she had no reason to suspect abuse. Dr. Kenneth Burch, a pediatric cardiologist, also testified and discussed his evaluation of Quinton’s heart murmur. He stated that the defect could not have caused the child’s death.

Simon’s brother, Paul Simon, described frequent arguments between his sister and Youngkin. He also recalled that Simon asked him for cigarillos on the night of October 4. Despite the strained relationship, Paul noted that Quinton seemed to like Youngkin, who had accepted the responsibility of caring for the children despite feeling overwhelmed.

Testimony from Melanie Boling, Simon’s former neighbor, painted a disturbing picture. Boling described frequent communication with Simon during her pregnancy and claimed that Simon felt remorse for not aborting Quinton. She also recalled Simon cursing at the children and calling Quinton a “bastard child.” The defense questioned Boling about her marijuana use and her claim that she communicated with Quinton’s spirit before his remains were found.

After a brief pause, the state called Talea McCarta, a local 10th grader who lived near Simon. Talea said she saw Simon push Quinton down, causing him to fall, and described an incident in which Simon pushed Quinton into a swimming pool without floats. She also remembered Quinton falling down the stairs and spending extended periods of time at her home without Simon looking at him. Talea says she never reported the incidents.

Leilani Simon maintains her innocence and pleads not guilty to all charges.

Leilani Simon murder trial day 3 recap: Ex-boyfriend takes the stand

Day three of Leilani Simon’s murder trial on Wednesday focused on her then-boyfriend, Danny Youngkin, as a key witness. Prosecutors argued that Simon’s relationship with Youngkin was her top priority at the time of her son Quinton’s disappearance on Oct. 5, 2022.

Youngkin, who lived with Simon when the toddler went missing, admitted during his testimony that he did not check on Quinton the morning Simon reported the child missing. The state claims Quinton was not in his bed that morning and claims Simon killed him that night. Youngkin expressed regret for not checking on the child that day.

Earlier in the proceedings, video evidence showed Simon telling FBI agents that Youngkin claimed to have seen Quinton that morning. However, FBI agent Bridget Brock disputed Simon’s story, claiming that Youngkin could not confirm seeing the toddler in the crib, despite Simon’s insistence.

Brock also highlighted further inconsistencies in Simon’s statements. Surveillance footage showed Simon’s vehicle stopped at the dumpsters where Quinton’s body was allegedly disposed of. This contradicted Simon’s claim that she had stopped at a nearby Chevron gas station.

In addition, forensic anthropologist Dr. The FBI’s Angi Christensen said the remains found in October 2022 belonged to a one- to two-year-old child who had suffered trauma before his death.

Leilani Simon Murder Case Summary, Day 2: Quinton’s Family Life Examined

The second day of Leilani Simon’s murder trial on Tuesday featured extensive testimony from law enforcement officials as prosecutors built their case against the suspect.

Detective Marian Lemons, formerly of the Chatham County Police Department, provided crucial details about the early stages of the investigation. Lemons testified about her observations at Simon’s home, describing a strong odor of vomit coming from Quinton’s playpen and stained bedding. She also noted that there were no traces of blood at the scene.

The prosecutor highlighted the investigative procedures used in the case, including the involvement of the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team. Lemons stated that the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit developed detailed neighborhood survey questionnaires, which she said played an important role in generating leads, such as possible vehicle sightings and surveillance footage. Investigators searched both Simon’s home and a nearby mobile home park using these methods.

Quinton Simon (Chatham County Police Department)

FBI Special Agent Brad Snyder testified about the involvement of Team Adam, a group of retired law enforcement volunteers from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Snyder explained that two landfill experts on the team used data to identify a specific area at a local landfill where Quinton’s remains were likely located, significantly narrowing the search area.

Testimony also revealed inconsistencies in Simon’s account of the events on the day of Quinton’s disappearance. Initially, Simon claimed she visited a Chevron gas station to buy Orajel for her toothache. However, she later admitted that she met a drug dealer to pay a $20 debt. Investigators presented phone records showing messages about purchasing Percocet pills in the days leading up to Quinton’s death, which Simon claimed were for a friend.

In another piece of evidence, Simon admitted to law enforcement during a cigarette break that she experienced sudden, uncontrollable fits of anger, stating that she could “snap” without realizing it. Prosecutors referenced this confession in court to highlight her behavioral tendencies and raise questions about her possible involvement in her son’s death.

Leilani Simon Murder Trial Day 1 Recap: Opening Arguments

Monday began with opening statements and testimony from law enforcement officials. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Tim Dean, presented multiple law enforcement witnesses. Cpl. Cody Jepsen of the Chatham County Police Department, one of the first responders on the scene when Quinton was reported missing on Oct. 5, 2022, testified about his efforts. Jepsen stated that he searched Simon’s home twice and found no sign of Quinton. He also took part in searches in nearby wooded areas, but again found nothing. His body-worn camera footage, introduced into evidence, showed his interactions with Simon as they described the clothes Quinton last wore: a Sesame Street pajama top and red or black workout pants.

Detective Shawn Wilkins, who conducted the initial interview with Simon, testified that Simon claimed she last saw Quinton before going to bed around midnight on October 4. She said she woke up the next morning around 9 a.m. to find her son missing and the front door of the house open. Wilkins confirmed that Simon’s statement matched what she told other officers at the scene. As part of his testimony, a recorded interview with Simon was played in court.

A key piece of evidence came from Detective Kiana Robins, who used the Flock camera system that scans Chatham County license plates. Robins testified that a search of Simon’s vehicle tag between the late evening of October 4 and the early morning of October 5 yielded multiple hits, indicating the vehicle was driven during those hours. She shared this information with Lt. Eugene Foster, the on-scene commander. Foster testified that when he confronted Simon with the Flock camera data, she initially denied leaving the house. However, upon further questioning, she admitted that she had driven to a nearby supermarket to buy Orajel for toothache.

The prosecutor also provided testimony regarding the extensive search efforts for Quinton’s remains. Lt. Foster, who oversaw the search, described the laborious process of sifting through tons of compacted waste at a local landfill. He noted that the search involved 20 to 30 officers every day for several weeks, with the area kept under 24/7 surveillance to prevent contamination. Ultimately, Quinton’s remains were found, severely damaged by the landfill’s compaction process.

Simon’s defense team, led by attorney Robert Persse, argued that the state’s case lacks concrete evidence and is based on speculation, claiming there is no evidence that Simon intentionally killed her son.