The parents of a two-year-old girl who went missing in Nevada have pleaded guilty to murdering her after nearly a decade without answers. Ricky Beasley, 34, and Lakeia Walker, 35, both accepted plea deals in connection with the disappearance of their daughter, Zaela Walker, according to local reports.
Guilty Pleas Entered
Beasley pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, while Walker pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder. Zaela’s body, who would have been ten years old this year, was never found. The parents are expected to be sentenced on July 23.
Details of the Case
According to the North Las Vegas Police (NLVPD), on August 15, 2018, the little girl was with her father while her mother attended a job interview. The parents later met at a park, where Beasley refused to return Walker's daughter. Officials said that the mother called authorities desperately seeking Zaela’s return due to concerns about a doctor's appointment because she had a swollen lymph node.
Beasley demanded $13,000 if Walker wanted to get her daughter back, according to the outlet. Beasley was arrested in Texas after allegedly trying to start a new life with Walker. She was later arrested in March of 2019.
Events Leading to Disappearance
Officials noted on August 21 that Beasley’s mother told police she heard a thump and saw Beasley carrying Zaela to the bathroom to bathe her. The father claimed she urinated on herself, so he threw a cot because he was mad, according to the NLVPD. However, officials said that would be the last time anyone besides Zaela's parents would see the toddler alive.
The following day, the father searched Google for seizure treatments and researched whether marijuana could be used to help. Police said he then went to a cannabis dispensary to purchase a pre-rolled joint. Officials added that on August 22, the parents met at a park where Walker left her cell phone, wallet, and car before they left town in Beasley’s mother’s car.
In September of 2018, the NLVPD said the parents only came back to town to get money before leaving again and heading to Mexico after traveling through several states.
Arrests and Charges
Beasley and Walker were stopped by police in Texas on November 16 as they were allegedly trying to start new lives. About two weeks later, the NLVPD asked the public for help to locate them. Beasley was arrested on December 1, before Walker was arrested in March of 2019. They were indicted by a grand jury in 2019. Beasley was also facing offenses for first-degree kidnapping of a minor, unlawful taking of a vehicle, and theft.
According to court records, Beasley is facing 10 to 25 years, or life with parole eligibility after 10 years. Walker faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
