In the heart of Fargo, North Dakota, a tragedy unfolded that would shock a community and expose a harrowing tale of neglect. On July 26, 2024, the lives of Nickolas and Alie Shearer, a young couple aged 25 and 23, were forever altered when their three-month-old son, referred to in court documents as John Doe, was found lifeless in their south Fargo apartment. The devastating loss of their infant son led to a grim discovery of the deplorable conditions their three children endured, culminating in three counts of felony child neglect charged against each parent.
The chilling sequence of events began in the early morning hours when Nickolas Shearer made a desperate 911 call, reporting that his baby wasn’t breathing. Fargo police and first responders rushed to the scene, but their efforts were halted almost immediately. The infant was cold to the touch, his skin discolored, showing unmistakable signs of death. Pronounced deceased at 3:34 a.m., just 16 minutes after the emergency call, the tragedy set the stage for a deeper investigation into the Shearer household.
As officers entered the apartment, they were met with a scene of squalor that defied comprehension. The front door could barely open, obstructed by heaps of garbage that spilled across the floor. Navigating through the clutter to reach the infant was a challenge, with piles of debris creating an almost impassable maze. The air was thick with the stench of rotting food and feces, a nauseating odor that permeated every corner of the home. Dirty dishes were strewn about, and the kitchen refrigerator held spoiled food, contributing to the uninhabitable environment. The thermostat read 82 degrees, exacerbating the already oppressive conditions.
The infant, found on a couch, was in a heartbreaking state. His diaper overflowed with urine and feces, with flies visibly crawling from it, a stark indication of neglect. The couple’s two other children, a one-year-old and a two-year-old, were present in the home, surrounded by the same hazardous conditions. Cass County Human Services swiftly intervened, taking the older boys into protective custody on the same day, as officers deemed the apartment “not livable for children.”
Investigators pressed Nickolas and Alie for answers about the events leading to their son’s death. Both parents admitted that their home was unfit for their children, a confession that underscored the severity of the situation. Nickolas recounted a troubling detail: hours before the infant was found unresponsive, Alie had propped a bottle of formula upright with a blanket to feed the baby on the couch, a makeshift method that raised questions about their caregiving. The couple’s statements were inconsistent, with each claiming the other had last fed the infant, further clouding the circumstances of the tragedy.
An autopsy offered little closure, determining the cause of death as “unexplained sudden infant death with intrinsic factors,” with the manner listed as “undetermined.” However, a toxicology report revealed disturbing findings. The couple’s one-year-old son tested positive for methamphetamine through a hair follicle test, pointing to exposure in the home. The other two children, including the deceased infant, tested negative for drugs, though the infant’s toxicology report showed traces of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, and caffeine. Both parents denied recent drug use in the home but admitted to past use, leaving investigators to piece together the implications of these findings.
A chilling clue emerged from a phone download, revealing a text message sent hours before the infant’s death that read, “I think it was pop,” without further context. Alie Shearer explained in an interview that they occasionally gave one of their older children soda to alleviate congestion but denied giving any to the infant. This cryptic message added another layer of ambiguity to the case, raising questions about what substances the children may have been exposed to.
The conditions in the Shearer apartment were not just neglectful—they were dangerous. Court documents noted that the clutter, garbage, and unsanitary environment were within reach of all three children, posing immediate risks to their health and safety. The combination of these conditions, the presence of methamphetamine in one child’s system, and the death of the infant painted a grim picture of a household in crisis.
Nickolas and Alie Shearer were arraigned on August 22, 2025, in Cass County court, each facing three counts of felony child neglect—one for each of their children. The charges allege that they “willfully failed to provide proper parental care or control necessary for the physical, mental, or emotional health” of their sons. As the legal process moves forward, the couple is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on October 1, 2025, where further details may come to light.
This heartbreaking case has left the Fargo community reeling, prompting reflection on the unseen struggles within homes and the critical need for intervention to protect vulnerable children. The Shearers’ story is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglect, as the loss of a young life and the removal of two others from their care underscore the urgent need for accountability and change.