September 29, 2021 at 4:39 p.m.
Knapke pleads guilty
Knapke pleads guilty
A Fort Recovery woman has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Hannah Knapke, 20, pleaded Wednesday in Jay Circuit Court to a Level 2 felony charge for the Jan 12, 2020, murder of 31-year-old Shea Briar.
She admitted to aiding two other Portland women –– Shelby N. Hiestand, 20, and Esther J. Stephen, 31 –– in killing Briar.
Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17. In Indiana, voluntary manslaughter carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years. In Knapke’s plea bargain, the suggested sentence is 17.5 years with 7.5 years suspended.
Knapke had been charged with murder, which carries an advisory sentence of 45 to 65 years, with her trial scheduled to begin in November.
Jay County prosecutor Wes Schemenaur explained Knapke’s involvement was the least of the three women charged. He also noted concern for Briar’s family, which has been through two murder trials already and struggled with the thought of a third trial.
“It’s my decision, ultimately, but this is one where I gave a lot of deference to their wishes and what they want to see, just simply because there’s a lot of pain there,” he said.
Knapke’s attorneys declined to comment on the case.
Briar’s mother, Tracy Hoevel, said she believes Knapke could have been tried and found guilty of murder. But after more than a year and half following Briar’s death, Hoevel noted, her family is ready for closure.
“We want to move forward and begin the healing process,” she said.
More than 25 people attended Knapke’s change of plea hearing Wednesday. Knapke remained composed until the end of the hearing, when she teared up as she looked at the crowd and left the courtroom.
Stephen was the first woman convicted of Briar’s murder March 19, and she was sentenced to 55 years in prison May 4. Hiestand was convicted of the same charge Aug. 11 and also sentenced to 55 years in prison Sept. 24.
Court documents state Knapke, Hiestand and Stephen picked up Briar from his home in Portland with plans to “hang out” around midnight Jan. 12.
They drove in Knapke’s vehicle to a bridge over Loblolly Creek on county road 125 West, just south of county road 850 North. There, Stephen distracted Briar while Hiestand retrieved a gun from the van and shot Briar once in the back. Knapke was standing next to Hiestand at the time of the shooting. Briar was found on the bridge about 2 a.m. and died later that day at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Hannah Knapke, 20, pleaded Wednesday in Jay Circuit Court to a Level 2 felony charge for the Jan 12, 2020, murder of 31-year-old Shea Briar.
She admitted to aiding two other Portland women –– Shelby N. Hiestand, 20, and Esther J. Stephen, 31 –– in killing Briar.
Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17. In Indiana, voluntary manslaughter carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years. In Knapke’s plea bargain, the suggested sentence is 17.5 years with 7.5 years suspended.
Knapke had been charged with murder, which carries an advisory sentence of 45 to 65 years, with her trial scheduled to begin in November.
Jay County prosecutor Wes Schemenaur explained Knapke’s involvement was the least of the three women charged. He also noted concern for Briar’s family, which has been through two murder trials already and struggled with the thought of a third trial.
“It’s my decision, ultimately, but this is one where I gave a lot of deference to their wishes and what they want to see, just simply because there’s a lot of pain there,” he said.
Knapke’s attorneys declined to comment on the case.
Briar’s mother, Tracy Hoevel, said she believes Knapke could have been tried and found guilty of murder. But after more than a year and half following Briar’s death, Hoevel noted, her family is ready for closure.
“We want to move forward and begin the healing process,” she said.
More than 25 people attended Knapke’s change of plea hearing Wednesday. Knapke remained composed until the end of the hearing, when she teared up as she looked at the crowd and left the courtroom.
Stephen was the first woman convicted of Briar’s murder March 19, and she was sentenced to 55 years in prison May 4. Hiestand was convicted of the same charge Aug. 11 and also sentenced to 55 years in prison Sept. 24.
Court documents state Knapke, Hiestand and Stephen picked up Briar from his home in Portland with plans to “hang out” around midnight Jan. 12.
They drove in Knapke’s vehicle to a bridge over Loblolly Creek on county road 125 West, just south of county road 850 North. There, Stephen distracted Briar while Hiestand retrieved a gun from the van and shot Briar once in the back. Knapke was standing next to Hiestand at the time of the shooting. Briar was found on the bridge about 2 a.m. and died later that day at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
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