Indiana Incident: A Woman Claims Drugged Tea Given to Ex-Fiancé Was a Science Test
On an early January morning in 2020, Shea Briar, then 31, was discovered barely alive on a desolate road in Jay County, Indiana.
Briar was unable to speak, and paramedics initially faced uncertainty about his condition; however, upon reaching the hospital, a gunshot wound was found lodged in his back.
According to Detective Ben Schwartz from the Jay County Sheriff’s Department, there was no exit wound because the bullet had hit his heart. Unfortunately, Briar did not survive.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement was contacted by Kristi Sibray, who was acquainted with Briar's ex-fiancée.
Esther Jane Stephen, who also went by E.J., was a high school softball coach in the area. Alongside Briar, she shared a young daughter.
Sibray informed detectives that E.J. frequently visited her over the months before Briar’s demise, often in the company of Shelby Hiestand, her assistant coach.
During these meetings, Stephen would discuss her frustrations regarding Briar, especially since they had ended their engagement and he had sought legal visitation rights with his daughter.
Tracy Hoevel, Briar’s mother, shared that her son only wanted to care for his daughter and ensure he spent time with her.
However, Sibray mentioned that Stephen was displeased with this arrangement, feeling possessive over the child.
Stephen allegedly explored ways to eliminate Briar, though at that time, Sibray believed Stephen was merely expressing her emotions without serious intent.
Sibray recalled discussions with Stephen and Hiestand growing more precise over time, including a plan where Briar’s tea was spiked with pills.
Sibray mentioned that they crushed ibuprofen into Briar’s tea, yet nothing happened when he drank it. Initially, Sibray thought it was a joke and doubted Stephen’s capability to do such a thing.
However, after Briar’s murder, Sibray re-evaluated the conversations, questioning if she missed warning signs.
Detectives interrogated Stephen and Hiestand the day after Sibray's tip-off. Both initially denied involvement but ultimately confessed to taking Briar to the remote location where Hiestand shot him in the back.
Hiestand claimed she lost consciousness before firing the weapon at Briar.
Both E.J. and Shelby faced murder charges, yet they pleaded not guilty. Stephen, during her trial, placed the responsibility on Hiestand.
On the witness stand, Stephen denied wanting Briar dead, asserting that adding pills to his drink was Hiestand's notion, which she thought was an innocent scientific activity.
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