Lead: On Jan. 12, 2020, 31‑year‑old Shea Briar was found gravely wounded on a rural Jay County, Indiana road and later died after surgeons discovered a bullet that entered his heart. Investigators say Briar’s former fiancée, 29‑year‑old Esther Jane “E.J.” Stephen, and 19‑year‑old assistant coach Shelby Hiestand were arrested on murder charges after Hiestand admitted she shot Briar. A witness, former officer Kristi Sibray, told police that in months before the killing Stephen and Hiestand discussed methods to harm Briar and once put crushed pills into his tea — a claim Stephen later described in court as part of a harmless “chemistry experiment.”
Key Takeaways
- Shea Briar, 31, was found Jan. 12, 2020, on a rural road in Jay County, Indiana, and died after surgery revealed a bullet wound that penetrated his heart.
- Esther Jane “E.J.” Stephen, 29, and Shelby Hiestand, 19, were arrested and charged with murder; both initially denied involvement and later acknowledged taking Briar to the scene.
- Kristi Sibray, an acquaintance and former police officer, told detectives Stephen and Hiestand had discussed poisoning Briar and once put crushed pills into his tea; no immediate harm followed from that episode.
- During Stephen’s trial, she blamed Hiestand and said the pills episode was Hiestand’s idea and she believed it was a benign chemistry test, not an attempt to injure.
- Hiestand told detectives she blacked out and then fired the gun; prosecutors say Hiestand shot Briar in the back while both women were present at the road.
- The case moved from local investigation to televised coverage on CBS’s 48 Hours, which included interviews with law enforcement and family members.
Background
Shea Briar and Esther Jane Stephen had been engaged and shared a young daughter. At the time of his death, Briar had filed a court petition to formalize parenting time, a step family members say he pursued to maintain contact with his child. Sources close to the family told investigators the break in the engagement and the parenting petition created tension between the two parents.
Stephen was known in her community as a high school softball coach; Hiestand was a 19‑year‑old assistant coach. Kristi Sibray, who described herself to detectives as an acquaintance of Stephen’s, reported overhearing repeated conversations in which Stephen expressed anger about sharing custody. Sibray, a former law‑enforcement officer, said she initially considered those remarks venting rather than concrete threats.
Main Event
In the early hours of Jan. 12, 2020, first responders found Briar on a rural Jay County road in critical condition and transported him to a hospital. Medical staff discovered a bullet wound in his back that entered his heart; despite emergency treatment, Briar died. Detective Ben Schwartz later described the wound as lacking an exit track and said the bullet’s trajectory proved fatal.
Detectives investigating the death soon interviewed Kristi Sibray, who recounted multiple conversations with Stephen and Hiestand. Sibray told investigators the women had discussed ways to remove Briar from the picture and recounted an episode in which they crushed pills into Briar’s tea; she said he drank it and apparently suffered no immediate effect.
After Sibray’s call, police brought Stephen and Hiestand in for questioning. Both initially denied involvement but later admitted they had taken Briar to the rural road that night. Hiestand told investigators she fired the gun; her account included a claim she blacked out before pulling the trigger. Both women were booked on murder charges and pleaded not guilty in pretrial proceedings.
Analysis & Implications
The case raises several legal and evidentiary questions: motive, premeditation, and the relevance of prior conversations about poisoning. Prosecutors have presented a narrative in which escalating discussions and a prior attempt to lace a drink could show intent or planning; defense lawyers framed those same statements as venting or misinterpreted comments.
The “chemistry experiment” explanation offered by Stephen during trial illustrates a common defense tactic: recasting suspicious behavior as benign or misunderstood. If jurors accept that the pill episode was innocent and unrelated to the homicide, prosecutors will need stronger physical or corroborating evidence tying the shooting to both defendants’ intent.
Beyond courtroom strategy, the episode spotlights how informal social circles and coaching relationships intersected with alleged criminal acts. Stephen’s role as a local coach and Hiestand’s youth complicate community reaction and may affect witness willingness to come forward, as neighbors evaluate the credibility of competing narratives.
Finally, the televised coverage and public interest can influence local institutions — schools, courts and law enforcement — by increasing scrutiny. That attention can accelerate calls for policy reviews around domestic disputes involving shared parenting, but it can also create pressure that judges and lawyers must carefully manage to preserve a fair trial.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | Jan. 12, 2020 |
| Victim | Shea Briar, 31 |
| Defendants | Esther Jane “E.J.” Stephen, 29; Shelby Hiestand, 19 |
| Alleged pre‑incident act | Pills crushed into tea (per witness) |
The table summarizes the central facts preserved in public reports and court filings. Contextualizing those facts against similar domestic homicides shows that pre‑incident threats or attempts to poison, when documented, are often used by prosecutors to prove planning; however, outcomes vary based on forensic evidence, witness credibility and corroboration.
Reactions & Quotes
Law enforcement framed the discovery and medical findings as central to determining cause and culpability. Before trial, Detective Ben Schwartz described the wound’s severity and the investigative lead that followed Sibray’s tip.
“There was no exit wound … It was actually in his heart. He … passed away.”
Detective Ben Schwartz / Jay County Sheriff’s Office (official)
Family members emphasized Briar’s intent to remain involved with his daughter and the shock of his death. His mother spoke publicly about his efforts to secure visitation and the loss to the family.
“He wanted to provide for her … and he just really wanted to have some visitation.”
Tracy Hoevel / Mother of Shea Briar (family statement)
Kristi Sibray, who alerted police, expressed regret at not recognizing the seriousness of earlier comments and described how perceptions changed after the killing.
“I felt like I failed because how did I miss this? How did I miss these signs?”
Kristi Sibray (witness, former officer)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the crushed pills put into Briar’s tea were intended to injure him or to intimidate; toxicology did not link that episode conclusively to the later fatal shooting.
- The exact motive behind the Jan. 12 killing remains formally unresolved in public records beyond disputes over parenting time and relationship breakdown.
- Hiestand’s claim that she blacked out before firing has not been independently corroborated by objective forensic evidence in public reporting.
Bottom Line
The public record shows a fatal shooting on Jan. 12, 2020, that left Shea Briar dead and led to murder charges against Esther Jane Stephen and Shelby Hiestand. Witness testimony about prior conversations and a pill‑in‑tea episode has shaped investigative leads and courtroom narratives, but those statements alone do not determine legal guilt.
Key questions remain about motive, intent and the role (if any) of the alleged pill episode. The case underscores how domestic disputes that escalate to violence can leave ambiguous pre‑incident signals that are interpreted differently by witnesses, investigators and jurors. Observers should watch for trial evidence — forensic findings, forensic toxicology, and corroborating testimony — that will more clearly establish whether prior conduct contributed to premeditation or was overheard venting.