North Las Vegas parents Ricky Beasley and Lakeia Walker have admitted to felony charges in connection with the disappearance and death of their 3‑year‑old daughter, Zaela Walker, nearly eight years after she was first reported missing. Zaela disappeared from the family’s North Las Vegas home in late August 2018, and investigators say her body has still not been found. The couple is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2026.
According to court records, Beasley pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder and Walker pleaded guilty to accessory to commit murder on April 2, 2026. Those filings set the joint sentencing hearing for July 23, 2026. As reported by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, prosecutors say Beasley faces the possibility of a life term, while Walker’s plea leaves her facing a significantly shorter prison exposure.
Zaela was reported missing after relatives lost contact with her in August 2018 from a home on the 4600 block of Mission Cantina Avenue. Investigators say her parents left Las Vegas and traveled through several states while the girl was unaccounted for. Police records and early reporting from the investigation describe a search of the parents’ phones that turned up internet queries by Beasley about stopping seizures in children on the day Zaela vanished, a detail detectives later flagged. Local coverage of the couple’s movements and subsequent arrests was documented by FOX5 Las Vegas.
Grand jury transcripts and related filings also include a remark attributed to Walker that prosecutors highlighted for jurors: "you always say no body, no crime." Investigators say Zaela’s remains still have not been located. Summaries of the early records, transcripts and the missing‑person timeline have been compiled by public case databases and advocacy projects that track the file. A concise case summary and timeline are available at The Charley Project.
How Nevada Law Applies
Under Nevada law, second‑degree murder is a category A felony that can carry life imprisonment. Statutes covering accessories and aiding or abetting allow for shorter sentences that vary based on the defendant’s role and the terms of any plea agreement. When it comes time to impose punishment, judges weigh the statutory categories, any agreed sentencing recommendations and statements from the victim’s family when deciding the length of the sentence and parole eligibility. For the statute text and penalty ranges, see NRS 200.030 (FindLaw) and the Nevada Legislature guidance.
The case is set to return to court on July 23, 2026, when a judge will formally sentence Beasley and Walker after reviewing their pleas, any agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys, and statements from Zaela’s relatives. Police and prosecutors say the investigation into Zaela’s disappearance remains active, and they are still asking anyone with new information to contact investigators. Earlier reporting on the arrests and the unfolding investigation is available from KTNV.
