INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The mother of a toddler discovered in a grim scene inside an abandoned Indiana home has agreed to a plea deal, pledging cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation, according to court documents.
Madison Marshall, 25, admitted guilt to charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent linked to the demise of her daughter, Oaklee Snow.
Marshall was apprehended in Harnett County, North Carolina, last March on numerous charges, including enabling a crime involving murder and various counts of child neglect leading to death and serious injury. Her agreement with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office comes as part of an effort to assist in the prosecution of Roan Waters, the individual accused of Oaklee’s murder.
Waters, 27, is preparing to go on trial in mid-May, facing serious accusations of murder, neglect, and battery of a child under the age of 14. The allegations stem from an incident earlier this year when Oaklee and her 7-month-old brother were taken from Oklahoma to Indiana, reportedly by Marshall and Waters.
The children’s father, Zachary Snow, reported them missing to local authorities, expressing concern after Marshall and Waters left with the children without consent. The tragic journey ended with Oaklee’s death and the successful recovery of her brother from a known drug house.
Marshall, during her custody, directed authorities to the location of Oaklee’s remains. The body was brutally discovered hidden in a dresser drawer in a vacant house in Morgantown, a heartbreaking revelation after a lengthy national search for the missing toddler.
Affidavits detail chilling accounts of Waters’ alleged mistreatment of Oaklee, describing instances of physical abuse for minor misbehaviors and aggressive reprimands. Marshall recounted a fateful day in February when Waters allegedly forced Oaklee to bounce on a ball and later found her unresponsive, preventing her mother from calling for help.
The child’s lifeless form was kept in a blanket in the back of a vehicle, a grim moment Marshall described in police reports. Ultimately, Waters allegedly disposed of Oaklee inside the abandoned residence before her body was found with disturbing signs of trauma and neglect.
A later coroner’s report cited Oaklee’s death as a “homicide of unspecified means,” with the discovery in June underscoring a tragic narrative of fatal child neglect.
Marshall’s plea deal involves a potential 25-year sentence in exchange for her testimonial cooperation against Waters. Additionally, a concurrent two-year sentence is being considered for a separate neglect charge as prosecutors proceed with building their case.
The prosecutor’s office did not immediately comment on Marshall’s plea or the trial preparations against Waters. As the legal proceedings unfold, this harrowing case continues to capture the attention of communities seeking justice for a life cruelly cut short.