A 23-year-old man from Hesperia, California, is facing a lifetime in prison for the murder of a former classmate he held responsible for his expulsion from high school. Owen Skyler Shover was found guilty of the murder of 16-year-old Aranda Isabel Briones, who disappeared in January 2019. Despite extensive searches, Briones’ remains have yet to be discovered.
The jury convicted Shover of first-degree murder, with the added special circumstance of lying in wait. Under California law, such special circumstances can lead to either a life sentence or the death penalty.
The tragic story began in 2017 when Shover and Briones, both students at Moreno Valley High School, were among a group of students skipping school. When a truancy officer arrived, Shover, who had a small handgun, tossed it to Briones, instructing her to hide it. Panicked, Briones threw the gun into a drainage canal and was subsequently caught. When questioned, she revealed that the gun belonged to Shover, leading to both students’ expulsion in February 2018.
Following their expulsion, Briones transferred to another school within the district, while Shover moved to Hesperia to live with his father. Prosecutors argued that Shover harbored resentment towards Briones for nearly a year following their expulsion.
In January 2019, Shover invited Briones to accompany him on a series of drug deliveries and robberies. Despite the danger, Briones agreed, and the pair met at Bayside Park in Moreno Valley. However, the reunion turned deadly when Shover drove Briones to a trailer park in San Bernardino County. He then texted his brother to prepare shovels and lighter fluid.
The brothers then drove into the San Bernardino Mountains, where it is believed Briones was murdered and buried. The exact location remains unknown due to a lack of cell phone data.
Shover’s older brother, Gary Anthony Shover, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to one year in jail and 12 months probation. Initially, he was also charged with Briones’ murder, but the charge was dismissed in 2022.
After a six-day trial, the jury found Owen Shover guilty. With the death penalty effectively non-existent in California, he is expected to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for October 25.