ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Buncombe County jury on Friday convicted a man of second-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his 12-week-old daughter.
Nickolas Shane Stephenson, 37, was found guilty in the two-week trial of killing his daughter, Riley Stephenson. Jurors deliberated for parts of two days before reaching their verdict Friday afternoon.
Stephenson had been charged with first-degree murder but was convicted of the lesser offense.
Judge George C. Bell announced the verdict shortly before 4 p.m., as first responders, detectives and deputies who worked on the case filled the courtroom. Several deputies stood behind Stephenson as the verdict was read.
Prosecutors asked Bell to impose the maximum presumptive sentences for both charges and to have them run consecutively.
Family members gave emotional statements before sentencing.
“This man right here destroyed so many lives. He deserves worse than what he’s getting,” Riley’s grandfather, Michael Brent Farlow, told the court through tears. Farlow said he saw his granddaughter only once.
Farlow’s daughter, Diandra Haleigh Fuhr-Farlow, the infant’s mother, previously pleaded guilty to intentional child abuse causing serious bodily injury.
“She had her part in this,” Farlow said. “But he took them away from me. This was my first child and my first grandbaby.”
Fuhr-Farlow’s stepmother, Suzanne Yount, told Stephenson he kept them from having contact with Riley. “All you had to do was let her call,” she said. “It wasn’t just one life he ruined.”
Bell sentenced Stephenson to 200 to 250 months in prison for second-degree murder and 125 to 162 months for felony child abuse. The terms will run consecutively, totaling 325 to 414 months, or about 27 to 34 years.
Previous coverage
Deliberations begin in Asheville infant death trial
‘This is torture. This is murder’: Prosecutors make final plea in infant death trial
Detective describes investigation, interviews in Asheville baby’s death
Pathologist: Infant’s death caused by injuries, malnutrition, pneumonia
Pediatrician testifies infant’s death was ‘child torture’
‘She would cry’: Mother recounts abuse before baby’s death
Body cam, crime scene evidence shown in Asheville murder trial
Emergency responders testify in death of 12-week-old
