When True Crime Content Creators Go Too Far: An Example

Yesterday I wrote an overview regarding the details of the Quinton Simon missing person’s case. If you haven’t read it yet, let me give you a brief overview before I dive right into the chaos that has ensued in the true crime community. Quinton Simon is a 20-month-old little boy who went missing from his playpen on October 5th in Savannah, Georgia. Initially, police weren’t sure if anything criminal had happened, or if Quinton had escaped from his playpen on his own. However, they would find evidence (which is not been publicly released) that would point them in the direction of Quinton’s mother, Leilani Simon.

Quinton was last seen by his mother’s boyfriend, Danny Youngkin, around 6 am while he was still in his playpen. Leilani would call 911 around 9:30 am that morning, after saying she woke up to find Quinton missing from his playpen, with the front door of her home left wide open. She would tell investigators, that she believed someone had broken into her home and taken little Quinton.

However, the police believe that Quinton is deceased and his mother is the primary suspect in his death. Even with the public accusations, no charges have been laid yet. There has been a massive search to recover Quinton’s body — a search that has involved multiple police forces, including the FBI, as well as k-9 dogs and helicopters. Police are focusing their efforts at the local landfill, where they believe Quinton’s body has been dumped. They allege to have evidence pointing to Quinton’s body being put into a trash bin and then dumped in a specific dumpster located at a trailer park.

Quinton’s mother, Leilani, has maintained her innocence — even when her own mother (and Quinton’s grandmother), Billie-Joe Howell, has stated they believe there was an accident with a fatal outcome. In a recorded phone call with Quinton’s biological dad that was handed over to the DailyMail.com, she is heard saying she thinks Quinton drowned while his mother was high on drugs. She said she thinks Leilani panicked and dumped the body instead of calling for help.

Leilani is not really cooperating with the investigation at this point — and since she has been named suspect #1, there have been protestors gathered outside of her home day and night. One of these protestors is a YouTube creator named Jimmy Williams, who goes by the name of Dolly.

In my opinion, this creator has taken things way too far. He has pushed beyond reporting the facts of the case and peacefully protesting, which is in his right. He has turned the whole search and investigation into a circus, drumming up as much drama as he can — to turn this tragedy into views and money. In my opinion, his behaviour has been outrageous — and the police seem to be attempting to put a stop to it, as the other day, “Dolly” was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct. He was photographed outside of the family home standing on vehicles, shouting at the top of his lungs. As for the arrest, this was a result of him grabbing a woman and ripping an air horn and papers out of her hands — all of which was caught on video.

It’s been over four weeks since Quinton was first reported missing — and the police have publicly said they are uncertain if they will ever be able to recover his tiny body. I can understand the absolute outrage and frustration that people are feeling over what has happened. But people need to remember their purpose and place, especially if they dub themselves true crime creators. If the goal is drama and money — he has accomplished that. But if he truly wants to know what happened to Quinton and for the person who harmed him to pay for their crime — he needs to step back immediately and let the police do their thing.

Entire cases have been destroyed because of overzealous creators.

Yes — it’s time to put the pressure on Leilani and get her talking about what happened to little Quinton. Everything anyone does at this point should support that singular goal.

Update as of February 2025:

Quinton's body was found in a landfill around five weeks after he was reported missing. Simon was arrested in November 2022 and indicted on murder and other charges the following month