SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - Twenty-plus witness testimonies and hours worth of video and cell phone-extracted evidence is what the jury of seven men and nine women have so far in deciding the fate of Leilani Simon, standing trial for the murder of her 20-month-old son, Quinton.
The first week of witness testimony has officially wrapped, as prosecutors are trying to prove Simon killed Quinton and threw away his body in a dumpster overnight between Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, 2022.
The prosecution team is led by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Dean, Assistant Chatham County District Attorney Jennifer Parker, and Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) Det. Marian Lemmons.
On Monday, Dean delivered an hour-plus-long opening statement.
"Her story fell apart pretty quickly thanks to good police work," Dean told the jury, "She would go on to tell a series of lies over several weeks only moving from one lie to the next."
The defense team consists of attorneys Robert Persse and Martin Hilliard.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Leilani Simon murder trial
Persse delivered a three-minute opening statement.
"This case can't be decided based on emotions. It must be decided based on facts and evidence presented in this courtroom. It can't be determined by their rumors, their gossip and their conclusions. In the end, that is what you will determine is that that is the foundation of the state's claims," said Persse.
Friday, the state showed the jury video evidence that pins a Dodge Journey matching the one registered to Simon to the Azalea Mobile Home dumpsters off Ogeechee Road around 1 a.m. on Oct. 5, 2022.
According to witness testimony from Sgt. Gary Scott Coleman, an officer with the CCPD Crime Scene Unit, what the footage does not show is the vehicle stopping at the neighboring Chevron gas station, something Simon has told multiple detectives on the record that she did, according to video evidence and testimony.
The state has been referencing and showing video evidence of what Dean has coined the "Orajel story," a story Simon gave detectives about what she was doing the night of Oct. 4 into the early hours of Oct. 5, meeting her friend "Misty" at the Chevron gas station to get Orajel for a toothache.
On Thursday, Melissa Bray, who prosecutors have identified as Misty in the story, testified she did not meet Simon that night and has not seen her since July.
She also testified she does not go by the nickname of Misty and is nicknamed "Missy."
The jury also heard from Daniel Youngkin, the ex-boyfriend of Simon who was living with her in October 2022. In opening statements, the state said Simon's relationship and need to feel desired by Youngkin was her "biggest priority" at the time of Quinton's disappearance.
Dean showed evidence video which he called a "digital suicide note," a selfie video taken by Simon where she appears to tell Youngkin, "You did not want me, and I wanted you. I wanted you more than life itself."
Youngkin testified Wednesday to being at home the night of Oct. 4 and did not see Quinton in the morning because he did not check the pack-and-play where he slept.
"I know I asked you if you looked, and it seemed like you got a little emotional in response to that question. What is it about that question in particular that makes you upset?" Dean asked Youngkin in testimony.
"I just I wish I looked," replied Youngkin, "I don't know if it would have made a difference; I wish I looked."
On Thursday, the state called Simon's former friend, Melanie Bowling, to the stand. Upon cross-examination from Hilliard, she testified to making contact with Quinton's ghost during a séance.
"He spoke to me through images when I was in my trance," Bowling said on the stand. "I lit my candle, had my Bible out, and I prayed. I asked if I could reach out to Quinton Simon, and here he comes... I was always called Mama Mel. He said Mama Mel, help me."
One of the last testimonies before the weekend recess was from Quinton's former babysitter, Michelle McCarta, who provided care for him and his older brother Zayne. She testified that Simon once told her she loved Zayne more than Quinton.
"There was a difference in love she showed between Zayne and Quinton," said McCarta on the stand. "She's a crappy mom I knew that."
Witness testimony continues Monday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. The trial is expected to last two-three weeks.