Naman Shrestha
CBS’ ’48 Hours: Coached to Kill’ chronicles the tragic death of Shea Briar, a 31-year-old father of one. After his demise from a fatal gunshot wound, the detectives launched an investigation that led them to his former girlfriend, Esther Jane Stephen, and her best friend, Shelby Hiestand. With the help of witness testimonies and other pieces of evidence, the authorities concluded that Shelby was the one who fired the shot that ended up killing Shea. She was eventually punished for her crimes.
Shelby Hiestand Claimed She Didn’t Remember Pulling the Trigger on Shea Briar
Shelby Nichole Hiestand was born in July 2001 and was a part of the softball team at Fort Recovery High School. Esther Jane Stephen coached the team, but she became best friends with Shelby over time. Later, the two worked together at a local daycare, where Shelby served as Esther’s assistant coach. She also became acquainted with Kristi Sibray through Esther. According to reports, Shelby and Esther visited Sibray’s residence multiple times and talked about ways to get rid of Esther’s former fiancé, Shea Briar. The two women also reportedly contemplated “crushing up pills and putting it in his drink” and “check(ing) into what it would cost to have a hit man.” As per Kristi, although Shelby didn’t speak much during the meetups, she claimed that she could shoot him when Esther mentioned that it was another way to get rid of him.
After Shea was found fatally wounded on a secluded road in Jay County, Indiana, in the early morning hours of January 12, 2020, Kristi led the detectives to Esther and her best friend, Shelby. On January 14, Shelby was brought in for questioning at the sheriff’s department. After reading her her rights, the detectives began interrogating the suspect. She admitted to knowing Shea and gave them multiple reasons why she didn’t like him. After the investigators asked her about the fateful night, she admitted to being with Shea, Esther, and Hannah in the car and stopping at a bridge in a rural area, where they all got out. Although she confessed to shooting Shea in the back, she claimed that she blacked out before pulling the trigger.
Shelby further told the police that she then proceeded to take out Shea’s phone from his pocket, after which Esther threw it in the river. As per her claims, the murder weapon, the rifle with which she shot the 31-year-old man, was under her bed while the bullets were in the drawer of her nightstand. She also agreed to give a written statement, wherein she admitted to her involvement in the crime. She wrote, “I grabbed my gun, standing on the opposite side of the bridge as (Briar), I blacked out and pulled the trigger.” She also consented to having her phone searched by the authorities, which further incriminated her. Thus, on January 15, 2020, Shelby Hiestand was charged with the murder of Shea Briar.
Shelby Hiestand is Currently Incarcerated at an Indiana Prison Facility
Not long after, Shelby Hiestand filed a motion to have her oral and written statements suppressed, claiming that she was not properly informed of her Miranda Rights. However, during the hearing in early June 2020, her motion was rejected as the court concluded that the authorities clearly told her that she was not under arrest. During Esther Stephen’s trial in March 2021, she shifted all the blame to Shelby. A few months later, on August 9, 2021, Shelby’s jury trial got underway. As part of the evidence, the prosecution played the recorded interview for the jury, who eventually found the defendant guilty as charged.
During her sentencing hearing on October 20, 2021, Shelby apologized to the loved ones of Shea Briar. She stated, “I’m so sorry for my actions…I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself.” The defense counsel claimed that she was “groomed” for a period of years by Esther to commit the crime for her. Ultimately, she was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Several months later, in April 2022, she filed an appeal to have her conviction and sentencing overturned, but it was denied. As of today, Shelby Hiestand is serving her sentence at Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her earliest possible release date scheduled for April 2061.
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