FR cutting ties with coaches

Fort Recovery Local Schools will move next week to officially cut ties with its two softball coaches who have been charged with murder.

The school district announced its plans in a press release Friday afternoon.

Esther J. “EJ” Stephen, who had coached the Fort Recovery High School softball team since 2018, and Shelby N. Hiestand, an assistant coach, were charged Wednesday with the murder of Shea Briar of Portland. Briar, 31, died Sunday of a single gunshot wound to the back.

Fort Recovery Local Schools placed Stephen and Hiestand on administrative leave within hours of their arrest Tuesday, pending further investigation.

In its press release Friday, the district said it “will proceed with termination action” on the coaching contracts for Stephen and Hiestand on Thursday at the advice of its legal counsel. As part of that process, superintendent Larry Brown will report the reasons for termination to the Ohio Department of Education “for disposition consideration of any licenses, certificates or pupil activity permits.”

Probable cause affidavits filed with Jay Circuit Court say Stephen 29, 621 W. Second St., Portland, and Hiestand, 18, 1391 W. 200 North, rural Portland, told investigators they conspired to murder Briar over a custody dispute. Stephen and Briar shared a child.

Court records show Stephen and Briar, 315 W. Seventh St., had been involved in a custody dispute over the child since mid-November.

The probable cause affidavits lay out the plot, saying that Stephen and Hiestand picked up Briar from his home in Portland after asking him to “hang out.” They proceeded to drive to the bridge over Loblolly Creek on county road 125 West in Jackson Township, the documents continue.

According to the affidavits, investigators say Stephen told them it was then her role to distract Briar to allow Hiestand to retrieve a .22-caliber rifle and shoot him.

Both Stephen and Hiestand said that while Stephen and Briar walked away from the vehicle, Hiestand shot Briar once in the back, the documents state.

Briar was found shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday and transported first to Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur. He was then taken to Fort Wayne’s Lutheran Hospital, where he died later Sunday.

Stephen and Hiestand are being held without bond at Jay County Jail. Pretrial hearings for both are scheduled for 2 p.m. March 30.

A murder conviction in Indiana carries a sentence of 45 to 65 years.

Stephen and Hiestand had already begun holding off-season conditioning activities in preparation for the softball season that starts in late March. They also worked at the concession stand at the FRHS boys basketball team’s game Jan. 11, hours before the alleged murder took place.

Fort Recovery softball players have met with the school counselor and other administrators this week, the school district’s press release said.

Administrators have also had conversations with several candidates interested in coaching the team this season.

“The focus of the school district is to find individuals who can provide the skills necessary to unify our players, parents and community around our softball team for the 2020 season,” the press release added, noting that softball activities will resume Wednesday under the supervision of volunteer coaches.

“On behalf of our players, athletic department and our schools; the administrative team would like to thank those individuals who supported all of the necessary actions of the schools during this unfortunate non-school related event,” the release said. “It is also our hope that everyone will support the 2020 FRHS softball team by attending their games and events.”