On June 11, 2023, Sheyenne Shore brought her unresponsive 7-month-old daughter to Story County Medical Center in Nevada, Iowa, where a hospital employee noted the infant arrived cold and stiff. The baby died approximately three hours later despite resuscitation efforts. The infant had extensive injuries including cuts and bruises on her face, forehead, back, and abdomen, skeletal fractures of her wrist, both arms, and femur in different stages of healing, and hemorrhages of the right eye and liver. The Iowa Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, determining the head injuries were not accidental. Both parents, Juan Montalvo Jr. and Sheyenne Shore, lied to investigators, claiming the baby had hit her head on toys during tummy time. Blood-stained baby clothing and blankets were found in their apartment. The couple fled to California approximately two weeks after the death but were later arrested. Montalvo Jr. pleaded guilty to child endangerment and was sentenced to up to 10 years while still facing first-degree murder charges; Shore pled not guilty and awaits trial.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Document 2 describes extensive injuries on the baby: "cuts and bruises on the baby's face, forehead, back and abdomen, skeletal fractures of her wrist. Both arms and femur were in different stages of healing along with hemorrhages of the right eye and liver." Document 1 states "the State of Iowa Medical Examiner's Office determined the baby's death was a homicide after the examiner's report concluded the head injuries were not accidental." The medical examiner explicitly ruled the injuries as non-accidental, confirming inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Document 2 describes that the baby had "skeletal fractures of her wrist. Both arms and femur were in different stages of healing along with hemorrhages of the right eye and liver." The presence of fractures in different stages of healing indicates the baby sustained injuries over a period of time without receiving medical treatment. Additionally, Document 1 states "Police determined June 8 was the last time anyone other than the baby's parents had seen her alive," suggesting the baby was kept isolated from others who might notice her injuries. While medical neglect is not explicitly named, the untreated fractures strongly imply it.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
While the terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not explicitly used, the evidence strongly implies abusive head trauma. Document 1 states the Medical Examiner "concluded the head injuries were not accidental" and ruled the death a homicide. Document 2 adds that the baby had "hemorrhages of the right eye," which is a hallmark finding of abusive head trauma. The combination of non-accidental head injuries and ocular hemorrhages is a well-recognized presentation of abusive head trauma in infants.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Document 2 describes the baby's injuries as including "cuts and bruises on the baby's face, forehead, back and abdomen, skeletal fractures of her wrist. Both arms and femur were in different stages of healing along with hemorrhages of the right eye and liver." The fact that fractures in multiple bones were in different stages of healing indicates a pattern of repeated inflicted injuries over an extended period of time on a 7-month-old infant. This pattern of injuries—multiple fractures at different healing stages, widespread bruising, and hemorrhages—in an infant who cannot protect herself suggests sustained, deliberate cruelty extending beyond a single incident of physical abuse.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Both documents identify Juan A. Montalvo Jr. as the father of the baby. Document 2 states: "Juan A. Montalvo Jr., 36, and Sheyenne N. Shore, 25 are the parents of a 7-month-old infant who died in June 2023." He was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. He later pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in serious injury and was sentenced to up to 10 years. He remains charged with first-degree murder. Cell phone records placed him in Nevada on the day of the baby's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Both documents identify Sheyenne N. Shore as the baby's mother. Document 2 states she is one of "the parents of a 7-month-old infant who died in June 2023." She was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. Document 1 notes "The baby's mother was her main caregiver." Shore brought the unresponsive baby to the hospital and lied about leaving home that day. She pled not guilty and awaits trial.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Both documents confirm that both parents were charged. Document 1 states: "Juan A. Montalvo Jr., 35, and Sheyenne N. Shore, 23, had each been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment causing death." Document 2 confirms: "They each were originally charged in September 2023 with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death." Montalvo Jr. pleaded guilty to an amended child endangerment charge and was sentenced, while still facing murder charges. Shore pled not guilty and awaits trial.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 states: "Montalvo Jr. and Shore were being held in the state of California on unrelated charges and would be extradited to Iowa." These are explicitly described as "unrelated charges" separate from the baby's death. However, since the couple fled to California after the baby's death in June 2023, it is unclear whether these unrelated charges arose from conduct predating or postdating the fatal incident. The charges are clearly separate from the child's death but their temporal relationship to the fatal incident cannot be confirmed.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the couple fled Iowa to California approximately two weeks after the baby's death, living with Montalvo Jr.'s relatives in Fresno until apprehended. Second, Montalvo Jr. pleaded guilty to an amended count of child endangerment resulting in serious injury and was sentenced to up to 10 years, yet according to Document 2, "Montalvo is still being charged with first-degree murder" — an unusual procedural arrangement where he was sentenced on one charge while still facing a separate murder charge. Third, Document 2 reveals that an acquaintance of Montalvo's said he texted them on the day of his daughter's death that "he'd be back at work by 7 p.m.," which was just hours after learning his baby had died. Fourth, both parents gave nearly identical false explanations for the injuries, each claiming the baby hit her head on toys during tummy time, suggesting potential coordination of a cover story.
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