Fernley man sentenced for death of child

Shiloh Hunter Weaver, 22, of Fernley, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years on Tuesday by the Third Judicial District Court. Weaver pleaded guilty to second degree murder for the killing of a 2-year-old child in May 2015.

Marielle Navalta, the mother of the child, left the child alone with Weaver, her boyfriend, at Navalta’s home in Fernley when Navalta went to the store on the night of May 22, 2015. She returned to the home a short time later to find paramedics and law enforcement at the home and her young child non-responsive. According to Navalta, the young child was fine when she left the child with Weaver and went to the store. The child was taken to Renown Hospital and doctors performed emergency brain surgery for a significant subdural hematoma consistent with inflicted traumatic head injury. The child never recovered and died May 29, 2015.

The case was investigated by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Fernley Patrol and Detective Divisions. Navalta pleaded guilty to compounding crimes for her withholding of evidence in the case and investigation. She was sentenced on Monday to 19 to 48 months, which was suspended and she was granted probation.

The child’s grandmother and father provided victim testimony at the sentencing hearing. District Attorney Stephen Rye stated: “The violent murder of a young child at the hands of an adult is unimaginable. In this case, Mr. Weaver was left to take care of the young child while his girlfriend went to the store, and Weaver inflicted life ending injuries to the child in that short span of time. A young, healthy and happy child’s life was ended by the violent, selfish and despicable actions of Shiloh Weaver. A life sentence is deserved for his actions.”

Rye and Damian Sinnott prosecuted the case for the District Attorney’s Office.