STATE OF INDIANA IN THE JAY CIRCUIT COURT

COUNTY OF JAY, SS: 2020 TERM

STATE OF INDIANA Cause No. 
V.

HANNAH 

AFFIDAVIT FOR PROBABLE CAUSE

That af?ant, Curtis D. Compton, is an Investigator for the Jay County Prosecutor?s Of?ce,
being sworn upon his oath, says:

That af?ant participated in an investigation wherein SHEA BRIAR was found on the roadway
on County Road 125 near County Road 850 in Jay County, Indiana approximately 1:57
a.m. on January 12, 2020. SHEA BRIAR was found to be suffering from injuries and was
transported to Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Indiana where it was discovered that he had
a gunshot wound in his back. SHEA BRIAR was tranSported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort
Wayne, Indiana where he was pronounced dead.

2. On January l3, 2020, an autopsy was performed on the body of SHEA BRIAR at Northeast
Indiana Forensic Center. Investigators from the Sheriff?s Department attended the autopsy.

3. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that SHEA cause of death was a gunshot wound
entering his right mid back and penetrated his heart causing SHEA death.

4. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that the bullet that caused the gunshot wound was a small
caliber bullet.

5. On January 14, 2020, Investigators interviewed ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY
HIESTAND in connection with the death of SHEA 

6. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHEA BRIAR had a child in common together.

7. During interviews with ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HIESTAND admitted that
they had conspired together to murder SHEA BRIAR on January 11-12, 2020. ESTHER JANE
STEPHEN was angry with SHEA BRIAR because SHEA BRIAR had recently initiated court
proceedings to establish parentingtime rights for their minor child and petitioned the court to
change the child?s last name. I i

8. During said interviews, ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HIESTAND told

investigators the following:

a. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN went to SHELBY residence to pick up a .22
ri?e and ammunition from her residence.

 

 

 

 

 

b. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HIESTAND dropped off ESTHER JANE
child to a friend, late in the evening on January 1 l, 2020 and then travelled
to Fairview United Methodist Church on County Road 200 where they met with
HANNAH KNAPKE.

c. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY then placed the .22 ri?e in the
back of HANNAH vehicle.

01. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN placed a phone call to SHEA at approximately
12:02 am. on January 12, 2020 asking him if he wanted to ?hang out? and SHEA BRIAR
agreed to meet with ESTHER JANE STEPHEN that night.

e. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN, SHELBY HIESTAND, and HANNAH KNAPKE left the
church to pick up SHEA BRJAR from his residence in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.
After picking him up, they drove to a bridge on County Road 125 West in Jay County,
Indiana.

f. Upon arrival at the bridge, everyone exited the vehicle.

g. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN told investigators that she was to distract SHEA BRJAR so
that SHELBY HIESTAN could remove the .22 ri?e from the back of the HANNAH
vehicle and shoot SHEA BRTAR.

h. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HIESTAND told investigators that while
ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHEA BRIAR walked away from the vehicle, SHELBY
HIESTAND shot SHEA BRIAR once in the back causing the injuries that later led to
SHEA death.

9. On January 14, 2020, Investigators and this af?ant ?ew to Marshalltown, Iowa to speak with
HANNAH KNAPKE.

10. HANNAH KNAPKE told investigators the following:

a. On Januaiy ll, 2020 at approximately 10:30 p.1n., she met with ESTHER JANE
STEPHEN and SHELBY at the Fairview United Methodist Church on
County Road 200 in Jay County, Indiana.

b. While at the church, ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HJESTAND discussed
killing SHEA BRIAR and their plan to do so with HANNAH KNAPKE.

c. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN and SHELBY HJESTAND asked to use 
vehicle to pick up SHEA BRIAR in case someone observed SHEA 
getting into the vehicle because HANNAH KNAPKE had no known connection to SHEA
BRJAR.

d. HANNAH KNAPKE agree to the use of her vehicle to pick up SHEA BRIAR
knowing that ESTHER ANE. STEPHEN and SHELBY planned to kill
SHEA BRIAR.

 

 

 

e. HANNAH KNAPKE knew that a gun was placed in the back of her vehicle.

f. ESTHER JANE STEPHEN, SHELBY and HANNAH KNAPKE picked
up SHEA BRIAR from his residence and drove him to the bridge on County Road 125 
in Jay County, Indiana.

g. Upon arrival at the bridge, everyone got out of the vehicle.

h. HANNAH KNAPKE was standing near SHELBY HIESTAND When SHELBY
HIESTAND shot SHEA BRIAR.

I af?rm, under penalties of perjury that the foregoing representations are true.

Curtis D. Compton
Curtis D. Compton
Af?ant