Man convicted of child murder sentenced to life in prison

A 41-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing a 21-month-old girl and leaving her body in a Las Vegas trash bin.

William Marshall pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to first-degree murder for the death of Shia Travis. The toddler was found dead after being left in Marshall's care by her mother, a prostitute named Darrean Williams, according to authorities.

Marshall also was charged with sexual assault, but that count was dropped as part of his plea deal. Prosecutors also agreed to the life prison sentence and would not seek the death penalty against Marshall.

Williams' lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Joe Abood, said his client wanted Judge Jessie Walsh to know that "he never sexually assaulted the baby."

Abood said his client admitted to the killing "as soon as he was arrested" but never said he sexually assaulted her.

In a letter to the court Williams apologized for killing her, Abood said.

Travis' body was discovered in June 2009 by two homeless men rummaging through an apartment trash bin near the Strip.

Marshall was arrested about a week later in Phoenix.

Authorities said the toddler died from blunt force head trauma during a beating. She was found in a large pillow case wearing only a Winnie the Pooh diaper. According to police, the child also had injuries "consistent with forced penetration."

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.