On Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, when 31-year-old Shea Briar did not present up for church, Pastor Angela Smiley knew one thing was flawed. She had simply seen him the evening earlier than.
Pastor Angela Smiley: We served at a noodle dinner. … He is there strolling the outdated women out. … We have been final ones within the church. He stated, “I will beat you right here within the morning.” … And after I got here up over the hill and did not see his truck, I am like, this is not good. … For weeks and weeks and months and months, he was at all times the primary one on the church. At all times. … Shea Briar was not late.
In Jay County, Indiana, phrase travels quick. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Briar’s aunt, Tiffany McLaughlin, and his grandmother, Sharon Taylor, heard Shea was lacking.
Sharon Taylor: I began calling the hospitals, the sheriff’s departments, all people, and no person would give me any data. No one.
However then Briar’s roommate known as McLaughlin letting her know police have been there. When McLaughlin arrived at Briar’s house, an officer advised her the unthinkable.
Tiffany McLaughlin: He stated that Shea had been shot. (crying) And I stated, “properly, is he OK?” And he stated, “no, he died on the working desk.” (crying)
Briar’s mom, Tracy Hoevel, was residing all the best way in Hawaii on the time. Her sister and mom known as her to ship the information.
Tracy Hoevel: I am like, no. I imply, I believe I should have screamed so loud … I imply, we’re in shock.
Sydney Hoevel, Briar’s half-sister, was solely 17.
Sydney Hoevel: I bear in mind my mother simply fell over on the sofa, mainly, like crying and screaming. … I nonetheless cannot imagine it to today. … It does not even appear actual.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: At that time, did anybody have any thought what occurred to Shea?
Det. Ben Schwartz: No. We had no thought what occurred to Shea.
Ben Schwartz was one of many lead detectives assigned to the case.
Det. Ben Schwartz: Jay County is a really rural farming neighborhood. … It is definitely not like working in an enormous metropolis the place it is back-to-back calls. … And as quickly as this occurred, it was a — it was a reasonably large deal. … It is remoted the place he was discovered. … We puzzled how he received there. … We simply needed to begin from floor zero.
Who was Shea Briar?
Floor zero meant digging into who Shea Briar was and what he had been as much as. He was born in Indiana however was raised in Hawaii by his mother and stepdad.
Tracy Hoevel
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What kind of child was Shea?
Tracy Hoevel: A bit rascal. (laughs) … He was very well mannered. He would open doorways. … he was enjoyable. … He beloved his G.I. Joes. … He at all times needed to be within the navy from a extremely small age.
So, it was no shock when, after highschool, Briar joined the Navy. And it was additionally no shock when, after he was discharged, he returned to stay in Jay County.
Sydney Hoevel: Shea was at all times an Indiana boy. … He beloved the tractors. He beloved all of the land.
And that is the place he needed to place down roots.
Tiffany McLaughlin: He actually needed to have a girlfriend … get married and have a household.
However issues did not fairly occur in that order. In 2018, Tracy Hoevel received a cellphone name from her son.
Tracy Hoevel: He is like… “Hey mother, guess what? … you are gonna be a grandma.” I used to be like, “What? I did not even know you had a girlfriend.” (laughs)
The longer term mom of his baby was Esther Jane Stephen, an area highschool softball coach who additionally ran a day care, and glided by the identify E.J.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I do not suppose they have been boyfriend and girlfriend, you realize. I believe it was simply a kind of issues.
In January 2019, Shea and E.J.’s daughter was born. It was solely after her start, that the 2 determined to begin courting. They quickly have been engaged. However Briar’s household felt it was pressured.
Tiffany McLaughlin: They weren’t all lovey-dovey for, you realize, the shortage of a greater phrase.
Sharon Taylor: I attempted to inform him, is that this the way you wanna stay your life with somebody that is actually not who you are meant to be with?
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: You felt that?
Sharon Taylor: Oh, undoubtedly, as a result of they didn’t have a connection …
They should have sensed one thing as a result of in September 2019, simply weeks earlier than the marriage, E.J. known as it off.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Was he dissatisfied?
Tiffany McLaughlin: Sure. As a result of … he needed a household.
It was round that point that Smiley says Briar started coming to church.
Pastor Angela Smiley: He wanted God. And he wanted a buddy … He began hanging out with … males in our church that have been energetic fathers. … And he needed that for his daughter.
However Smiley, and Briar’s household, say for causes unbeknownst to them, E.J. made it tough.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: After the engagement is damaged off, what kind of entry does Shea should his daughter?
Sharon Taylor: He does not.
Tracy Hoevel: None.
Sharon Taylor: No. …
Tracy Hoevel: He went fairly a very long time with out seeing her. …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: And he was attempting to see her and —
Tracy Hoevel: Yeah.
Tiffany McLaughlin: That is why he lastly received a lawyer.
Briar advised his mom that when E.J. discovered, she wasn’t pleased.
Tracy Hoevel: He advised me, she stated to him, “when you undergo with this, you will be sorry.”…
However that did not cease Shea. In November 2019, he filed a court docket doc searching for to “set up paternity” … “and to supply custody, assist, and parenting time.”
Tracy Hoevel: He needed to supply for her … and he simply actually needed to have some visitation …
He additionally needed his daughter to have his final identify — one thing E.J. had determined in opposition to.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Why was it essential for Shea to be in his daughter’s life? …
Tracy Hoevel: Shea actually didn’t know his dad. … He simply didn’t wanna be his organic dad. … He needed to have an excellent relationship along with his youngsters and be an excellent function mannequin.
However two months later, earlier than the case made its solution to court docket, Shea was murdered. And Tracy Hoevel and McLaughlin suspected E.J. could have had one thing to do with it.
Tiffany McLaughlin: ‘Trigger there wasn’t anybody else.
However because it seems, there could be different suspects.
Pal of E.J. Stephen Shares Considerations With Detectives
Lower than 24 hours after Shea Briar died, Detective Ben Schwartz and his associate known as E.J. Stephen, Shea’s ex-fiancée and the mom of his baby, into the sheriff’s workplace.
Det. Ben Schwartz: We talked to her and advised her about what occurred to Shea.
DET. MITCH SUTTON: Sadly, this morning we have been known as out … as a result of Shea had sustained some accidents. … They have been life-threatening accidents, and he didn’t make it.
E.J. STEPHEN: OK.
Det. Ben Schwartz: She actually did not have an entire lot to say.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Did you discover her response curious?
Det. Ben Schwartz: Yeah. …I’d’ve anticipated … a bit little bit of emotion out of her. Uh, however that did not occur. And I’d’ve anticipated much more questions, however she actually did not ask too many questions in any respect.
And Detective Schwartz says that wasn’t the one factor that caught out.
Det. Ben Schwartz: She stated that the final time she talked to Shea would’ve been the week prior.
However he knew she was mendacity. Shea’s cellphone information revealed she was the final particular person to name him at round midnight, inside hours of him being discovered on that bridge.
Det. Ben Schwartz: That was an enormous pink flag. …
A pink flag, however not proof she dedicated homicide. Detectives selected to not confront her concerning the cellphone information that day.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ (to E.J. Stephen): I will provide you with my card. And uh … If there’s one thing you hear that you just may suppose will spark our curiosity, give us a name.
There was nonetheless a number of work to be finished, a number of inquiries to be answered. And the subsequent day, a name from a girl would assist investigators out.
Det. Ben Schwartz: She unloaded and advised us a number of fascinating stuff.
Kristi Sibray has identified E.J. Stephen for years. She used to umpire softball video games that E.J. performed in and took her youngsters to the day care that E.J. ran out of Fairview United Methodist Church in Portland, Indiana.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: How would you describe her?
Kristi Sibray: Very quiet … nice with youngsters … she’s very concerned in the neighborhood actions …
Through the years, Sibray says she grew to become a mentor of kinds to E.J.
Kristi Sibray: She at all times would simply cease by right here and there. … say hello, or simply cease in if one thing was bothering her …
Sibray had by no means met Shea Briar, however she knew he was the daddy of E.J.’s daughter. And when she realized he was murdered, she began to panic.
Kristi Sibray: I simply dropped the whole lot, and I simply began screaming. I used to be like, oh my God. Oh my God.… After which I contacted a buddy that was nonetheless within the metropolis police division. And I stated, “I would like to speak, decide me up now at work.”
Sibray, a former police officer, quickly discovered herself inside a Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace interview room.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ (to Kristi Sibray): Begin initially and share with us uh what you wish to get off your chest.
She started by telling Schwartz and his associate that she acquired a name from E.J. a couple of days previous to Shea’s dying. She stated E.J. requested her to babysit that weekend — one thing she had by no means requested her to do earlier than.
Kristi Sibray: And I am like, yeah. Not an issue. …So, all day Saturday I am like, OK, what time am I getting her? I had not heard something. … We have been, like, getting down for the evening. (chuckle) About 10, 10:30, right here she comes with the kid. …
It was Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, simply hours earlier than Shea was discovered shot.
Kristi Sibray: She goes, OK, I will be again in a bit bit. And I am like, OK, what are you doing? And he or she goes, oh, we’re simply — simply going out. … She got here in by herself.
Sibray says E.J. did not return till round 1 a.m.
Kristi Sibray: I had heard her open the again door. So, I received up and I met her there … And I stated, “E.J., what have been you doing?” She goes “nothing.” And he or she was actual standoffish. … I stated, come on E.J., what have been you doing? … And he or she goes, I can not let you know. However I am certain you will hear about it within the paper within the subsequent couple days. And he or she left. …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: You should have been interested by that each one evening.
Kristi Sibray: Sure.
However that was only the start of what Sibray advised police. She stated that within the months main as much as Shea’s homicide, E.J. came to visit quite a bit and he or she wasn’t alone.
Kristi Sibray: Shelby was at all times within the automotive with E.J. …
Jay County Excessive Faculty yearbook 
Shelby is Shelby Hiestand. She was 18 years outdated. E.J. was 29 and was once her highschool softball coach. After Shelby graduated, she grew to become E.J.’s assistant coach — at one other close by highschool simply over the border in Fort Restoration, Ohio. Shelby additionally labored on the day care with E.J.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Did you suppose it was odd … that here is E.J. hanging out with Shelby?
Kristi Sibray: Mm-hmm.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: There is a good 10 years between the 2.
Kristi Sibray: Mm-hmm. I believe all people thought it was odd.
Det. Ben Schwartz: From what I’ve been advised, they have been fairly properly inseparable.
Detectives had heard Shelby’s identify earlier than. Shea’s household had talked about her.
Tracy Hoevel: Shelby was at all times round within the image. I believe there was some main jealousy between Shelby and Shea. … You understand, he by no means got here out and stated it, however he type of insinuated issues.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What did he insinuate?
Tracy Hoevel: He thought perhaps there was one thing extra happening.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Greater than a friendship?
Tracy Hoevel: Probably. …
And Shea wasn’t the one one who suspected one thing.
Kristi Sibray: I simply assumed that perhaps they have been a pair. …
E.J. and Shelby would later deny being something greater than buddies. Sibray advised investigators that the 2 started stopping by shortly after Shea filed that court docket doc to ascertain paternity.
Kristi Sibray: Shelby just about stayed with the kid and E.J. would sit with me on the kitchen desk …
And he or she stated E.J. needed recommendation.
Kristi Sibray: She simply requested me what do I do? ‘Trigger I’ve been divorced … She did not wish to share the child. That was her child. That was her baby. … Among the conversations on the desk could be … how can we do away with him so we do not have to go to court docket? And I am like, how do you do away with him? You are not going to do away with him.
Sibray insists she did not suppose something on the time.
Kristi Sibray: Anyone who goes by means of a breakup, do not suppose they did not say, oh, I want he was gone, or I want he was lifeless. However can we act on it? And that is why I am pondering I have been divorced twice. I will let you know. I — I most likely stated it.
And Kristi says she had that very same mindset when, over time, the conversations grew extra detailed and varied strategies have been mentioned.
Kristi Sibray: I simply actually thought she was venting. I didn’t suppose this was for actual.
However when Kristi heard Shea was murdered, she says she instantly considered all these conversations in a unique mild.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: At that time, do you suppose E.J. is concerned on this someway?
Kristi Sibray: Sure.
And he or she knew she needed to go to police.
Kristi Sibray: I did not even give it some thought. … However as a police officer standpoint, I felt like I failed as a result of how did I miss this? How did I miss these indicators? … I may have prevented this. … And I did not, ‘trigger I did not suppose she may.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: And this was your alternative to do one thing.
Kristi Sibray: Yeah. Sorry. (crying)
Det. Ben Schwartz: It was simply type of unbelievable …
After Sibray was finished speaking, Schwartz says there was one factor on his thoughts.
Det. Ben Schwartz: We have gotta get E.J. again in right here …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: So, you say, come on in, E.J.
Det. Ben Schwartz: Yup. … We simply wish to know the reality and what occurred to Shea.
A Turning Level within the Investigation
On Jan. 14, 2020, simply two days after Shea Briar was murdered, E.J. Stephen was again contained in the Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace. Detective Ben Schwartz and his associate first confronted her about these cellphone information, which revealed she known as Shea shortly earlier than he died — one thing she had beforehand been dishonest about.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: Midnight, you known as his cellphone. We’re simply type of questioning how that dialog went.
E.J. STEPHEN: I didn’t discuss to him. I did not make that decision. I butt-dialed him.
Det. Ben Schwartz: She stated that she butt-dialed Shea …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Did you imagine her?
Det. Ben Schwartz: No. … We type of pressed her on that a bit bit. After which lastly, she stated, OK, yeah, we talked, nevertheless it wasn’t for very lengthy.
E.J. insisted she did not see Shea that evening, however detectives did not imagine her.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: You understand a hell of much more than you are telling us. And we’ll discover out. …
And shortly, they advised her her buddy, Shelby Hiestand, was additionally being questioned.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: This isn’t a recreation.
Det. Ben Schwartz: Her demeanor type of modified a bit bit. … It was a turning level.
In a cool and calm tone, E.J. cracked and commenced to inform detectives what occurred that evening. Beginning with how she dropped her daughter off at Kristi Sibray’s. She advised them Shelby was within the automotive ready. From there, “48 Hours” retraced their steps based mostly on E.J.’s account.
Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace 
Anne-Marie Inexperienced (in automotive with Schwartz): How does she let you know the evening unfolds? …
Det. Ben Schwartz: From there, they got here to the church. … On the time, it was a day care additionally …
It was the day care the place E.J. and Shelby labored. E.J. stated they needed to transfer furnishings earlier than church the subsequent day and that one other buddy, 18-year-old Hannah Knapke, met them there. Hannah additionally generally labored on the day care, and E.J. used to educate her in softball, too.
Det. Ben Schwartz (exterior of the day care): So, that is the day care …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What do they do right here after they transfer that furnishings?
Det. Ben Schwartz: After they transfer the furnishings … they have been planning on tips on how to do away with Shea, mainly.
E.J. STEPHEN: … We have been all type of joking about it.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: OK.
E.J. STEPHEN: Prefer it wasn’t a full-blown severe dialog, you realize?
She stated earlier that day, she had picked Shelby’s rifle up from Shelby’s home. And that whereas within the day care car parking zone, Shelby received the gun out and fired a spherical.
E.J. STEPHEN: We simply needed to see how loud it was.
In accordance with E.J., after Shelby fired that shot, all three of them received into Hannah’s mother and father’ van with the rifle within the again.
Jay County Excessive Faculty yearbook/Instagram 
Anne-Marie Inexperienced (in automotive with Schwartz): So the place did they go from the day care?
Det. Ben Schwartz: From the day care, they … drove round … nonetheless discussing whether or not or not they need to comply with by means of with killing Shea. … And someplace alongside the road … E.J. known as Shea. …
E.J. STEPHEN: We requested him, “Do you wish to come for a trip with us?” And he got here.
After they picked Shea up, with Shelby driving, E.J. stated they headed to that bridge.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced (at bridge): So about what time do they get out right here?
Det. Ben Schwartz: I believe it was proper round one o’clock within the morning … They stopped the van proper over right here. … E.J. and Shea get out of the van.
E.J. STEPHEN (interview with detectives): After which the subsequent factor I do know —
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: What occurred? E.J., we’re proper there. We’re proper right here.
E.J. STEPHEN: I do know, oh my God.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: End it.
E.J. STEPHEN: I am attempting to recollect. …
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: Who shot him? Did Shelby shoot him?
E.J. STEPHEN: Sure. …
Det. Ben Schwartz: There was no tears or any regret that I noticed.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: She’s speaking concerning the father of her baby being shot within the again subsequent to her.
Det. Ben Schwartz: Proper. Yeah. It was surprising.
E.J. advised detectives she did not know Shelby was going to shoot Shea regardless of conversations they’d had earlier.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: … You or her?
E.J. STEPHEN: Like we talked a couple of hammer. Like we talked about beating him. …
E.J. STEPHEN: I imply, we talked about it, after which it was similar to, “OK, let’s simply do it.”
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: Yeah.
E.J. STEPHEN: Jokingly, clearly. After which, the joke grew to become means too actual.
However detectives imagine E.J. knew precisely what was going to occur that evening. They imagine she chilly heartedly deliberate it, and that the cruelty continued after Shea was shot. As a result of when police positioned Shea, his cellphone was nowhere to be discovered.
DET. MITCH SUTTON: The place’s his cellphone at?
E.J. STEPHEN: I actually don’t know.
DET. MITCH SUTTON: OK. …
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: Is Shelby going to inform us the identical factor, that she does not know the place the cellphone is? As a result of the cellphone is someplace. Did she throw it within the river? Who threw it- who threw it within the river?
E.J. STEPHEN: I did.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: You probably did?
E.J. STEPHEN: Yeah.
E.J. stated that after they started driving away from the bridge that evening, they rotated.
Det. Ben Schwartz (at foot of bridge): They drive proper previous him … they usually cease proper there the place my automotive’s sitting. And E.J. and — and Shelby get out …
E.J. STEPHEN: I used to be going to name 911, and I received scared, after which I threw his cellphone within the river. …
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: You have been scared that he may name 911?
E.J. STEPHEN: Yeah.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: OK.
E.J. stated she knew Shea was nonetheless alive. He would lay on that bridge — helpless — for about an hour earlier than he was discovered, clinging to life.
E.J. Stephen was arrested and charged with homicide. Down the corridor, solely after being confronted with what E.J. advised police, Shelby Hiestand admitted pulling the set off.
SHELBY HIESTAND: I wasn’t going to do something. I actually wasn’t. … Actually, I really feel like I simply blacked out and it simply occurred …
Shelby was arrested and charged with homicide. Later that day, detectives flew to Iowa, the place Hannah Knapke had returned to school. She too finally admitted involvement.
HANNAH KNAPKE: I did not wish to be there in any respect. I do not even know him. I do know I could not even let you know his first identify …
Hannah advised detectives she did not know what she was stepping into when she met up with E.J. and Shelby that evening, however that the dialog took a flip.
HANNAH KNAPKE (interrogation): They talked about capturing him. …
DET. MITCH SUTTON: At what level was the choice made to — to take your van?
HANNAH KNAPKE: Um, mainly they did not wish to take E.J.’s as a result of it was too suspicious … I used to be scared to inform them no. I — I used to be simply nervous.
Hannah was additionally later booked on a homicide cost. The case quickly hit the information.
NEWS REPORT: A 3rd particular person has been arrested within the deadly capturing of a 31-year-old Jay County man.
And although Shea’s household had suspected E.J.’s involvement, they have been horrified to study the main points.
Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace 
Tiffany McLaughlin: To search out out that there have been two different those that have been concerned, it was like, what? …
Tracy Hoevel: It was surprising. I believe it actually did shock the neighborhood.
However regardless of these three taped interrogations, the case was removed from over as a result of E.J., Shelby, and Hannah would all plead not responsible. And it could be as much as prosecutors to safe convictions — beginning with E.J.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I felt like going into it, that it was OK. She — you realize, she’s responsible. She’s gonna be discovered responsible. After which I am like, wait a second. What’s taking place right here? … I used to be scared.
The Blame Sport
In March 2021, E.J. Stephen was first to go on trial for Shea Briar’s homicide. Wes Schemenaur and Zec Landers prosecuted the case.
Wes Schemenaur: It was intense. … It was standing room solely most days. … We had plenty of of us simply wanting to return and … see what was happening.
Shea’s mother, Tracy Hoevel, traveled from Hawaii to attend.
Tracy Hoevel: That was my first time actually ever being in a courthouse.
It was additionally her first time listening to and seeing a lot of the proof, together with that dashcam video.
Tracy Hoevel: It was horrible. It was simply this lengthy automotive trip. … I believe I had bruises on my legs ‘trigger I simply was squeezing my legs so unhealthy. After which when he pulls up there to the bridge … I may hear him. …
Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace 
OFFICER AARON STRONCZEK (dashcam video at crime scene): Briar, what occurred to you?
SHEA BRIAR: (Moans)
Sharon Taylor: I’d like to have been there and maintain his hand, you realize, I want. (crying)
Regardless that E.J. did not pull the set off, prosecutors sought to persuade a jury that she orchestrated Shea’s homicide.
Wes Schemenaur: This was all for her profit … I believe she noticed this as a solution to get rid of an issue in her life.
Tiffany McLaughlin 
They advised the jury about that court docket petition Shea filed. They usually argued it infuriated E.J. — a lot in order that she and her buddy, Shelby Hiestand devised a plan to kill him. They pointed to E.J.’s personal phrases. The jury heard her interrogation in full.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ: Why did Shelby shoot him?
E.J. STEPHEN: We talked about it, and it drove me mad. I used to be like, like issues would simply be simpler if he was gone …
Wes Schemenaur: She did not need Shea concerned in her life or in her daughter’s life
The prosecution’s star witness was Kristi Sibray. She testified about these visits she stated E.J. and Shelby made to her home. One dialogue, she stated, was notably alarming in hindsight.
Kristi Sibray: I am going … you could not shoot anyone. I believe that is what I stated to E.J. And Shelby goes, oh, I may.
And Sibray testified about one other dialog that she had additionally shared with police.
Kristi Sibray: They did speak about how they one time did put drugs in his tea and tried to OD him … They crushed up ibuprofen, I imagine … And he did drink the entire glass, however nothing occurred to him.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Did you say to her, “what are you doing?”
Kristi Sibray: Yeah. I am like, “are you severe?” … I did not even … imagine her. … as a result of I simply couldn’t see her doing that. …
Wes Schemenaur: They’ve mentioned it … they’ve even perhaps tried to kill him earlier than … This wasn’t only a … factor that occurred on a whim, with out, you realize, E.J.’s information.
However the protection countered that prosecutors had all of it flawed and put E.J. on the stand. She declined “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview, and her trial lawyer has since died.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What did she inform the jury?
Wes Schemenaur: That she was basically shocked and shocked that Shelby did this, that each one of this speaking and planning had been finished as a joke …
As for these drugs in Shea’s drink? E.J. testified that it was Shelby’s thought — and that she solely went together with it as a result of she thought it was an harmless chemistry experiment.
The protection positioned all of the blame on Shelby and alleged that unbeknownst to E.J., Shelby needed the child and E.J. all to herself, and that Shea was in the best way. Shelby had advised detectives how a lot she disliked him.
Jay County Sheriff’s Workplace 
SHELBY HIESTAND (to detectives): … I don’t want her to be with him in any respect. … I used to be like that little woman could be simply tremendous with out him …
The protection claimed E.J. had no cause to need Shea lifeless and stated that E.J. and Shea have been speaking about getting again collectively that evening on the bridge. Prosecutors rejected that.
The protection claimed E.J. had no cause to need Shea lifeless and stated that E.J. and Shea have been speaking about getting again collectively that evening on the bridge. Prosecutors rejected that.
Wes Schemenaur: She’s the one who went and received the gun from Shelby’s home. … They took the gun with them to the church. They take a look at fired the gun on the church. … To me, you possibly can say … you thought it was a joke all you need … For my part of it, the minute you’re taking that gun out and also you fireplace it to see how loud it is gonna be … that is like, OK, now that is actual, proper?
However E.J. provided a proof. She stated Shelby would typically go looking, so she did not suppose something of it when Shelby fired that spherical within the church car parking zone. However what about what E.J. did after the homicide?
Wes Schemenaur: E.J. retrieved this man’s cellphone and threw it within the creek for the only objective of him not with the ability to name for assist …
Bear in mind, she admitted that to police.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ (interrogation): You have been scared that he may name 911?
E.J. STEPHEN: Yeah. …
Wes Schemenaur: His solely lifeline was that cellphone, presumably. Who is aware of whether or not he may have had the wherewithal to name for assist at that time? And also you left him there to die within the chilly.
However on the stand, E.J. stated she solely threw Shea’s cellphone in a second of frustration after being unable to unlock it to name 911. She advised the jury her personal cellphone was lifeless.
Zec Landers: It is simply nonsense. There have been two different ladies together with her. …You are not gonna persuade me that their telephones have been lifeless. You are probably not gonna have the ability to persuade me that Esther’s cellphone was lifeless both. And on high of that … they handed so many alternative locations that have been open, that they may have stopped in and known as for assist. …
Because the protection wound down, E.J.’s lawyer maintained E.J. had no thought Shelby deliberate to shoot Shea —and drew the jury’s consideration to the place E.J. advised police she was standing on the time.
DET. BEN SCHWARTZ (interrogation): You have been standing there nose to nose with him?
E.J. STEPHEN: (Nods sure)
The protection argued if E.J. knew Shelby was going to shoot Shea, why would she put herself within the line of fireplace? Shea’s household fearful jurors could be swayed by E.J.’s testimony.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I assumed we have been going into this and it is a no-brainer, I imply, she did it. She’s gonna be discovered responsible. And yeah, I imply, it was scary.
The trial spanned three days, after which the case went to the jury.
Wes Schemenaur: Nerve-wracking is an understatement … We have been within the workplace … Monday morning quarterbacking ourselves, you realize, such as you at all times do …
One hour of deliberations handed; then two.
Wes Schemenaur: The longer the jury is out … the extra of that second guessing comes into play.
Then, they acquired a name: a verdict was in.
Wes Schemenaur: The center charge goes up … to about 1,000,000 … The palms begin sweating … you are simply on pins and needles …
Tiffany McLaughlin: We have been all three holding fingers and simply holding our breath … to see what was gonna occur.
In search of Justice for Shea Briar
Wes Schemenaur: As a prosecutor, you develop shut to those folks … You see simply the unbelievable quantity of struggling that they are going by means of as a household, and also you wish to do your finest for them … You wish to get them justice for Shea …
After practically two and a half hours of deliberations, Shea’s household lastly heard the phrase they have been ready for: responsible.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What’s that feeling like?
Tracy Hoevel: Like an enormous reduction.
Sharon Taylor: That it — that a lot is over. …
E.J. Stephen was later sentenced to 55 years in jail, the really helpful sentence for homicide in Indiana. Shea’s pastor, Angela Smiley, was there when the sentence was handed down.
Pastor Angela Smiley: You’ll suppose that … you’d see some type of repentance. I did not see it — in any respect. Nothing. …
Three months after that, in August 2021, Shelby Hiestand went on trial. Shea’s mother, Tracy Hoevel, was in court docket once more — sitting by means of all of the proof for a second time, together with the dashcam video.
Tiffany McLaughlin: Tracy sat proper there and watched it once more.
Sharon Taylor: And did not cry. She stated she did not need them to have the satisfaction that they’d damage her so badly.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: You have been actually pondering that?
Tracy Hoevel: Yeah. … I used to be — no, they don’t seem to be gonna — I am not gonna let my head grasp. I am … holding it up as excessive as I can — that is for Shea. … It was exhausting … however — (crying)
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: That is the boy you gave start to.
Tracy Hoevel: Yeah. (crying) … It simply makes me so mad. He did not do something flawed. (crying)
At Shelby’s trial, the protection known as no witnesses however argued Shea’s dying was unintentional. Shelby, her mother and father, and her lawyer selected to not converse with “48 Hours.”
Wes Schemenaur: Her protection was extra of a — it was a mistake. It was an accident … that … her intent to kill wasn’t there. …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: How did they go about attempting to show that?
Wes Schemenaur: Properly, if — when you take a look at what she stated in her interview … they tried to maintain pointing to this … I blacked out … kind of language.
SHELBY HIESTAND (interview with detectives): Actually, I really feel like I simply blacked out and it simply occurred …
Wes Schemenaur: They tried to simply basically characterize what she stated as … not — not technically admitting to homicide, not technically admitting to capturing at Shea, however merely simply pulling the set off.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Is there any means that this might have been an accident? .
Zec Landers: No. … You do not take out your gun and level it at anyone when you’re not desiring to kill them.
And to show this was no accident, prosecutors pointed to this textual content message that Shelby despatched E.J. a couple of month earlier than Shea’s homicide. It reads, “… I am killing that bastard with my very own two fingers.”
Wes Schemenaur: They’ve talked about this collectively for a very long time. …
Zec Landers: And one of many issues that was odd to me, when you take a look at that textual content message is E.J.’s identify in Shelby’s cellphone is “Bay.”
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: “Bay” as in a time period of endearment.
Zec Landers: Proper. …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Why do you suppose Shelby was prepared to do that? …
Wes Schemenaur: You understand, it is hypothesis. … She had a number of animosity in direction of Shea as evidenced by what she stated in her interview about him. …
SHELBY HIESTAND (interview with detectives): … I don’t want her to be with him in any respect.
Wes Schemenaur: And he or she was very indignant at Shea over his makes an attempt to intrude with — or — or insert himself into the daughter’s life. And so, um, you realize, I believe that that kind of fed into that perhaps energy dynamic with E.J. …
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What do you imply by that?
Wes Schemenaur: Properly, there’s an enormous age distinction, you realize, between E.J. and Shelby … I believe it is clear that Shelby appeared as much as E.J. and … needed her approval … I believe she had her personal emotions. I believe she had perhaps some manipulation there as properly.
On the finish of her three-day trial, Shelby Hiestand was additionally convicted of homicide. At her sentencing listening to, not like E.J., she apologized to Shea’s household.
Sharon Taylor: Shelby was trying proper at me, and he or she stated she was sorry, and I believed her. I imply, did not change something (chuckle), however I believed her. … You understand, she had the possibility. She had the possibility. …
Shelby Hiestand acquired the identical sentence as E.J. Stephen: 55 years in jail. For Shea’s household, the considered a 3rd trial was an excessive amount of to bear.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I did not wanna go to a different trial.
Tracy Hoevel: — she did not — properly, we I — do not suppose my mother may have dealt with one other one.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I do not suppose any of us may have. I imply, it was terrible.
They approached prosecutors and, finally, a plea deal was reached. Hannah Knapke and her attorneys additionally declined “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview. In September 2021, she pleaded responsible to voluntary manslaughter in alternate for a sentence that might see her launched as early as July 2026. At her sentencing, she additionally apologized to Shea’s household.
Tiffany McLaughlin: I bear in mind telling her in my influence assertion that, you realize, you were not the mastermind, you were not the shooter, however you have been nonetheless concerned in it. You have been nonetheless concerned in Shea’s homicide.
Sharon Taylor: And I stated, you can have made a distinction. You may have stated, no. You may have stated, let’s get out of right here.
Tiffany McLaughlin: However for not one particular person … however three folks made the choice to homicide him.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Proper. Three alternatives for somebody to do the correct factor.
Tracy Hoevel: Say no. Sure.
Tiffany McLaughlin: Yeah.
Anne-Marie Inexperienced: And none of them took that chance.
Sharon Taylor: Very properly put.
Tracy Hoevel: Yeah.
Sharon Taylor: Very properly put.
Tiffany McLaughlin 
Shea Briar’s grave sits subsequent to the little white church that he beloved. His headstone says “daddy,” a job his sister says he was so trying ahead to meet.
Sydney Hoevel: My brother needed to be there for his child … He loves her so, a lot. (crying) … And he has one of the best view proper now of her. … Regardless that he is in Heaven, he’s laughing. He is most likely giving her wind tickles and he is holding an eye fixed out on her.
Shea Briar and E.J. Stephen’s daughter is within the custody of E.J.’s household.
Shea’s household will get to see her as soon as a month.
Produced by Stephanie Slifer. Sara Ely Hulse is the event producer. Michael Loftus is the sector producer. Elena DiFiore is the event producer. Marlon Disla, Phil Tangel and George Baluzy are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.
