Police seek two in death of toddler found in trash bin

Investigators say girl died from trauma to the head

Metro Police

Darrean Williams and William Marshall were being sought in the death of a toddler girl found in a trash bin Wednesday near the Las Vegas Convention Center.

By Mary Manning (contact)

Published Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 10:25 a.m.

Updated Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 1:13 p.m.

Toddler found dead in trash bin

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Baby found dead

Baby found dead in trash bin near Convention Center (6-10-09)

Metro Police are looking for a man and a woman for questioning in the death of a girl toddler found dumped in a trash bin Wednesday.

Darrean Williams, 20, and William Marshall, 37, are being sought by police, Lt. Lew Roberts said during a news conference late this morning.

The cause of the toddler's death is homicide by blunt force trauma to the head, Roberts said. The Clark County Coroner's Office was scheduled to complete an autopsy of the girl, who is between 1 and 2 years of age, he said.

"These are persons of interest," Roberts said. "They are being actively sought."

The girl has been named "Baby Jane Vista" during the investigation, police said.

People living near the 500 block of Sierra Vista Drive near Swenson Avenue recognized the tot's photo on the Internet, television and other news sources, Roberts said. Police received phone calls that led a team of investigators to the man and the woman, he said.

"People had seen a young female around the area," Roberts said regarding the woman whom police are seeking.

The woman is the toddler's mother and Marshall is believed to be her boyfriend. "We don't know who the father is," Roberts said.

Marshall has no criminal record and Williams was cited in May for a minor consuming alcohol, said Officer Barbara Morgan, a spokeswoman for Metro Police.

The mother is believed to have lived at the Kona Loa Sierra apartments on Sierra Vista, Roberts said.

Homeless men looking through the trash in one of half a dozen garbage bins behind apartment complexes in the 500 block of Sierra Vista Drive discovered the girl's body wrapped in a sheet, Roberts said. She was wearing a diaper, but had no other clothing.

One of the men ran into the street and flagged down a police cruiser after finding the body about 4 p.m. Wednesday, Roberts said.

The trash bin was in an open parking lot at the back of an apartment complex, police said. Homicide detectives, neglect and abuse investigators and missing persons officers responded to the area, blocking the trash bins with yellow crime scene tape. They returned to the area this morning to distribute fliers and interview anyone with information, Roberts said.

Police did not find anyone suspicious on surveillance tapes they gathered from the area, Roberts said.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Metro Police at 828-5678 or 828-3111. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Discussion: 19 comments so far…

By gettocard

6/11/09 at 10:57 a.m.

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Jesus Christ.....I'm not one to be impressed very easily,but was it really necessary to put a picture like that ??? Ok we all like to see blood and gore,face it,but not a kid like that,please. You failed again Las Vegas Sun.....
By JayeTT

6/11/09 at 11:03 a.m.

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Yes, it's necessary--they're trying to identify the girl. Police only release photos of minors like this to get an ID, and I'm sure it will be removed when the child is identified.

The same thing was done when trying to ID the toddler that Chester Stiles raped, remember? Stills from the video were published.

Yes, it's grusome, but that girl deserves some justice, and this will help with expediting that process.
By CaptJack

6/11/09 at 11:09 a.m.

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I'm with you Jaye. They have no idea who the kid is, so take a good look and call police if you know her.
By JSpence07

6/11/09 at 12:35 p.m.

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What is this world coming to? That poor girl. :( RIP and there is a very special place in Hell for people who do stuff like this to children!!
By revtomperl

6/11/09 at 12:36 p.m.

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The Sun did good. This is not a convent - it is Vegas, baby!!!
By Mandy

6/11/09 at 1:11 p.m.

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gettocard:
What are you talking about? I see no photos with any blood. I see the CSI folks walking the crime scene, which has been the photo online since early this morning - I see no blood.
By fromthesouth

6/11/09 at 1:55 p.m.

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Mandy,

I am thinking they have since removed the photo since the baby has somewhat been identified.

It was very difficult to look at the picture on the news last night, but I thought that if I recognized the infant it would be worthwhile to assist.

I went to bed thinking about the little angel and woke up thinking about her.

It grieves me.
By LV4LIFE

6/11/09 at 1:56 p.m.

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May God forgive those responsible. RIP baby girl.
By rejco100

6/11/09 at 3:49 p.m.

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If there were no homeless dumpster divers this little girl would be at the dump and her mama getting ready for a night on the town.
By homer

6/12/09 at 12:29 p.m.

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All to soon the black community will come forward with all of the reasons these two are misunderstood and have been mistreated by law enforcement.
By JoshG

6/12/09 at 3:36 p.m.

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Homer, you really are a vitriolic rabid racist. I thought the discussion was about a child. Apparently, your defective genes have rendered you devoid of empathy, how sad.
By rejco100

6/12/09 at 7:17 p.m.

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For some people, any offense , like her MIP, can send them on a spiral downfall. A 20 year old with a MIP ticket is automatically diagnosed a hard-core alcoholic, requiring fines, never-ending group therapy, mandatory 12-Step Religious Cult Conversion for life, CPS come into the picture with daily threats of snatching her child out of her arms if she does not have her AA attendance slips signed and a sponsor. Yes, little thing the government causes destroys lives!
By vegas104

6/12/09 at 9:36 p.m.

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Horrific. I hope we catch this TRASH and put them in the dumpster.
By homer

6/13/09 at 9:35 a.m.

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JoshG And you are a complete fool. The very first sentence is about the police looking for these scum who are still lose. And if you would come out of your coma or had any knowledge of the judicial system you would know that everything from a troubled childhood,to not enough opportunities in life,to they are not capable of understanding their actions is coming and not to be surprised if the likes of Al Sharpton will emerge to challenge a tough sentence.
Why do you think police,firefighters and anyone who has to deal with criminals like these retire and move places where they are not.
You are an idiot who lives in a polly ana world and has yet to understand the real facts of life. If the facts that I have mentioned makes me a racist so be it just as the NAACP,The Urban League and other institutions are equally racist. Now grow up.
By homer

6/13/09 at 9:42 a.m.

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JoshG Speaking of defective genes you have shown yours here. Where are your comprehension skills as well as the only means of communicating is by insults. Dialog and intelligence you seem to lack. When confronted with different opinions your sick little mind reverts to your gangster up bringing. It is obvious who is defective here.
By ChantelWilliams

6/13/09 at 10:40 p.m.

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I think that it was a good thing that they found the mother and just to think thats my baby cuzin the girl that was found in the trash bin. I loved her with all my heart and to find out she got murdered was heart breaking. So I think it was a good idea to post the picture and Im glad that they posted her picture and when they did she was identified and thats all the Williams Family wanted and Darren Thats my big cuzin and she let her boyfriend i din't know yet kill the baby
By WelshGirl

6/26/09 at 12:18 a.m.

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All these women think about is having another man between their legs, sorry if it sounds bad but it's true, they sacrifice their children for the sake of a 'new boyfriend'.. COMPULSORY STERILISATION.

That poor baby, makes me MAD.