North Carolina – In a deeply disturbing case that left North Carolina residents shocked, a 37-year-old man, identified as N. Stephenson, has been sentenced to decades in prison in connection with the death of his 3-month-old daughter, whom he was seen choking and shaking until she cried before intentionally burning and hitting the little girl to death. Stephenson was found guilty of second‑degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his infant daughter after a jury trial and was sentenced to between roughly 27 and 34½ years behind bars.
Prosecutors proved that the young girl’s death in 2022 was not from accident but from torture, abuse, neglect, and malnutrition, as well as intentional physical harm, burns, starvation, and failure to provide medical care. The victim’s mother, identified as D. Farlow, had earlier pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and testified against Stephenson at his trial. On June 28, 2022, emergency deputies and EMS units were called to a home. At around 2:30 p.m., Farlow called 911, reporting that her daughter was found unresponsive in her crib.
When first responders arrived, they found the 2-month-old girl in a severely emaciated state. The infant’s skin was loose on her body, reports said, showing just how undernourished she was. In addition to malnutrition, the victim had visible physical injuries: bruises and burns on her face, about five separate burn marks across the back of her head and her face, a fractured left collarbone, multiple broken ribs, and a fractured right arm. She was also dehydrated. Doctors at the hospital attempted life‑saving measures, but the infant died that evening due to the severity of her condition. The damage investigators found was extensive and included neglect that extended not only to physical violence but also to basic neglect of nourishment and medical care. An autopsy later confirmed homicide as the manner of death.
During police interviews, the 3-month-old girl’s mother initially offered explanations that shifted over time. At first, she claimed some injuries came from an accident in the bathtub and the burn marks were from hot/cold pack treatments. She also said a choking incident involving a Neosporin cap explained some issues. But later, she told investigators that she saw Stephenson dangling the infant by her feet several times, shaking her until she cried, and that she had seen him choking the victim child on at least one occasion. It also came out that the infant had not been eating for several days prior to her death and that she suffered from pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition—all while receiving almost no medical care.
The jury deliberated over parts of two days before returning a verdict finding Stephenson guilty of second‑degree murder (instead of first‑degree) and felony child abuse. Judge G. Bell sentenced him to an active prison term of 200 to 252 months (which converts to about 16½ to 21 years) for the murder charge, followed by a consecutive term of 125 to 162 months (about an additional 10½ to 13½ years) for child abuse. Altogether, the sentences stack up to 325 to 414 months in prison—roughly 27 to 34½ years in total.
District Attorney T. Williams called the evidence “extremely graphic” and praised the jury for their careful review. He noted the young girl was among “the most vulnerable and innocent child” and said that justice has been served in holding Stephenson accountable for the “heartless cruelty” she suffered. The victim’s mother, Farlow, was also convicted earlier for felony child abuse. During the trial, she testified against Stephenson, helping prosecutors build the case.
The case has left the community reeling. Few stories shock more deeply than those involving innocent infants suffering abuse not only in acts of violence but also through neglect, malnutrition, and medical deprivation. Though the law allowed Stephenson to receive a somewhat lesser murder charge, the overwhelming evidence, the brutality of the acts described, and the severity of his sentence reflect that authorities considered the full scope of his crimes. The three-month-old girl’s life was brief, but the suffering was long and cruel. This sentence ensures that for decades, “heartless cruelty” will not go unpunished, even if it cannot undo the pain and loss inflicted on this most vulnerable of victims.
