SAVANNAH, Georgia (WTOC/Gray News ) – A Georgia woman convicted of killing her 20-month-old son has been sentenced to life in prison.

Judge Tammy Stoke sentenced Leilani Simon to life with the possibility of parole, plus 10 years, on Thursday.

Simon was found guilty on all 19 charges against her on Oct. 25 in the inquest into the death of her son, Quinton Simon. These included charges of malicious murder, felony murder and making false statements.

Quinton Simon was reported missing on October 5, 2022. It wasn’t until six days later that Quinton’s mother, Leilani, was named the sole suspect in his disappearance and death.

On November 18, 2022, Quinton’s remains were found in a landfill in Chatham County. Leilani was arrested three days later.

Prosecution

Leilani Simon’s sentence was below what prosecutors had asked the judge for.

Special Assistant Prosecutor Tim Dean urged Judge Stokes to show no mercy to Simon. He asked for life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 65 years behind bars and a $17,000 fine.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors focused on Simon’s behavior during the investigation and after her arrest, saying she implicated innocent people, that she had been drinking the night investigators announced they were searching the landfill for his body Quinton and that he had a pen pal relationship with a convicted child abuser while in prison.

The lead detective on the case took the stand again, telling Judge Simon that he had not accepted responsibility.

“In all of these statements of hers that you’ve heard, the interviews, the things that the witnesses have told you, the prison communications and so on, at no time did she ever accept responsibility for what she did has she now been convicted?” Dean asked.

“No, he didn’t,” replied Senior Detective Marian Lemmons.

Dean urged the judge to impose a strong sentence to send a message not only to Simon but to society, noting that this case had a huge emotional impact on those involved.

Defense

There were only two options on the table for Leilani Simon and that was life in prison with or without the possibility of parole.

She had several family members testify on her behalf, painting a much different picture of her than the one we saw throughout the investigation and trial.

Simon’s family members remembered her as a loving and intelligent person, especially as a child.

Her aunt testified about her love for her family, especially her brother Paul and her stepfather, recalling that she could pass a test without having to study.

But testimony also revealed that Simon lived with her aunt for much of her childhood as her mother, Billie Jo Howell, struggled with drug addiction.

Howell testified that she neglected the needs of Simon and her brother, saying they deserved prison, but not forever.

“I failed her as a mother. I allowed addiction to take over my life at a young age. I still neglected your emotional needs. My decisions have impacted your life,” said Simon’s mother, Billie Jo Howell.

“Drugs took Leilani and Quinton from us. Quinton will forever be in my heart, in my thoughts, and loved by me. But his life, his body, his love will never be seen or fulfilled because of the influence of drugs. As for Leilani, her life will never be the same,” said Jackie Madden, Simon’s aunt.

Madden, who is Simon’s aunt, said she has raised Simon for half his life.

Simon’s family asked that she receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole, which she eventually received.

“I want him to have a chance to go out into the world one day instead of locking it up and throwing away the key,” said Thomas Howell, Simon’s stepfather.

Another issue that was decided in court Thursday was the fate of Quinton Simon’s remains, which have been held by law enforcement for years at the request of Simon’s lawyers.

Simon told the court he wanted the remains released for burial, even though that could cause problems with further testing if new technology becomes available.

This could be important in the appeals process. Simon has 30 days to appeal the verdict.

There are three basic things that could happen from there: the appeal is dismissed, the court overturns the verdict or remands it, meaning Simon will get a new trial.

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