A father residing in North Carolina was recently convicted of second-degree murder and severe child abuse in connection with the tragic death of his 12-week-old daughter in 2022. Nicholas Shane Stephenson, aged 37, has been sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison for his crimes.
Prosecutors accused Stephenson of subjecting his infant daughter, Riley, to torture, abuse, neglect, and starvation, resulting in her skin becoming loose on her body. Superior Court Judge George Bell imposed a prison term of 200 to 252 months for the murder charge, followed by an additional 125 to 162 months for the child abuse offense.
Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams expressed gratitude to the jury for holding Stephenson accountable for the heartless cruelty inflicted upon the defenseless child. Riley’s mother, Diandra Fuhr-Farlow, who had admitted to serious child abuse, initially faced a first-degree murder charge and provided testimony against Stephenson during the trial.
Stephenson, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, was ultimately found guilty of second-degree murder. Authorities were alerted to the distressing situation on June 28, 2022, when Fuhr-Farlow made a 911 call reporting that her daughter was unresponsive in her crib at their home in Candler, southwest of Asheville.
Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders observed visible injuries on Riley, including bruises and burns on her face. Despite efforts to save her, Riley tragically passed away later that day at a nearby hospital. Medical examinations revealed that Riley had suffered multiple fractures, burns, and signs of dehydration, contradicting her parents’ previous claims of her good health.
Fuhr-Farlow initially cited accidental causes for Riley’s injuries, but later alleged that Stephenson had intentionally harmed the child. Stephenson and Fuhr-Farlow faced charges of severe child abuse and murder, which were later elevated to first-degree murder based on the investigation’s findings and consultation with the district attorney.
The medical examiner’s post-mortem examination of Riley indicated severe undernourishment, florid pneumonia, and a lack of medication in her system at the time of death. The tragic case has highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect.