Las Vegas — Nearly eight years after 3-year-old Zaela Walker vanished from North Las Vegas, her parents have been sentenced in connection with her death, though her body has never been found.

On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Chief District Judge Tierra Jones sentenced Ricky Beasley, 35, to 10 to 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He received more than seven years of credit for time already served.

Zaela’s mother, Lakeia Walker, who pleaded guilty to accessory to commit murder, was sentenced to probation with a two- to five-year suspended sentence.

Zaela was last seen with her parents in August 2018. She was reported missing by her grandmother. Investigators later determined she had suffered a traumatic injury and died, with her parents allegedly disposing of her body before going on the run. The child’s remains have never been recovered.

Beasley and Walker were charged with murder in 2019. They reached plea agreements earlier this year, bringing a partial resolution to a case that has long haunted the community. Family members and advocates continue to call for information that could lead to the recovery of Zaela’s body.

Sources:

• Las Vegas Review-Journal
• 8 News Now / KLAS and KTNV reports