Testimony underway in Jay County murder trial
PORTLAND, Ind. Testimony began this week in the trial of a Portland woman charged with murder in the death of her young daughter s father.
Esther Jane Stephen, 30, is accused of participating in a conspiracy that led to the January 2020 shooting death of Shea Michael Briar, 31, also of Portland.
Authorities found the mortally wounded Briar “on the roadway,” on Jay County Road 125-W near County Road 850-N. He was first taken by ambulance to Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur, and was then transferred to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy indicated Briar died as a result of a “gunshot wound entering his right mid-back (that) penetrated his heart.”
Portland man charged in beer-bottle attack under false name
PORTLAND, Ind. A Portland resident was charged under a false name with attacking another man with a beer bottle.
Wilmer Alexander-Garcia Mendez, 33, is now charged under his actual name with battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison.
He is accused of striking a man in the head with a full beer bottle on Feb. 21 at a home in the 100 block of West McNeil Street.
The victim, left bleeding and unconscious, was taken by ambulance to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.