Oaklee Snow: Mother of toddler found dead in dresser in Morgan County home takes plea deal

MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. -- The mother of a 1-year-old girl whose body was found in a dresser inside an abandoned home near Morgantown two years ago has taken a plea deal.




According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, Madison Marshall pleaded guilty on April 25 to Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death (Level 1 Felony) and Neglect of a Dependent (Level 6 Felony).

In exchange, the state has agreed to dismiss several other neglect charges that were pending against her and an additional charge of Assisting a Criminal who Committed Murder (Level 5 Felony).




The plea deal outlines how prosecutors are looking to have Marshall sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for her Neglect Resulting in Death charge. Her other charge would include a 2-year sentence that would run at the same time as the first sentence, meaning she will not receive any additional time in prison.




Under the terms of the plea deal, Marshall will testify against Roan Waters, who police allege was directly responsible for the death of Oaklee Snow after abducting her and her baby brother from her biological father's home in Oklahoma on Jan. 19, 2023. Waters faces the following preliminary charges:

• Murder





• Two counts of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death (Level 1 Felony)





• Three counts of Neglect of a Dependent (Level 6 Felony)





• Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Level 3 Felony)





• Battery (Level 5 Felony).

When Marshall and Waters returned to Indianapolis, investigators believe they left the baby boy at a "drug house" located on Albany Street in Indianapolis. The baby was later recovered by Waters' mother and sister, who reported his abandonment to the Indiana Department of Child Services.




Around the same time, a witness reportedly observed Marshall and Waters leaving the drug house with what they believed was "a child wrapped in a blanket," court documents revealed at the time. The witness reportedly told investigators they did not believe the child was moving or crying.




Investigators later shared that they believed Oaklee was already dead and that Marshall and Waters had disposed of her body at a home on the outskirts of Morgantown. Investigators later determined that Oaklee had died on Feb. 9, 2023, after Waters was awakened to the sounds of Oaklee crying because she reportedly had not eaten.




When Marshall claimed she tried to contact 911, she said Waters prevented her from doing so by snatching her phone from her, according to previous reports. Marshall recalled that Waters allegedly wrapped Oaklee in a blanket and the couple left the home to dispose of the body.




According to previous reports, Marshall led investigators to the abandoned home where they recovered the "badly decomposed" remains of a young girl with blonde hair. During a subsequent interview with investigators, Marshall recounted how Waters would allegedly abuse Oaklee on a regular basis, including hitting and choking her.




Marshall went on to state that Waters would allegedly abuse her if she ever attempted to intervene on Oaklee's behalf.




Marshall was later arrested in March of 2023 while aboard a bus in Colorado that was en route to North Carolina, according to previous reports. She was eventually brought back to Marion County.




Waters was arrested in Colorado on March 3 on active warrants for child abuse, domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor out of Oklahoma.




Online court records indicate Marshall is scheduled to appear in Marion Superior Court 20 for a change of plea hearing on May 1 at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, Waters' jury trial is slated to commence on May 12 at 8:30 a.m.





via: https://fox59.com/news/oaklee-snow-mother-of-toddler-found-dead-in-dresser-in-morgan-county-home-takes-plea-deal/