Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 | 9:42 p.m.
William Marshall
Sun Archives
- Hearing delayed for man accused in toddler’s death (10-23-2009)
- Boyfriend facing sex assault charge in toddler’s death (6-15-2009)
- Mother’s boyfriend charged in toddler’s death (6-14-2009)
- Police seek two in death of toddler found in trash bin (6-11-2009)
- Baby found dead in trash bin near Convention Center (6-10-2009)
A 38-year-old man charged with killing and sexually assaulting a toddler girl whose body was found in an apartment complex trash bin in June was arraigned Wednesday in District Court, despite his refusal to be transported from the county jail.
William Marshall pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with a deadly weapon and one count of sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age, through his attorney, Joseph Abood, who entered the plea on his client’s behalf.
In October, Marshall declined to be transported for a preliminary hearing on the charges in Justice Court.
A grand jury on Dec. 2 indicted Marshall on the two counts, thereby binding the case to District Court and vacating the preliminary hearing date of Dec. 18. A trial date was set for Feb. 8 in front of District Court Judge David Wall.
Marshall is being held in the death and alleged assault of 21-month-old Shia Travis. Her body was found in a trash bin June 10 wrapped in a pillowcase in the 500 block of Sierra Vista Avenue, behind Marshall’s apartment complex.
The toddler's body was found by two men looking for cans in the trash bin, records indicate.
Marshall has been in custody since his July 11 arrest at a Tempe, Ariz., motel where he was found with the toddler's mother, 22-year-old Darrean Williams. Williams, who lived in the apartment with Marshall, was not charged.
During the autopsy, medical investigators found blunt force trauma to the child's head, according to an arrest report. Medical investigators also said there were injuries consistent with rape.
When police searched the apartment, investigators found two holes that matched the size of the girl's head in a bedroom wall that contained her hair. An autopsy revealed that the girl had died from a blow or blows to her head from fists or from being thrown against a wall.
The grand jury indictment charges Marshall with murdering Shia by striking her head or body against a wall or with an unknown blunt object.
Records indicate investigators found hair that was likely Shia’s in an empty section of the apartment's freezer where Marshall and the girl's mother lived. They also learned a pillowcase was missing from the apartment. Diapers that matched the size and type the toddler was wearing were also found in the home, documents indicate.
Marshall is being held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.
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