"The father had evidence. He had witnesses. He even had the child's own words on a recording." But when the custody hearing ended, the judge gave the abusive mother sole custody — and the father was left wondering if the court had even listened.
In this infuriating true crime episode, we investigate the case of Leilani Simon, a 22-year-old Georgia mother whose three-year-old son, Quinton Simon, disappeared from his home on October 5, 2022 . Four weeks later, police declared her the "prime and only suspect" in his disappearance — and eventually charged her with murder, concealing a death, and false statements . After months of landfill searches and an FBI investigation, Quinton's remains were confirmed in July 2024 .
But the most shocking detail? Leilani had sole physical custody of Quinton and his brother, despite documented histories of mental illness, addiction, and chaotic behavior . Her mother, Billie Jo Howell, admitted she had sole custody because the father lived in Texas . The system failed Quinton before he even disappeared.
We explore the broader crisis: how family courts sometimes grant custody to abusive parents despite red flags, the challenges non-custodial fathers face in proving abuse, and the heartbreaking aftermath when a child pays the ultimate price. Listener discretion advised — child victim. Press play for the case where the system gave a killer access to her victim.