Madison Marshall, the mother of a baby girl who was tragically beaten to death and left to decompose in a dresser drawer, has accepted a plea deal to testify against her ex-boyfriend, Roan Waters, who is charged with the murder of her 1-year-old daughter, Oaklee Snow. Marshall, 24, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent, facing a 25-year sentence for the first charge and two years for the second, to be served concurrently.
According to court documents, Marshall confessed to helping Waters dispose of Oaklee’s body after he allegedly killed the child and prevented her from calling 911. She is expected to testify that on the day of the incident, she heard Waters yelling at Oaklee, demanding that she bounce on her bouncy ball. Moments later, she found Waters holding the lifeless child and attempted to call for help, only to have the phone knocked out of her hand by Waters.
Waters then wrapped Oaklee’s body in a blanket and placed her in his SUV, eventually leaving her in an abandoned building where she was found by investigators. The discovery of Oaklee’s remains revealed a history of abuse and neglect, with Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stating that the alleged beating that led to her death was not an isolated incident.
Prior to the tragic event, Marshall had reportedly removed both Oaklee and her 7-month-old son from their father’s home without his consent. As part of the plea agreement, Marshall must provide full and truthful testimony against Waters during the trial. Failure to do so will result in the deal being revoked, and she will face trial for her original charges.
The trial, originally scheduled for May 9, has been postponed to June 9 to allow Waters’ defense team to depose Marshall. The case has sparked outrage and highlighted the devastating consequences of child abuse, with authorities working to seek justice for baby Oaklee Snow.
