Leilani Simon murder trial appeals

Reference TimelineLast updated MAR 27
SUMMARY

Leilani Simon, convicted of murdering her toddler son Quinton Simon, is appealing her 2024 conviction and life sentence, with a hearing on January 9, 2026, in Chatham County, Georgia, focusing on claims of insufficient evidence and constitutional violations. As of March 27, 2026, Simon's legal team argues the state failed to prove homicide due to damaged remains and that text messages unfairly prejudiced the jury. Simon was found guilty on 19 charges, including malice murder, on October 25, 2024, and sentenced to life in prison on November 21, 2024, eligible for parole after 40 years. Her attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, asserting the state did not prove Quinton's death was a homicide, following the discovery of his remains in a Chatham County landfill in November 2022.

Timeline

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Timeline of developments

March 2026 1 developments

  1. Leilani Simon's legal team is arguing for a new trial, citing insufficient evidence and constitutional violations during her 2024 proceedings.

    Leilani Simon's legal team is arguing for a new trial, citing insufficient evidence and constitutional violations during her 2024 proceedings. A hearing on January 9, 2026, focused on the defense's claims that the state failed to prove homicide due to damaged remains and that text messages unfairly prejudiced the jury.

January 2026 1 developments

  1. Leilani Simon, who was convicted of murdering her toddler son Quinton Simon and sentenced to life in prison, has filed a motion seeking a new trial.

    Leilani Simon, who was convicted of murdering her toddler son Quinton Simon and sentenced to life in prison, has filed a motion seeking a new trial. Her attorneys are arguing that the state failed to prove Quinton's death was a homicide.

November 2024 1 developments

  1. Leilani Simon has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murdering her toddler son.

    Leilani Simon has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murdering her toddler son. She will be eligible for parole after serving at least 40 years. Simon was convicted on 19 charges, including murder and concealing a death.

October 2024 2 developments

  1. Leilani Simon was found guilty on all 19 charges, including malice murder, on October 25, 2024, after approximately two hours of jury deliberation.

    Leilani Simon was found guilty on all 19 charges, including malice murder, on October 25, 2024, after approximately two hours of jury deliberation. This corrects the previously reported verdict date of November 20, 2024.

April 2024 1 developments

  1. Leilani Simon's attorneys filed a motion to exclude her 911 calls and police interviews from evidence, arguing they were not given willingly.

    Leilani Simon's attorneys filed a motion to exclude her 911 calls and police interviews from evidence, arguing they were not given willingly.

November 2022 2 developments

  1. DNA tests confirmed the remains belonged to Quinton Simon, and Leilani Simon was arrested and charge…

    DNA tests confirmed the remains belonged to Quinton Simon, and Leilani Simon was arrested and charged with malice murder, concealing a death, false reporting, and making false statements.

October 2022 2 developments

  1. Police and FBI agents shifted their search efforts to a landfill, indicating a belief that Quinton was deceased.

    Police and FBI agents shifted their search efforts to a landfill, indicating a belief that Quinton was deceased.