SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Chatham County woman convicted of killing her 20-month-old son has been sentenced.

Judge Tammy Stoke sentenced Leilani Simon on Thursday to life with the possibility of parole, plus 10 years.

Here is her sentence broken down:

• Count 1 - Malice Murder: Life in prison with the possibility of parole.
• Count 2 - Felony Murder: Vacated
• Count 3 - Vacated
• Count 4 - Concealing the Death of Another: 10 years, consecutive to count 1.
• Count 5 - False Report of a Crime: 12 months concurrent to count 4
• Count 6 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 7 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 8 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 9 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 10 - Making a False Statement: merges into count 9
• Count 11 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 12 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 13 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 14 - Making a False Statement: merges with 13
• Count 15 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 16 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 17 - Making a False Statement: merges into 16
• Count 18 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4
• Count 19 - Making a False Statement: 5 years concurrent with 4

Watch the full sentencing below:

Leilani Simon was found guilty on all 19 counts against her on Oct. 25. That includes Malice Murder, Felony Murder and Making a False Statement.

Quinton Simon was reported missing on October 5, 2022. It wasn‘t until six days later that Quinton’s mother Leilani was named as the only suspect in his disappearance and death.

On November 18, 2022, Quinton’s remains were found in a Chatham County landfill. Leilani was arrested three days later.

Prosecution

During Thursday’s tense sentencing hearing that marked the end of a trial that’s gripped our region, prosecutors doubled down that Simon has not taken accountability.

“She just doesn’t seem sorry at all. She really doesn’t seem sorry. She seems sorry that she got caught. She seems sorry that she had to stand trial,” said Special Assistant District Attorney Tim Dean.

In an emotional moment, the daughter of Quinton’s babysitter took the stand and told Judge Tammy Stokes that the 20-month-old was like family.

“I’m missing him every day, not waking up to see Quinton, not being able to go get Quinton no more. It’s a lot.”

The case’s lead detective also revealed explosive new details not included in trial.

She said Simon implicated innocent people, was out drinking the night investigators announced the landfill search for Quinton’s body, and had a pen pal relationship with a convicted child molester while in jail.

“In all of these statements of hers that you’ve listened to, the interviews, things witnesses have told you she said, jail communications, and so forth, at any point, has she ever actually accepted responsibility for what she’s now been convicted of,” asked Dean.

“No she hasn’t,” replied Lead Detective Marian Lemmons.

Prosecutors asking Judge Tammy Stokes for life plus 65 years without parole and a $117,000 fine, saying the sentence would send a message to Simon and the community about the emotional and financial the case has taken on those involved.

They also repeatedly brought up a letter that Simon sent to WTOC from jail saying the State has no factual evidence against her

Dean said it shows the mother’s lack of accountability.

Detective Lemmons also testified that staff at the Chatham County landfill where Quinton’s remains were found have set up a memorial in the 20-month-old’s memory.

Defense

There were only two options on the table for Leilani Simon and that was life in prison with or without the possibility of parole.

She had several family members testify on her behalf, painting a much different picture of her than what we saw throughout the investigation and the trial.

Simon’s family members remembered her as a loving and smart person- particularly in her childhood.

Her aunt testifying about her love for her family, particularly her brother, Paul, and her stepfather recalling she could ace a test without needing to study.

But the testimony also revealed that Simon lived with her aunt for much of her childhood because her mother, Billie Jo Howell, was struggling with drug addiction.

Howell testified that she neglected Simon’s needs, and her brother’s, saying she deserved prison, but not forever.

“I failed her as a mom. I allowed addiction to take over my life at a young age. I still neglected your emotional needs. My decisions have made an impact on your life,” said Simon’s mother Billie Jo Howell.

“Drugs took Leilani and Quinton from us. Quinton will forever be in my heart, my thoughts, and loved by me. But his life, his body, his love will never be seen or fulfilled due to the influence of drugs. As for Leilani, her life will never be the same,” said Jackie Madden, Simon’s aunt.

Madden, who’s Simon’s aunt, said she raised Simon for half her life.

“I allowed addiction to take over my life at a young age. I still neglected your emotional needs. My decisions have made an impact on your life,” Howell said.

Simon’s family, asking for her to receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole, which she ultimately received.

“I want her to have a chance one day to come out into the world, instead of just locking her up and throwing away the key,” said Thomas Howell, Simon’s stepfather.

Another aspect that was decided in court Thursday - the fate of Quinton Simon’s remains.

They’ve been held by law enforcement for years at the request of Simon’s attorneys.

Simon told the court she wanted the remains to be released for burial, even though that could cause issues with testing them further should new technology become available.

That could be important in the appeal process.

Simon has 30 days to file an appeal on the verdict.

There are three basic things that could happen from there, the appeal is denied, the court reverses the verdict, or they remand it, meaning Simon would get a new trial.

You can view a timeline of the case below: