(8-11-21) A Portland, Indiana woman, Shelby Hiestand (20), was convicted for the Jan. 12, 2020, shooting death of Shea Briar. The guilty verdict by the jury happened this afternoon.

Prosecutors and the defense rested their case and presented closing arguments this morning in Jay Circuit Court.

The defense offered no evidence or witnesses.

Two Level 5 felony charges, reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, were added as alternative charges for jurors to consider.

Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. on September 24th.

Hiestand’s trial is the second in Jay Circuit Court for Briar’s murder. Esther J. Stephen, the mother of Briar’s child, was sentenced in May to 55 years in prison after a Jay Circuit Court jury found her guilty. The two were softball coaches at Ft. Recovery High School at the time of the murder.


Hannah Knapke (19) of Ft. Recovery will stand trial on November 15th.