Tragic Loss: Mother Claims Tummy Time Accident Led to Infant’s Fatal Injuries

An Iowa jury has convicted a woman of first-degree murder following the tragic death of her infant daughter. The woman, Sheyenne Shore, 26, faced charges in connection with the 2023 death of her 7-month-old baby, Xena. Alongside her, Xena’s father, 37-year-old Juan Montalvo Jr., had earlier pleaded guilty to child endangerment in February 2025.

As reported by the Ames Tribune, Shore brought her daughter to Story County Medical Center on June 11, 2023. Upon arrival, medical personnel observed that Xena was already cold and stiff, with her pupils dilated and unresponsive. Despite urgent efforts by the medical team, Xena could not be revived and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The medical examination revealed a harrowing series of injuries on the infant’s body. Xena had suffered cuts and bruises on her face and torso, a broken wrist, and hemorrhaging in her right eye and liver. Additionally, it was discovered that she was recovering from earlier fractures to both arms and her femur.

When questioned by authorities about the origin of Xena’s injuries, Shore claimed that the baby had accidentally hurt herself by hitting her head on toys during tummy time. Montalvo echoed this explanation. Despite their assertions, both parents professed ignorance regarding how Xena acquired her other, more severe injuries.

When police spoke to Shore about how Xena got her injuries, Shore told them that the baby “hit her head on baby toys while doing tummy time.” Montalvo told the same story. Both parents denied knowing how the infant received her other injuries.

The medical examiner determined that Xena’s head injuries were not the result of an accident and ruled her death a homicide. Investigators searched the couple’s apartment in Nevada, Iowa, and found bloodstained blankets and baby clothes.

Police said Shore told them that she had not left Xena alone or with anyone else during the last three days of her life, but surveillance video and store receipts proved that Shore left her apartment without Xena to go shopping on June 11, 2023, around 11 a.m. Montalvo was in another part of Nevada that day.

According to the complaint, Shore texted Montalvo several times starting at 3:10 p.m., telling him that Xena was unresponsive and she was taking her to the hospital. He did not respond until 3:46 p.m., and the couple had a short phone call. At 3:59 p.m., Shore texted Montalvo, “she’s gone they tried everything they could.”

An acquaintance of Montalvo said he texted to say he was going to the hospital because his daughter hit her head. Around 6 p.m., Montalvo told the acquaintance that he would be back at work by 7 p.m.

Shore and Montalvo fled to California after Xena’s death and were arrested after being charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment.

Montalvo pleaded guilty to an amended count of child endangerment causing serious injury on Feb. 25, 2025, and was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence not exceeding 10 years in prison.

Shore was found guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment on April 2. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 1.