Woman extradited to face charges in toddler’s death

A 23-year-old woman accused of killing a toddler last month, likely with a metal pipe, was recently extradited from California, Las Vegas police said.

Mariann Harris, who was booked at the San Bernardino County Jail on Aug. 24, was extradited to Southern Nevada to face charges in connection with the slaying of 14-month-old Dyon Johnson.

Harris was being held at the Clark County Detention Center on Tuesday without bail on the recommended charges of first-degree murder, child abuse with a deadly weapon and two counts of child abuse.

Clark County jail records showed she was booked on Saturday. She is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 6 .

According to Harris' arrest report, Dyon's body was cold and glassy-eyed when paramedics arrived at Harris' downtown apartment complex just after midnight Aug. 13.

The toddler had been dead for "some time" before Harris called 911, the report said.

Authorities found a metal pipe in the kitchen that had been removed from a bar stool, the report said.

Harris accused police of bringing the pipe into her home, but officers said the pipe was already in the apartment when officers responded, the report said.

A doctor at University Medical Center said Dyon's body and face were covered with fresh bruises and some older wounds that appeared to be healing.

Harris was the girl's godmother and had been her caretaker for several days.

A neighbor told police they witnessed Harris striking the girl several days before hear death. The neighbor said Harris also routinely struck her own three children, the report said.

Harris initially told Dyon's mother, Jannett Simms, the toddler had fallen off a bunk bed. She later said Dyon had fallen down the stairs, the report said.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.