Authorities in Georgia are investigating and searching for a missing 20-month old boy in Georgia, who went missing on Wednesday.
Crews have been frantically searching around the clock hoping to find him alive and unharmed.
On Thursday, officials revealed, “We have found no indication that there was foul play involved in the disappearance of Quinton Simon.”
The little boy was reported missing from his Buckhalter Road home in Savannah on Wednesday morning at approximately 9 a.m.
Volunteers and neighbors have joined the search for Quinton, which has involved mounted officers, K-9 units, drones and helicopters. The FBI is also assisting in the search.
Some roads in the western part of the county were shut down by search teams, not far from Hunter Army Air Field and just outside the Savannah city limits. The ground search was shut down at nightfall, and helicopters equipped with thermal imaging systems that can detect body heat were sent up.
Quinton’s parents noticed he was missing at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The toddler was last seen wearing a light blue Sesame Street shirt and black pants.
Investigators have not issued an AMBER Alert because they’ve not determined the boy was abducted, but they said that the possibility has not been ruled out.
“This is a fluid situation. All things are still possible. We don’t have one concrete theory,” Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said.
The Chatham County Police Department said it had responded to the home twice in the past but neither call was related to a missing child. The police department also ruled out the possibility of the child’s disappearance to be a case related to any custody dispute and said that all parties are cooperating in the investigation.
Hadley said, “The boy’s father has been ruled out because he was confirmed to be far away from the home at the time Quinton disappeared.”
Neighbors told the station they’ve seen the toddler wandering around outside his home and in the street in the past.
“He was running back and forth in front of the house and I was afraid he was gon’ get hit,” one neighbor said.
If you see Quinton, it is asked that you call 911 right away.
Anyone with tips about his disappearance can visit the Chatham County Police Department’s website.
Information can also be left with the Savannah-Chatham County Crime Stoppers at (912) 234-2020.
A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the boy’s safe return.
The baby-sitter of Quinton and his little brother is devastated and confused over the child’s sudden disappearance.
Diana McCarta, who identified herself as the babysitter, said in an interview, “I have been taking care of Quinton and his little brother for about six months. I took care of them daily, even when their mom wasn’t working. I was supposed to babysit them on the day of Quinton’s disappearance but the family contacted me and informed me that I was not needed for the day.”
Although McCarta said she thought it was rather strange for the last minute change in plans, she later found out the toddler had been reported missing.
“I got a text this morning saying they would not be here, I 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,” McCarta said. “And then I get a text at 9 a.m. saying have I seen Quinton? I immediately go to their house. I try to help them look, they didn’t want that. So, I’ve been just waiting around like everyone else.”
Well, obvious foul play by the parent(s). Mother notified babysitter at 5:29am that she would not be needed; however, mother “noticed child missing at 6:00am? That is why Amber Alert was not issued.
Babysitter offered her help, but they declared. This is a Big Red Flag. Why would they not want the help!
I smell something fishy! And why would you let such a small child to wander outside and not come after them. The neighbors have indicated they’ve seen a small boy outside unsupervised. A missing child is an immediate Amber alert!
Why in the world would the parents NOT want the babysitter to help LOOK for their missing child??? Thsts just completely bizarre!!!
Most likely the mother.
hopefully the child will be found alive and doing fine, this is so important in this situation, kids that age are so smart and can unlock doors quickly, just maybe someone close by has him and is taking really good care of that child, they just need to report that he is ok and give him to local police so he can return back to his mom,can’t imagine how she is feeling right now not knowing what is going on with her baby, I have so much compassion for children even the bad brats that misbehave most of the time, even thou they are still children that only require love, attention and just have fun, hoping for great news in this situation, God Bless
Have you checked the landfill? I heard something bout them dumping a trash can as soon as garbage truck came To me that would be a red flag they say mother isn’t a flight risk but they don’t know where she is. My heart goes out to quinton I hate to hear a child is being abused It just breaks my heart I pray the lil guy is found alive. He is so precious