A MARION VIRGINIA MAN ACCUSED IN THE DEATH OF HIS 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER HAS A NEW COURT DATE SET IN SMYTH COUNTY JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT FOR NEXT MONTH. 26 YEAR OLD TRAVIS RAY HESTER IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE JULY 27TH DEATH OF BELLE LEANN HESTER. AUTHORITIES SAID THE CHILD SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AND DIED THE NEXT DAY AS THE RESULT OF A SKULL FRACTURE. HESTER FIRST CLAIMED THE CHILD FELL FROM A DECK, BUT LATER CONFESSED AFTER AN AUTOPSY SHOWED THE INJURIES WEREN’T CONSISTANT WITH A FALL FROMA DECK. HESTER REMAINS HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA REGIONAL JAIL IN ABINGDON. HE FACES UP TO LIFE IN PRISON IF HE’S CONVICTED OF THE CHARGE. A PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR HESTER IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH.