Leilani Simon: Why the Public is Still Asking About Her Age and Trial

People can't seem to look away from the Leilani Simon case. It’s one of those stories that just sticks in your craw because of how surreal and honestly heartbreaking the details are. If you've been following the news out of Savannah, Georgia, you know the name. But lately, a lot of folks are specifically searching for one thing: how old is Leilani Simon right now?

It’s a fair question. Time feels weird when a case drags on through the justice system for years. We first heard her name back in late 2022 when her son, Quinton Simon, went missing. Now that we’re sitting in early 2026, the timeline can get a bit blurry.

As of January 2026, Leilani Simon is 23 years old.

She was 22 during the bulk of her high-profile trial in late 2024 and turned 23 while behind bars. It’s a young age for someone facing a lifetime in the Department of Corrections, but for many who followed the trial, the age of the defendant mattered far less than the age of the victim.

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The Timeline That Led to a Life Sentence

To understand where she is now, you’ve gotta look back at how we got here. It started on October 5, 2022. That’s the day Leilani called 911 and claimed her 20-month-old son had just vanished from his playpen. She told dispatchers the door was open and he was basically gone.

The search was massive. I mean, the FBI was involved, neighbors were out in the woods, and the whole community was on edge. But the story started to leak oil pretty fast. Within a couple of weeks, the police chief, Jeff Hadley, didn't mince words. He named Leilani as the prime suspect.

The most grisly part? They didn’t find Quinton in a park or a neighbor’s backyard. They found him in a landfill.

Investigators spent over a month sifting through literally millions of pounds of trash. It was a 5% chance of success, according to the FBI, yet they found him. DNA later confirmed the remains were Quinton’s.

What Happened in the 2024 Trial?

Fast forward to October 2024. That’s when the legal hammer really dropped. Leilani stood trial on 19 different counts. We’re talking malice murder, felony murder, concealing a death, and a long list of lying to the cops.

The prosecution’s case was heavy. They argued she killed her son on October 5 after a night of using cocaine and Percocet. They said she put him in a dumpster because she "resented" him. A former neighbor even took the stand and claimed Leilani once said she wished she’d aborted him.

The defense tried to play the "no physical evidence" card. Since the remains were in such bad shape after weeks in a landfill, the medical examiner couldn't officially say how he died. But the jury didn't buy it. On October 25, 2024, they came back with a guilty verdict on every single count.

Where Leilani Simon Stands Today (2026 Update)

So, she’s 23. She’s currently serving a life sentence. Specifically, Judge Tammy Stokes sentenced her to life with the possibility of parole, plus an extra 10 years for concealing the death.

Wait, parole?

Yeah, but don't hold your breath. Under Georgia law, she has to serve at least 40 years before she can even ask for a hearing. That means Leilani Simon will be in her early 60s before she has even a remote shot at walking free.

The sentencing was emotional, to put it mildly. Her own mother, Billie Jo Howell, talked about how drug use "robbed" Leilani of her own childhood. It was a mess of a family dynamic that came out in the wash. Despite the family’s pleas for leniency, the judge pointed out the sheer impact this had on the Savannah community.

The 2026 Push for a New Trial

Just because she’s sentenced doesn't mean the legal maneuvering has stopped. In fact, right now in early January 2026, her new lawyer, David Lockach, is pushing for a new trial.

He’s doubling down on that medical examiner testimony from 2024. His argument is basically: if you can't prove how the boy died, you haven't proven it was murder. He’s telling the court that the state didn't eliminate other possibilities—like an accident.

The state has about 45 days (counting from early January) to file their written response to this. So, we're likely looking at a ruling on the "new trial" request sometime in the spring of 2026.

Actionable Steps for Following the Case

If you’re trying to stay updated on the latest court filings or want to verify the details for yourself, here is how you can keep tabs on the proceedings without getting lost in the social media rumor mill:

• Check the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court: Most of the actual motions and orders for the new trial request are public record. You can often search by her name or case number.
• Monitor Local Savannah Outlets: Stations like WTOC and WJCL have had reporters inside the courtroom for every single hearing. They usually get the break-down of the judge’s rulings before the national news picks it up.
• Watch Court TV Archives: If you want to see the 2024 testimony for yourself to understand why the jury reached the verdict they did, the full trial is archived and available to stream.

The reality is that while Leilani Simon is still only 23, the legal saga is far from its final chapter. Whether the 2026 appeal for a new trial goes anywhere remains to be seen, but for now, she remains in the state prison system.