Police obtain new evidence in missing Georgia baby Quinton Simon case

Investigators said Tuesday that they have obtained promising new evidence in the search to find 20-month-old Quinton Simon — who has been missing from his Georgia home since last week.

“We’ve seized evidence that we believe will help move this case forward & we’re now working to analyze the evidence to see where it leads us,” the Chatham County Police Department said in a statement Tuesday.

The police didn’t provide any details on what the new evidence is and stated that they will not be offering any further public statements that day.

Simon was last seen in his playpen at his home in Savannah around 6 a.m. last Wednesday morning. He was reported missing by his 22-year-old mother Leilani Simon about three hours later.

Investigators have searched the family’s home, backyard pool, a nearby pond and other outside areas, but have not found little Quinton.

On Monday, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley confirmed that detectives are investigating whether there was any criminality involved in Quinton’s disappearance.

The boy’s mother believed someone may have taken him from their home when she called 911 to report her missing, according to the 911 call obtained by WJCL.

The FBI is assisting local investigators in the missing persons’ case.

Police previously said they do not suspect any foul play in the boy’s disappearance or that he was taken as part of a custody battle.

Quinton’s babysitter has told WSAV that she was supposed to watch the toddler and his brother the day he vanished — but she received a cryptic message that left her alarmed.

“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,” Diana McCarta told the outlet, referring to Leilani.

The boy’s maternal grandparents, Billie Jo and Thomas Howell, have legal custody of him and his 3-year-old brother, local ABC affiliate WJCL reported.

“She hasn’t always done the right thing,” Billie Jo Howell said of her daughter in an interview with the station. “Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesn’t … I don’t know if I can trust her — I don’t.”

Court records obtained by WJCL show that Billie Jo Howell attempted to evict the child’s mother and her boyfriend from her home in early September.