An Arizona woman allegedly told her own family members she was "so ecstatic" to have more victims to terrorize as she bombarded them with graphic rape and death threats while secretly posing as an innocent man, according to police records.
Background
Shelbey Fernandez, 30, of Peoria, Arizona, is accused of waging a years-long campaign of harassment against her own family members across multiple states. The alleged campaign lasted from 2019 through August 6, 2026, with Fernandez using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers to disguise her identity and send threats while impersonating the husband of a former doctor she had previously seen, authorities stated in an arrest affidavit.
The targets included Fernandez's parents and other relatives residing in Arizona and Florida. Police say Fernandez not only sent threatening text messages but also engaged in "swatting"—making false emergency reports to police to summon armed responders to her victims' homes.
"You'll never get rid of me," Fernandez allegedly wrote in one message, according to the affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
The Charges
Fernandez has been charged with more than 50 separate offenses including making terrorist threats, harassment by false report, stalking, and sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges stem from a pattern of alleged behavior that included sending explicit photos of children to family members.
In one particularly disturbing message, police say Fernandez sent her own mother a photograph of an unclothed infant, "insinuating that this was an image of the minor daughter" of the doctor and her husband she was allegedly impersonating. She also threatened to carry out violence against church gatherings, writing, "Can't wait to shoot up their cult facility, and annihilate every cult gathering of their kind."
Among her alleged threats were statements such as: "can't wait to press and push the trigger against your hubby's head," descriptions of skinning victims alive, dismembering bodies and dumping corpses in desert areas, and threatening to throw people into ponds while watching gators attack them. Police say Fernandez also allegedly sent child sexual abuse material to her loved ones.
Key Takeaways
- Fernandez allegedly posed as the husband of a former doctor using VoIP numbers to send threats from 2019 through August 2026
- She is accused of "swatting" victims—making false police reports to send armed responders to their homes
- Over 50 charges have been filed against her, including terrorist threats and sexual exploitation of a minor
- Targets allegedly included her own parents and other family members in Arizona and Florida
- Fernandez allegedly sent explicit images of children to relatives and threatened mass violence at religious gatherings
What's Next
Fernandez is due to appear in court on August 20 for a preliminary hearing. The investigation was conducted with cooperation from multiple jurisdictions as the alleged harassment spanned both Arizona and Florida. Authorities were able to link Fernandez to the threatening messages and swatting incidents earlier this month, leading to her arrest.