Naman Shrestha
When 31-year-old father of one, Shea Briar, was killed in Jay County, Indiana, in early 2020, the entire community was shaken to its core. The investigation that ensued uncovered a murderous plot that involved multiple individuals involved in the killing. As the detectives questioned the suspects, a shocking motive for the murder emerged. All the intricate details about the case are covered in the episode titled ‘Coached to Kill’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours,’ which also features exclusive and insightful interviews with the deceased’s loved ones and the officials linked to the investigation.
Shea Briar Was Found Shot on the Road in Jay County, Indiana
On March 9, 1988, in Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, Tracy Chalfant Briar and Robert Hoevel welcomed Shea Michael Briar into the world in the form of a little bundle of joy. Besides his parents, he also had the love and support of his sister, Sydney Hoevel. For a short while, Shea and his mother lived in DeSoto, where he attended kindergarten at DeSoto Elementary School. The two later relocated to Kailua, Hawaii, where he completed his elementary and high school studies and graduated from the Academy of the Pacific in 2006. Apart from being academically sound and bright, Shea also demonstrated his prowess in sports such as basketball, bowling, and baseball.
A devout Christian, Shea attended St. Anthony Catholic Church in Kailua and Fairview United Methodist church in Randolph County during summer break in Indiana. Following his dreams of serving the nation, Shea enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school. Upon completing his training at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, Illinois, he was stationed at Bangor Base in Washington as a Master of Arms. He also served at the Canine Handling Division before getting transferred to Italy. In 2012, Shea was discharged from the service and returned to his rural farm in Indiana. His professional experience included working at Beachside Lighting, Jay County Sheriff’s Department, Jay County Landfill, McLaughlin Auto Repair, and Culy Construction.
Additionally, Shea served as a trustee for American Legion Post #211 in Portland and worked on the family farm. On the personal front, he got engaged to Esther Jane Stephen, with whom he shared a daughter named Adilyn. With a lot to look forward to, Shea’s life was abruptly ended in the early morning hours of January 12, 2020. The 31-year-old man was found in a critical condition on a rural road in Jay County, Indiana. As soon as he was found by a passerby, he was rushed to a Fort Wayne hospital, where he succumbed to his gunshot wound in the back. Immediately, a homicide investigation was launched.
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Three Women Were Involved in Shea Briar’s Murder
During the investigation, the authorities dug deeper into the personal life of Shea Briar and learned that he had separated from his fiancée, Esther Jane Stephen. Not only that, the estranged couple was reportedly in an intense custody battle over their daughter at the time of Shea’s death. More details about the case emerged when a woman named Kristi Sibray, an acquaintance of Esther, reached out to the police. As per Kristi, Esther had opened up about her issues with Shea in the months leading up to his murder, alongside her assistant coach, Shelby Hiestand. Amidst the custody battle, Esther allegedly told Kristi that she didn’t want to share the baby and discussed ways to get rid of her former lover.
Kristi told the detectives that Esther and Shelby also talked about putting pills in Shea’s tea and various other methods to kill him. However, at the time, she thought they were not serious about it. When Kristi heard the news about Shea’s murder, she realized that the two women might have meant what they were discussing. The following day, the two suspects were brought in for questioning. Although they initially denied having anything to do with the murder, both Esther and Shelby confessed to the crime, admitting that they took Shea to the rural road and shot him to death.
However, Shelby claimed that she had blacked out before shooting Shea. Nevertheless, both women were arrested and charged with murder. Further investigation revealed that a woman named Hannah L. Knapke was also involved in the murder plot. As per reports, Esther and Shelby met with Hannah at a church to discuss the plan. The third suspect told the detectives that she was the driver who picked up Shea and drove him to the road in Jay County. According to Hannah, Esther distracted Shea, and then Shelby shot him with the rifle. Since she was also present on the scene, Hannah was also arrested and charged with murder.
Shea Briar’s Killers Were Brought to Justice in Less Than Two Years
During Esther’s trial, she shifted all the blame to her accomplice, Shelby, and claimed that she didn’t have any reason to want Shea dead. Ultimately, in March 2021, she was found guilty and sentenced to 55 years in prison. A few months later, in August 2021, Shelby stood trial for her involvement in the crime. The jury convicted her of murder, and on September 24, she was sentenced to 55 years in prison after offering an apology to the loved ones of Shea Briar. That same month, Hannah Knapke pleaded guilty to her part in the crime in exchange for a lesser sentence.
On November 18, 2021, she was sentenced to ten years in prison and an additional seven and a half years of probation for her involvement in the murder of 31-year-old Shea Briar in January 2020. Following the sentencing of all three women involved in the crime, Shea’s family released a statement: “Twenty-two months after Shea’s murder, justice has been served. Our family is so thankful for the Jay County Prosecutors’ office, Jay County Sheriff Department, Jay County Circuit Court, and the community. Nothing will bring Shea back, but we can now try and move forward by sharing his story and helping the community through the Shea Michael Briar Memorial Fund.”
