Oaklee Snow Supporters Pushing For Murder Charge Against Toddler's Mother

Family and friends of Oaklee Snow, the Seminole County toddler who investigators say was murdered by her mother's boyfriend, are pushing for murder charges against the mother as well.

Oaklee Snow's father reported on Jan. 19 that Snow and her infant brother were missing from their home in Cromwell. He told the Seminole County Sheriff's Office that the children's mother, 22-year-old Madison Marshall, and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Roan Waters, likely took the kids to Indianapolis to be with Waters' family, according to the probable cause affidavit by a detective with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).

Police arrested Waters in Colorado on March 3 and the FBI arrested Marshall in North Carolina on March 23.

The affidavit went on to say that Waters told investigators he traveled with Marshall and her two children to a "trap house" in Indianapolis so he and Marshall could do drugs. Waters and Marshall then left Snow's baby brother at the house, who was later picked up by one of Waters' relatives, the affidavit said. The baby has since been reunited with his father.

Marshall told investigators that Waters killed Snow on Feb. 9 at the home they were staying at in Indianapolis, the affidavit stated. She claimed that leading up to the killing, Waters was yelling at Snow, ordering her to bounce on her bouncy ball.

Marshall said Waters drove her and Snow's body to an abandoned home in Morganville, Indiana, where he allegedly hid the toddler's remains, according to the affidavit. A crime scene investigator confirmed that a body of a small child was in the bottom drawer of a dresser inside the abandoned home.

IMPD told News 9 it may take weeks, if not months, to positively identify the remains using DNA. But the Marion County Prosecutor's Office issued a news release on April 26, stating that investigators believed the remains to be that of Snow, who would have turned 2 years old on March 10.

As a result, Waters was charged with murder and numerous other felonies. Marshall was charged with multiple felonies as well, including neglect of a dependent resulting in death and assisting a criminal.

Melody Jordan, mother of Snow's oldest brother, and April Kelley, a family friend, told News 9 they were shocked when they found out about the grisly details from the affidavit. They said investigators had not told Snow's family about the information in the affidavit prior to the document's release.

"The details were horrific, obviously. And it broke our hearts," said Kelley. "It definitely scars you and it took us days to even process the affidavit."

"I still read it to this day to make sure I understood it," Jordan added.

Kelley and Jordan said knowing how Oaklee was found even affected their routines.

"I couldn't open up a dresser for days. Like, I couldn't even put my laundry away. That's how bad it affected me," said Kelley.

Jordan said she's been in contact with Snow's father every day.

"The only thing that he says right now is that he just wants to bring his daughter and lay her to rest," said Jordan.

Although Waters has been charged with murder, Jordan and Kelley said they're disappointed Marshall is not facing the same felony.

"She should be charged with murder as well, in my opinion, and I know a lot of people feel that way," said Jordan. "She held her daughter and to take her last breath and she didn't - I know as a mom myself, I'd be, 'I'm not going anywhere with you.' Like, I'm running to the nearest emergency room."

In addition to hoping for a murder charge against Marshall, Jordan and Kelley said they believe members of Waters' family should be held accountable as well. Kelley said she is working on a petition to push for those changes.

"The more we push, the more we ask questions, the more we keep bothering IMPD, I feel it's going to get under their skin, and like I said, we just got to keep pushing," said Kelley. "We do not want Oaklee's story to fade off."

 "This family's awfully noisy," Jordan added.

Furthermore, Kelley said she was frustrated that an Amber Alert was not issued after Snow disappeared and hoped to get the law changed. According to Oklahoma law, an Amber Alert should only be activated when a child 17 years old or younger is abducted and there is reason to believe the victim is in imminent danger of serious injury or death, and there is information that can be distributed to law enforcement agencies and the public that could help find the victim and/or the suspect.

When Snow was reported missing, Waters was already wanted on charges related to a prior incident involving the toddler. According to the Oklahoma State Courts Network, a bench warrant out of Okfuskee County was issued in November against Waters for charges of child abuse and domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor. Marshall told investigators that Waters hit Snow in the mouth with an open hand because she had been crying, then slapped Marshall in the face when she tried to intervene, the affidavit stated. Snow suffered a cut on her lip while Marshall had visible contusions on her left eyelid and cheek.