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MCC student jailed as Indiana murder suspect

Hannah Knapke, 18, a Marshalltown Community College student, was arrested Thursday as a murder suspect.

She was taken by Indiana authorities to jail in Portland, Ind. for charges stemming from the January slaying of Indiana man Shea Briar.

“Indiana authorities were here a couple of weeks ago and we let them use our facilities,” Chief of Police Mike Tupper said. “That was the extent of our involvement. It is my understanding she went back to Indiana and was arrested there.”

Knapke, of Fort Recovery, Ind., joins former Fort Recovery High School softball coach Esther Stephen, 31, and former assistant softball coach Shelby Hiestand, 18, in jail – all accused of murder in Briar’s slaying over what detectives alleged was a custody dispute.

According to a probable cause affidavit with the Jay County, Ind. Prosecutor’s Office, investigators said Knapke allegedly loaned her vehicle to Stephen and Hiestand because it would not be recognized if someone saw it during the Jan. 11 shooting of Briar.

The court filing also alleged Knapke was with Stephen and Hiestand when the shooting occurred.

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