Nickolas Shane Stephenson: North Carolina Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for the Death of Infant Daughter

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A Buncombe County man will spend decades behind bars for the 2022 death of his two-month-old daughter. 

On Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, a judge sentenced 37-year-old Nickolas Shane Stephenson to a minimum of 27 years in a North Carolina prison. This was after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and felony child abuse.

The conviction concludes a painful case that began on June 28, 2022, when emergency responders were called to a home on Four Wheel Drive in Candler. 

The call came from the baby’s mother, Diandra Fuhr-Farlow, who reported her infant, Riley Leshae Hannah Stephenson, was unconscious and not breathing in her bassinet.

When first responders arrived at the home, what they discovered was deeply disturbing. 

According to police reports, they found baby Riley emaciated "to the point where her skin was loose on her body," as per Law&Crime. 

She had visible bruises, abrasions, and burns on her face. Despite being rushed to Mission Hospital, the 12-week-old infant was pronounced dead later that evening.

Diandra Fuhr-Farlow 


After baby Riley passed, an autopsy was conducted by forensic experts in December 2022, and it revealed the full extent of the suffering the child endured in her short life. 

The autopsy report stated that there were "multiple healing fractures of various ages" on her ribs, collar bone, arms, legs, and spine. She also suffered from "florid pneumonia" in both lungs and was severely underweight.

After this discovery, the police launched and investigation and brought in her parents for questioning. 

According to court documents, Fuhr-Farlow initially gave questionable explanations for Riley's injuries.

She claimed the bruising came from a bathtub faucet and the burns from a misapplied hot/cold pack. 

However, she later reportedly told investigators a different story, that she had seen Stephenson dangle Riley by her feet, shake her, and choke her.

After an extensive investigation, both parents were arrested and charged. While Stephenson was accused of the direct physical abuse, authorities said that Fuhr-Farlow "intentionally and neglectfully" left the baby "in a seriously injured state that led to her death."

Nickolas Shane Stephenson 


Initially, both Stephenson and Fuhr-Farlow were charged with first-degree murder. However, Fuhr-Farlow pleaded guilty to felony child abuse back in 2022, and as part of a deal, she testified against Stephenson during his trial.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Stephenson was responsible for Riley's death by inflicting torture, abuse, neglect, and malnutrition. The evidence presented was, in the words of Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams, "extremely graphic."

"The evidence in this case was extremely graphic. We are grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence, which has held Stephenson accountable for the heartless cruelty he inflicted on this most vulnerable and innocent child," Williams stated in a news release.

After hearing all the evidence, the jury reached its verdict on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Stephenson was convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder, along with felony child abuse.

Two days later, Judge Bradley B. Letts sentenced Stephenson to 200-252 months for second-degree murder and 125-165 months for felony child abuse, ordering the sentences to be served consecutively. This means Stephenson will not be eligible for release for at least 27 years.

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