An Oklahoma babysitter, hired through a Facebook post, has been sentenced for the tragic murder of an infant, a crime disturbingly similar to one she had previously committed. Holly Sheppard received a life sentence once again on Wednesday for her involvement in the death of 22-day-old Willow Rose Shelton, adding to a prior life sentence she was already serving with the possibility of parole.
The chilling details emerged when authorities revisited her first conviction, leading to charges for her initial crime. Sheppard had used social media to advertise her childcare services, which is how Willow’s unsuspecting parents found and employed her to look after their newborn.
Tragically, just four days into her care in 2018, Willow was rushed to St. Anthony’s Hospital with severe head trauma, later determined to be non-accidental and abusive in nature. Sadly, the infant did not survive.
Oklahoma City police promptly arrested Sheppard and conducted interviews with several witnesses. Despite their efforts, investigators initially struggled to pinpoint who was responsible for the injuries at the time they occurred, until a comparison with her previous conviction shed light on the case.
After four days in the babysitter’s care in 2018, Willow was rushed to St Anthony’s Hospital with ‘non-accidental abusive head trauma’ and died shortly later.
Oklahoma City police arrested Sheppard and interviewed multiple witnesses, but investigators were unable to identify who was caring for the infant at the time of the injury.
Sheppard was detained by police but later released, leaving the case unresolved.
Five years after Willow’s death, two-month-old Korra Burdick was brought to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital on July 14, 2023 with a brain injury.
Korra was being babysat by Sheppard in Ponca City, just over an hour from Oklahoma City. She survived and was treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Holly Sheppard was sentenced to life in prison for the second time on Wednesday
Five years after Willow died, another baby, two-month-old Korra Burdick (pictured), was brought to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital on July 14, 2023 with a brain injury after being babysat by Sheppard
At the time, Sheppard told investigators she didn’t know how the baby got hurt, but she later changed her story several times and went on to admit she dropped Burdick twice.
Sheppard said she dropped the child after tripping over a toy, but doctors said her brain injury was too extensive for that to be the cause.
The baby was left with internal bleeding, two skull fractures and had to have a flap of her skull removed to relieve pressure.
Sheppard was later arrested for child neglect, child abuse and obstruction of justice with a bond set at $500,000.
In November 2024, she entered a blind plea of no contest and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of release after 25 years in Kay County.
She remains in prison for life, with eligibility for parole after 35 years.
Ponca City Deputy Chief of Police Josh Henderson said Sheppard’s crimes were ‘inexcusable and represent a profound betrayal of the trust placed in someone responsible for a child’s care.’
‘No child should ever suffer harm at the hands of those entrusted with their safety,’ Henderson told local outlet KOKH in 2025.
‘We are grateful for the opportunity to assist other agencies across Oklahoma in their pursuit of justice in heartbreaking cases such as these.’
Joe Dorman, the CEO of the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy, said these startling cases should serve as a reminder to parents to be cautious when picking a babysitter online.
At the time, Sheppard told investigators she didn’t know how the baby got hurt, but she later changed her story several times
She went on to admit she dropped Burdick twice
Burdick (pictured) celebrating her birthday back in April 2025
‘I would be wary of searching for any individual to be a babysitter on the internet,’ he told KOCO News.
‘If you go through a professional service, that’s one thing, but don’t just post to people who might be a connection on Facebook, “I need a babysitter,” because how well do you truly know them?’
Instead, Dorman said if parents can’t turn to trusted relatives or friends to watch their children, they should use legitimate babysitting services that conduct background searches on caregivers.
‘These businesses will hire individuals, ensure they’re background checked, and put them through some training sometimes, so that’s usually a better option,’ he said.
