'Find Oaklee': Community members hold vigil for toddler last seen in Indianapolis

Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star
Updated ·4 min read
1
Father Eric Johnson (center), joined by Janie Sue Dubbs (left), recites a prayer for 2-year-old Oaklee Snow on Monday, April 17, 2023, outside of City Market in Indianapolis. In January, Snow was taken from her father's home in Oklahoma without his consent by her mother, Madison Marshall. Snow was last seen by a witness in Indianapolis in February, but remains missing.

It’s been more than two months since an Oklahoma toddler went missing in Indianapolis. Her loved ones and community members are demanding answers.

“It’s frustrating and scary,” said April Kelley, a family friend of the missing girl. “We have got to find Oaklee. Regardless of the outcome, we've got to bring that baby home so we can have peace."

In January, 2-year-old Oaklee Snow was taken from her father’s home in Oklahoma without his consent by her mother, Madison Marshall.

Where is Oaklee Snow? Toddler last seen in Indianapolis missing after mother's arrest

Marshall, 22, now sits in a North Carolina jail facing neglect charges, but Oaklee, who was last seen in Indianapolis, is nowhere to be found.

A small group of Central Indiana residents gathered to pray and help get the word out about the missing girl on Monday evening. They handed out fliers with Oaklee’s photo and info on the case to people walking near the City Market in downtown Indianapolis.

"What a challenge to be in a completely different state than where your daughter ends up missing,” said Janie Sue Dubbs, who helped organize the event. “That's got to be even more frustrating for the family.”

Dubbs is the creator of a true crime podcast called Justice Served Daily and she highlighted Oaklee Snow’s case on her show. She connected with the girl’s family in Oklahoma through Facebook and planned the event in Indiana hoping to help find answers.

Oaklee Snow timeline: Toddler last seen in Indianapolis

"We are trying to keep her face out there and make everybody aware that there's a little girl missing,” Dubbs said. “Although she is from Oklahoma, we've adopted her as a Hoosier. We want to go out and help find her.”

Breanne Rice saw information about Oaklee’s case on Facebook a few weeks ago and also attended the event Monday. She helps hang up missing person posters in the neighborhood near Garfield Park where Oaklee Snow was last seen in Indianapolis, according to court documents.

“I just think it's horrible and I think it's sad she is still missing, and we haven’t heard much of what’s going on,” Rice said.

The group handed out carnations with the missing person fliers and Father Eric Johnson from St. Agnes of Brown County said a prayer.

A prayer vigil and informational table were set up for 2-year-old Oaklee Snow on Monday, April 17, 2023, outside of City Market in Indianapolis. In January, Snow was taken from her father's home in Oklahoma without his consent by her mother, Madison Marshall. Snow was last seen by a witness in Indianapolis in February, but remains missing.
A prayer vigil and informational table were set up for 2-year-old Oaklee Snow on Monday, April 17, 2023, outside of City Market in Indianapolis. In January, Snow was taken from her father's home in Oklahoma without his consent by her mother, Madison Marshall. Snow was last seen by a witness in Indianapolis in February, but remains missing.

What happened to Oaklee Snow?

Marshall left with both Oaklee and her 7-month-old son, Coleton, traveling with her boyfriend Roan Waters, who has family in Indiana, according to court documents.

On March 3, police in Colorado arrested Waters for an outstanding warrant on charges of child abuse and domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor in Oklahoma, records state.

Waters told detectives he had traveled from Oklahoma with Marshall and her two children in his blue Dodge Durango. After reaching Indianapolis, they stayed at a "trap house" so he and Marshall could use drugs, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Breanne Rice and Daisy Rice, 7, hand out fliers to passersby during a prayer vigil for 2-year-old Oaklee Snow on Monday, April 17, 2023, outside of City Market in Indianapolis. In January, Snow was taken from her father's home in Oklahoma without his consent by her mother, Madison Marshall. Snow was last seen by a witness in Indianapolis in February, but remains missing.

Waters said they made the decision to abandon 7-month-old Coleton at an Indianapolis residence and take Oaklee with them, records state.

During an interview with TV station KFOR, Seminole County investigator J.T. Palmer said that according to authorities in Indianapolis, witnesses saw Oaklee being carried out of what he was told was a “crack house" on Feb. 9.

“They described it as she was either asleep or unconscious. She wasn’t moving,” said Palmer. “She was wrapped in a blanket.”

Waters said a family member recovered Coleton from the Indianapolis house near Garfield Park and turned him over to the Indiana Department of Child Services, according to an affidavit.

Oaklee Snow
Oaklee Snow

Waters was unwilling to provide authorities where they could find Oaklee, records state.

Coleton is now home with his father Zachary Snow in Oklahoma, said the family friend April Kelley.

What does Oaklee Snow look like?

Oaklee Snow, 2, has blond hair, blue eyes and weighs about 35 pounds, according to a March 8 release from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. At that time Indianapolis police said Snow was last seen Jan. 19 in Cromwell, Oklahoma but was brought to Indianapolis by Marshall.

Who should you contact with information on the missing girl?

Anyone who sees Oaklee Snow or has information on her whereabouts is asked to call 911, contact the IMPD Missing Persons Unit at 317-327-6160, or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Oaklee Mae Snow missing: Vigil for toddler last seen in Indianapolis