Coaches Admit To Murder

PORTLAND, IND. - Fort Recovery High School head softball coach Esther Stephen and assistant softball coach Shelby Hiestand admitted to conspiring to murder a Portland, Indiana, man, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Jay County Clerk of Courts.

The victim and Stephen were involved in a custody dispute over a shared child, according to court records.

Stephen, 31, and Hiestand, 18, both of Portland, were arrested on Tuesday on murder charges for the death of 31-year-old Shea Briar, according to a news release issued on Wednesday morning by Jay County Prosecutor Wesley Schemenaur. Both were formally charged with one felony count of murder on Wednesday morning in Jay County Circuit Court.

Authorities reportedly found Briar injured on the roadway on County Road 125 West near County Road 850 North in Jay County shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the affidavit. Schemenaur said a motorist had called 911 after seeing an apparently injured man in the roadway.

Briar was transported to Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Indiana, where doctors confirmed he had been shot in the back, according to the affidavit. He later was transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was pronounced dead between 5 and 6 a.m., according to Schemenaur.

The affidavit said preliminary autopsy results indicated the cause of death was a gunshot wound that entered his right mid-back and penetrated his heart.

Stephen and Hiestand were interviewed by investigators on Tuesday, according to the affidavit. Briar reportedly was the father of Stephen's daughter, who was born Jan. 5, 2019, according to court documents.

During interviews with investigators, the women reportedly admitted they had conspired to kill Briar on Saturday or Sunday. According to the affidavit, Stephen was angry because Briar had petitioned the court on Nov. 12 to establish parenting time rights for their child and had asked the court to change the child's last name.

Stephen filed an objection to the petition on Nov. 22, claiming Briar had "not been an active participant before birth or after birth of the minor child" and had been absent from their daughter's life, according to the objection document. A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 2.

Stephen and Hiestand told investigators they had gone to Hiestand's residence at 1391 West 200 N. to pick up a .22 rifle and ammunition, according to the affidavit. The two reportedly dropped off Stephen's child with a friend late Saturday evening, and around midnight Stephen called Briar and asked if he wanted to "hang out."

According to the affidavit, the women picked up Briar from his residence before driving to a bridge on County Road 123 W. in Jay County. Stephen told investigators that "she was to distract (Briar) so that (Hiestand) could remove the .22 rifle from the back of the vehicle" and shoot Briar.

After everyone exited the vehicle, Stephen and Briar walked away from the vehicle and Hiestand shot Briar once in the back, leading to his death, according to the affidavit.

Stephen and Hiestand were being held last night without bond at the Jay County Security Center. Schemenaur said an initial court appearance should take place today. A Jay County Sheriff's Office official said the child is staying with a relative of Stephen's.

Stephen has been head softball coach at the school for two years and had received The Daily Standard's Coach of the Year award in 2019 for her role in helping the Indians return to winning ways after years of struggles. Hiestand was hired on a supplemental contract in August.

Fort Recovery uperintendent Larry Brown said the coaches were placed on immediate paid administrative leave for an indefinite period. Included in their administrative leave documents was a directive to refrain from any contact and/or communications with students in the schools. The two are not permitted to be on school district property without written permission from Brown.

Brown said Hiestand did not serve in her role as assistant coach since softball season has yet to begin. Neither has been paid for her 2020 supplemental contract.

Brown added district officials won't decide how to proceed until the softball program is assessed. More information will be released as it becomes available, he said.

The investigation was conducted by the Jay County Sheriff's Department with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Portland Police Department, the Dunkirk Police Department and the Jay County Prosecutor's office.

Correction:

Esther Stephen and Shelby Hiestand picked up Shea Briar from his residence before driving to a bridge on County Road 125 W. in Jay County. The error was made in reporting.