ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Jury selection continued Tuesday in the Buncombe County murder trial of a man accused in the death of his infant daughter, with 12 jurors now seated and three alternates still to be chosen.

The jury of five men and seven women will hear the case against Nickolas Shane Stephenson, 37, who is charged with first-degree child abuse and intentional child abuse causing serious bodily injury in the death of his 12-week-old daughter, Riley Leshae Hannah Stephenson, in June 2022.

The baby’s mother, Diandra Haleigh Fuhr-Farlow, 32, who also faces a first-degree murder charge, is expected to testify for the prosecution.

“This is going to be a difficult case for everybody,” Assistant District Attorney Stormy Ellis told prospective jurors Tuesday.

Defense attorney Dustin Randolph Dow agreed, telling the panel: “It’s going to be horrific.”

Seating the alternate jurors is expected to continue Wednesday morning.

The 2022 incident

On June 28, 2022, paramedics were called to a home on Four Wheel Drive, where they found Riley unconscious and not breathing in her crib. Emergency responders reported signs of prior injuries, and deputies were alerted.

Stephenson was initially charged with second-degree murder and negligent child abuse, while Fuhr-Farlow was charged with felony child abuse causing serious injury.

Investigation findings

Court documents later revealed Riley was severely malnourished, with evidence of multiple injuries. Fuhr-Farlow told investigators Riley had struck her head on a bathtub faucet two weeks earlier and the burn marks came from applying a hot-and-cold pack — explanations that raised suspicions.

Investigators also reported that Fuhr-Farlow said Stephenson sometimes shook the baby, held her by the feet and choked her.

Autopsy and upgraded charges

An autopsy released Dec. 5, 2022, determined Riley had multiple healing fractures to her ribs, arms, legs, spine and clavicle, along with bruises, abrasions, burns, pneumonia, malnutrition and blunt-force trauma.

The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, and both parents were charged with first-degree murder.