Mother sentenced for abusing 3-month-old girl until she died

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (TCN) -- A 32-year-old woman will spend over a decade behind bars in connection with the abuse of her 12-week-old daughter, who died from her injuries.

According to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, Deandra Haleigh-Alexis Fuhr-Farlow was sentenced on Oct. 2 to 125 to 162 months, or approximately 10.4 to 13.5 years, in prison after being convicted of intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury.

She was initially charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge "in exchange for her full cooperation and testimony at trial against co-defendant Nicholas Shane Stephenson."

Prosecutors said Fuhr-Farlow’s testimony "proved critical to the successful prosecution and conviction of Stephenson for his role in the murder of Riley Stephenson."

According to prosecutors, a jury convicted Stephenson last month of second-degree murder and felony child abuse. He was sentenced to 200 to 252 months, or about 16.66 to 21 years, for second-degree murder, followed by 125 to 162 months, or approximately 10.4 to 13.5 years, for the felony child abuse conviction.

According to WLOS-TV, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded to Stephenson and Fuhr-Farlow’s home in June 2022 after the victim was found unconscious and not breathing in her bassinet. An autopsy reportedly revealed the baby had "florid pneumonia" in both lungs and was critically underweight. The infant had multiple healing fractures on the ribs, collarbone, arms, legs, and spine. Authorities reportedly observed abrasions and bruises on the girl’s face and body, as well as burns on her face.

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