Sheyenne Shore, a 26‑year‑old woman from Nevada, Iowa, has been found guilty of the murder of her 7‑month‑old baby, Xena, whom she claimed not to know how she had been injured. Shore was convicted on April 2 of first‑degree murder and child endangerment in connection with Xena’s death in June 2023.
What happened to Xena
- Shore brought Xena to Story County Medical Center on June 11, 2023, where doctors found the baby already cold and stiff, with dilated and fixed pupils. She was pronounced dead after lifesaving efforts failed.
- Xena arrived with cuts and bruises on her face and torso, a broken wrist, and hemorrhaging in her right eye and liver, plus signs of older healed fractures in both arms and her femur, indicating a pattern of prior abuse.
- The medical examiner concluded the head injuries were not accidental and ruled the death a homicide.
Parents’ stories and the evidence
- Both Shore and Xena’s father, Juan Montalvo Jr. (37), told police that Xena “hit her head on baby toys while doing tummy time,” and said they did not know how she got the additional injuries.
- Surveillance footage and store receipts showed that Shore left Xena alone at home on June 11 to go shopping, and Montalvo was also away in another part of Nevada that day.
- Text messages from Shore to Montalvo show she told him Xena was unresponsive around 3:10 p.m., then later texted that the baby was “gone.” Montalvo later told an acquaintance he was headed to the hospital because his daughter had hit her head, then said he would be back at work by 7 p.m.
Arrests, pleas, and sentences
- Shore and Montalvo fled to California after Xena’s death and were later arrested on charges of first‑degree murder and child endangerment.
- In February 2025, Montalvo pleaded guilty to an amended count of child endangerment causing serious injury and was sentenced to an indeterminate term not exceeding 10 years in prison.
- Shore was found guilty of first‑degree murder and child endangerment on April 2, 2026; her sentencing is scheduled for June 1, at which time she will face the consequences of the jury’s verdict.
