48 Hours “Coached to Kill” January 3 2026 Recap & Preview

CBS’s 48 Hours returns with a chilling investigation that explores how a high school sports bond may have twisted into something deadly. In “Coached to Kill,” correspondent Anne-Marie Green reports on the murder of 31-year-old Indiana man Shea Briar — a crime that shocked the small town of Portland, Indiana, and raised disturbing questions about influence, loyalty, and manipulation.

At the center of the case are two women: Shelby Hiestand, a former high school softball player, and her one-time coach, E.J. Stephen. Both were charged in connection with Briar’s fatal shooting in January 2020. While Hiestand confessed and admitted to pulling the trigger, she claimed that Stephen had planned the murder and convinced her to carry it out. Prosecutors agreed, alleging that the coach used her influence over Hiestand to orchestrate the killing, despite Stephen’s attempts to shift all responsibility onto her former player.

The episode features exclusive interviews with Shea Briar’s grieving family, including his mother Tracy Hoevel, grandmother Sharon Taylor, and aunt Tiffany McLaughlin, who reflect on the tragedy that stole a beloved father and son. Viewers also hear from Ben Schwartz, the lead detective who unraveled the plot, and prosecutors Wes Schemenaur and Zec Landers, who explain how seemingly minor details eventually led to the arrests.

One of the most compelling voices in the episode is Kristi Sibray, a key witness who reveals the disturbing dynamics between the coach and her former player. Through her testimony and the investigative timeline, 48 Hours paints a picture of how trust and authority were abused in a way that ultimately led to murder.

With haunting police evidence and courtroom revelations, “Coached to Kill” offers a stark look at how mentorship can turn into manipulation — and how a small-town crime became a case with national attention.