The search for missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon is now considered a criminal investigation, officials say, six days after he was reported missing from his Savannah home.
Although the 911 call was not released, ABC 22 reports that it obtained the dispatch call made by Quinton’s mother, Leilani, on October 5, the morning he was reported missing.
“Complainant advised her 1-year-old son is missing,” the dispatcher is heard saying. “She woke up, her door was open. Advised he’s unable to open a door. Thinks someone came in and took him.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Quinton was reportedly seen by his mother’s boyfriend at around 6 a.m. in their Savannah home, off Buckhalter Road. The child’s mother later told police she noticed the child was missing at around 9 a.m. that morning from his playpen, prompting a large-scale search that blocked off Buckhalter Road and its surrounding areas.
Quinton was last seen wearing a light blue Sesame Street shirt and black pants, the Chatham County Police Department said. Investigators have not issued an AMBER Alert because they’ve not determined the boy was abducted.
The case was initially treated as a missing persons case after police said they didn’t see any initial evidence of foul play. On Monday, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said during a press conference that the investigation has now turned into a criminal investigation as investigators dig to uncover what happened.
“We don’t have anything confirmed, so we can’t say anything absolutely,” Hadley said. “But it is fair to say that our efforts and the cooperation with the FBI providing an abundance of a resources to us, that we are looking at the criminal investigation aspect of it, as well.”
Hadley added that anyone and everyone who knows Quinton or had contact with him is being looked at, although the child’s father, who wasn’t at the home when Quinton vanished, is not considered a suspect.
No suspects have yet been named in his disappearance.
On Monday, firefighters returned to the family home and drained the backyard pool. It’s not clear, what, if any clues or evidence were found. Around 40 FBI investigators now assisting with the investigation.
“We’re trying to re-double our efforts and scrub the area to make sure that we didn’t miss anything,” Hadley said.
READ MORE: Timeline of Missing Georgia Tot Who Vanished Early Morning from Family Home
A dedicated tipline has been established for the case at 912-667-3134.
Additional Way to Report Information on Quinton Simon
- Call 911 or submit a tip to the Chatham County Police Department’s Crime Tip at https://police.chathamcountyga.gov/Tips.
- Submit a tip through the CrimeStoppers online tip portal at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=757.
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[Featured image: Handout/Chatham County police]
