Search for missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon now a criminal investigation – New York Post
A toddler suddenly vanished from his Georgia home in Savvanah on Wednesday, October 5th.
Police and volunteers have searched the area close to his home in hopes of locating the toddler, who was last seen Wednesday at 6:00 a.m. in his Savannah, Georgia, home, according to
Police.
Authorities are now investigating whether Quinton Simon’s disappearance may have been the result of criminal activity, according to Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley.
Hadley shared with reporters, “We don’t have anything confirmed, so we can’t say anything absolutely, but it is fair to say that our efforts and the cooperation with the FBI providing an abundance of resources to us, that we are looking at the criminal investigation aspect of it, as well.”
In the meantime, Hadley said the 911 call made by Quinton’s mother wouldn’t be released publicly due to the ongoing investigation – however, WJCL was able to obtain a copy of the dispatch call, which sheds some light.
The outlet reported that the dispatcher said, “She woke up, and her door was open. Advised he’s unable to open a door. Thinks someone came in and took him.”
The police have been working non-stop to locate 20-month-old Quinton Simon. The FBI has also joined the investigation.
According to reports, the child’s mother, 22-year-old Lelani Simon, said she last saw Quinton in his playpen at around 6:00 a.m. before noticing him missing.
According to police, Quinton’s biological father had been notified but they do not believe he was involved in the incident.
In an interview with WSAV, Diana McCarta was Quinton’s babysitter for the last six months. She told WSAV during the interview that she was set up to babysit Quinton and his older sibling the morning he disappeared but was then told that they would not be there and that she was no longer needed to babysit that morning.
She told the station, “I got a text this morning saying they would not be here, would not be babysitting them at 5:29 [a.m.], Which was kind of odd because I have them even when she doesn’t work.”
Quinton’s grandmother has custody of both him and his older sibling. He lives in the house with his mother, his 3-year-old brother, his mother’s boyfriend, and his maternal grandparents.
According to an earlier statement from police, they do not believe foul play was involved in the case.
The Chatham County Police Department said on Saturday in a post, “Finding Quinton Simon is our highest priority, and the intensity of our work is as strong as it has been since the day of his disappearance.”
For more coverage on this story, see the additional news sources below:
- Search for missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon now a criminal investigation New York Post
- Dispatch call sheds light on Quinton Simon’s disappearance in Savannah WJCL News
- Georgia, FBI searching for missing toddler whose babysitter reports ‘odd’ text before disappearance Fox News
- Quinton Simon disappearance: Investigators re-search home of coastal Georgia toddler FOX 5 Atlanta
- Search For Missing Georgia Toddler Quinton Simon Continues NBC News