Mother Arrested For Murder Of Toddler Quinton Simon After Human Remains Found In Landfill

The mother of Quinton Simon, the toddler who went missing in Georgia last month, has been arrested and charged with his disappearance and death.

Leilani Simon, 22, was arrested Monday after human remains were found in a landfill. The remains were sent for DNA testing to confirm whether they belong to the 20-month-old toddler, the New York Post reported.

"The Chatham County Police Department has arrested 22-year-old Leilani Simon and charged her with murder in connection with the disappearance and death of her son, 20-month-old Quinton Simon," the Chatham County Police Department wrote on Twitter.

"We are deeply saddened by this case, but we are thankful that we are one step closer to justice for little Quinton," the police department added.

Leilani reported her son missing on the morning of Oct. 5, according to CNN. She told officials that she saw him in his playpen before he disappeared from the Savannah home that she shared with her boyfriend, mother and 3-year-old son.

Leilani called 911 around 9 a.m. and told dispatchers she believes somebody took Quinton from his playpen.

Investigators soon suspected foul play in Quinton's disappearance.

Quinton's father, Henry Moss, 24, was contacted and determined not likely to be involved in the child's disappearance. Moss told cops that Leilani was not a good mother and he hadn't spoken to her in months.

The police department announced on Oct. 12 that the boy is believed to be deceased. Officers also named Leilani as the prime suspect in the case.

Officials determined that Quinton's body was likely thrown away in a dumpster and then, in turn, taken to a nearby landfill, according to WSB-TV.

Law enforcement officials undertook a massive search of a Waste Management Landfill site and scoured through 1.2 million pounds of trash to find the boy's remains.

Investigators found human remains from the landfill site Friday and DNA testing is being conducted to confirm if they belong to the little boy.

"Further testing – including DNA evidence -- is being conducted to confirm that the remains are, in fact, human and whether the remains are Quinton's," the police department said.

Leilani was charged with malice murder, concealing the death of another person, false reporting, and making false statements in connection with the disappearance and death, officials added.