A PRELIMINARY HEARING HAS BEEN SET FOR A MARION VIRGINIA MAN WHO POLICE SAY CONFESSED UNDER QUESTIONING TO KILLING HIS 11-MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. TRAVIS RAY HESTER WAS ARRAIGNED IN SMYTH COUNTY JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT. THE YOUNG GIRL DIED ON JULY 27TH AT ROANOKE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY HESTER INITIALLY TOLD THEM THE GIRL HAD FALLEN FROM A FIVE-FOOT DECK, BUT A MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID THE INJURIES DIDN’T OCCUR AS THE FATHER CLAIMED THEY DID. HESTER IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE REGIONAL JAIL IN ABINGDON. HE WILL APPEAR IN COURT AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 24TH.