Quinton Simon Case: Time Becoming Crucial as Investigators Gather Evidence

As police continues to investigate the disappearance of 20-month-old Quinton Simon, time becomes a crucial aspect of the case, an expert told Newsweek, as officials continue to search for evidence.

Simon was first reported missing on October 5, the Chatham Police Department said, and investigators, including officials from the FBI, continue to search for him. On Tuesday morning, the Chatham Police Department announced that they had "seized evidence," that they believe "will help move this case forward."

"We're now working to analyze the evidence to see where it leads us. We continue to pursue all avenues to bring Quinton home, following all leads and evidence. There will be no further public statements today," the police department said.

While speaking with Newsweek on Tuesday, Michelle Jeanis, an assistant professor in the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, explained why the first few days after a child is reported missing are so crucial in the investigation saying that avoiding the loss of evidence "is really important.

"If we need to use cadaver dogs or search and rescue dogs, we need to do that before the foot searches," Jeanis told Newsweek. "Some [law enforcement] agencies do what I'd call a really good job, which is collecting as much physical evidence as fast as possible, securing potential crime scenes as fast as possible, collecting that digital evidence as fast as possible, because that can be lost quickly as well."

Jeanis continued, "If we have someone that is kidnapped by an offender, they may be trying to travel far distances very fast, so if we're not really serious about securing that community right when that person goes missing, then we don't have an area small to search anymore, we have the nation to search, which makes it much harder."

During a recent press conference, Chatham Police Chief Jeff Hadley said that it is fair to say that the department's work with the FBI indicates that they are "looking at the criminal investigation aspect of it, as well."

 Jeanis explained that this remark by the police chief likely indicates that officials have "some sort of evidence."

"I would say that if there's evidence of a criminal investigation, then they must have some sort of perhaps, physical or technological evidence that suggests a crime has been committed," Jeanis told Newsweek.

According to the Chatham Police Department, Simon was last seen at his guardian's home located in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road. Police said that he was last seen wearing a "light blue Sesame Street shirt," and black pants.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, John Bischoff, vice president of the Missing Children Division for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said, "As the search for Quinton Simon nears the one-week mark, we encourage the community to keep sharing Quinton's story. This case has touched the hearts of countless people beyond the Savannah community and anyone, no matter where you live, can get involved to help find him.

"Here at the National Center, we know that all it takes is one person to bring a missing child home and we will not give up hope until Quinton is found. We're here to support law enforcement as they continue to work diligently to find Quinton and safely bring him home," Bischoff added.