Still Missing CA - Aranda Briones, 16, missing after a night out with friends, Moreno Valley, 13 Jan 2019 *arrest*

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Okay - another article with another update! Looks like jury selection started yesterday...

July 31, 2024
Jury selection got underway Wednesday for the trial of a man accused of killing a 16-year-old Moreno Valley girl because she got him expelled from school and then hiding her body in the San Bernardino Mountains, where it has yet to be found.
[.....]
Pretrial motions concluded Wednesday morning, after which Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst summoned several panels of prospective jurors to the Riverside Hall of Justice for screening as to their availability and qualifications. The process is expected to continue into next week.

Shover is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
[.....]
District Attorney Mike Hestrin is prosecuting the case himself.



The article goes into how they did the investigation...
 
Finally, the motive -- as reported from the trial brief:

Owen Shover and Aranda both attended Moreno Valley High School in the fall of 2017 and shared mutual friends. On Nov 7, 2017, the friends ditched school, and gathered in Community Park where a school resource officer seeking truants spotted the teens.

Shover, in possession of a handgun, panicked and tossed it to Aranda-- yelling for her to "hide it." Frightened, Aranda tossed the gun into a drainage canal-- but not before being seen by the resource officer who collected the weapon. When called before school administrators, Aranda disclosed that Shover was the one with the gun who tossed it to her.

The matter came before the local school board in February 2018, and its members voted to expel Aranda and Shover from Moreno Valley High. She enrolled in a nearby continuation school, while Shover moved out of his mother’s Moreno Valley home and relocated to his father’s residence and enrolled in a continuation school in Hesperia. But he was incensed over being kicked out of Moreno Valley High and what he evidently perceived as Aranda’s betrayal of trust, according to the brief.

Reportedly, in the eyes of Shover, getting expelled from Monroe Valley HS was evidence of the betrayal of Aranda's trust, and this sealed her fate. Via social media, Investigators obtained evidence of Shover shopping for another weapon between Nov 2018 and January 2019. The defendant became meticulous in his plan to destroy Aranda:

On Jan. 12, 2019, Shover contacted Aranda via text, inviting her to join him the following day while he made drug deliveries and “robs drug dealers,” the brief alleged. She agreed to meet him at Bayside Park, and the two connected shortly before 5 p.m. on Jan 13, 2019... Aranda posted several pictures to social media accounts within an hour, showing her and Shover in his car, expressing elation to be with her “homie,” who was letting her do some of the driving, according to the brief...While en route, Shover contacted his brother via FB messenger, stating, “Be ready for tonight. Get shovels and lighter fluid ready,” according to the brief.

The defendant retrieved his brother (Gary Shover) from the mobile home park, and the two headed north into the San Bernardino Mountains via state Routes 138 and 18. Between 8:33 p.m. and 10:14 p.m. According to the prosecutor, the defendant allegedly shut off his cell phone, making its signal unreadable-- but it returned to life after he reached his father’s home (located at 16210 Grevillea St).

Trial Brief Details

Now that we finally have a glimpse of the details-- I'm anxious to learn of the search efforts in the San Bernardino Mountains. I just watched a YT (Profiling Evil) on the recovery of Dylan Rounds in the Utah desert and I'm saddened that more than five years has lapsed before we learned of these details.


1722545087165.png

CA-138 & CA-18
California 93544

 
Feb 12, 2019

Gary Anthony Shover, left, and Owen Skyler Shover are seen in photos released by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on Feb. 12, 2019.

Gary Anthony Shover, left, and Owen Skyler Shover are seen in photos released by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on Feb. 12, 2019.Gary Anthony Shover, 21, and Owen Skyler Shover, 18, were arrested after a SWAT team served a search warrant at their Hesperia home, in the 16200 block of Grevillea Street, around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department


1722546465174.png

 
@Niner -- it's been a long 5+ years. I can't believe we have a confirmed trial date!

Next Court Date/ TimeCourt NameRelease Date
08/05/2024 09:00Riverside Hall Of Justice


Case RIF1900705 - SHOVER, OWEN SKYLER - Actions & Minutes

Action DateAction TextDispositionHearing Type
08/05/2024 9:00 AM DEPT. 51 JURY TRIAL IN-PROGRESS CONFIRMED
07/31/2024 9:00 AM DEPT. 51 JURY TRIAL DISPOSED

 
@Niner -- it's been a long 5+ years. I can't believe we have a confirmed trial date!

Next Court Date/ TimeCourt NameRelease Date
08/05/2024 09:00Riverside Hall Of Justice


Case RIF1900705 - SHOVER, OWEN SKYLER - Actions & Minutes

Action DateAction TextDispositionHearing Type
08/05/2024 9:00 AM DEPT. 51JURY TRIAL IN-PROGRESSCONFIRMED
07/31/2024 9:00 AM DEPT. 51JURY TRIALDISPOSED

Well done LE and finally justice - thanks to @Seattle1 And @Niner For posting all these years
 
Any chance there will be live coverage of this trial? Or probably just tweets?

Given there was minimal media coverage for the Preliminary Hearing on Sept 16, 2023 when the Judge ruled Owen was going to trial for Murder, and Gary was not (instead charged with accessory after the fact), I'm not optimistic that we will even have tweets during the trial!

IIRC, the only MSM reporting about the Prelim Hearing was by MyNewsLA, City News Service (Patch), and Fox11-LA-- where their reports were part of their normal broadcast cycle and not supplemental or live from Riverside Superior Court.

I don't know why this case failed to catch both public and MSM attention but here we are.

Also, there's been a standing Court Order from Feb 2019 regarding Media where the Court only granted a still camera allowed inside the Courtroom. No audio, no video, no live stream.

As of today, I've not seen any Motions filed by MSM requesting permission to broadcast or photograph the Trial. I recall Fox11 (KTTV -LA) filed requests for the prelim hearing last Sept and only an Order to photograph was granted -- consistent with the standing Order from 2019 (linked below). The request to record/broadcast was denied.

 
Finally, the motive -- as reported from the trial brief:

Owen Shover and Aranda both attended Moreno Valley High School in the fall of 2017 and shared mutual friends. On Nov 7, 2017, the friends ditched school, and gathered in Community Park where a school resource officer seeking truants spotted the teens.

Shover, in possession of a handgun, panicked and tossed it to Aranda-- yelling for her to "hide it." Frightened, Aranda tossed the gun into a drainage canal-- but not before being seen by the resource officer who collected the weapon. When called before school administrators, Aranda disclosed that Shover was the one with the gun who tossed it to her.

The matter came before the local school board in February 2018, and its members voted to expel Aranda and Shover from Moreno Valley High. She enrolled in a nearby continuation school, while Shover moved out of his mother’s Moreno Valley home and relocated to his father’s residence and enrolled in a continuation school in Hesperia. But he was incensed over being kicked out of Moreno Valley High and what he evidently perceived as Aranda’s betrayal of trust, according to the brief.

Reportedly, in the eyes of Shover, getting expelled from Monroe Valley HS was evidence of the betrayal of Aranda's trust, and this sealed her fate. Via social media, Investigators obtained evidence of Shover shopping for another weapon between Nov 2018 and January 2019. The defendant became meticulous in his plan to destroy Aranda:

On Jan. 12, 2019, Shover contacted Aranda via text, inviting her to join him the following day while he made drug deliveries and “robs drug dealers,” the brief alleged. She agreed to meet him at Bayside Park, and the two connected shortly before 5 p.m. on Jan 13, 2019... Aranda posted several pictures to social media accounts within an hour, showing her and Shover in his car, expressing elation to be with her “homie,” who was letting her do some of the driving, according to the brief...While en route, Shover contacted his brother via FB messenger, stating, “Be ready for tonight. Get shovels and lighter fluid ready,” according to the brief.

The defendant retrieved his brother (Gary Shover) from the mobile home park, and the two headed north into the San Bernardino Mountains via state Routes 138 and 18. Between 8:33 p.m. and 10:14 p.m. According to the prosecutor, the defendant allegedly shut off his cell phone, making its signal unreadable-- but it returned to life after he reached his father’s home (located at 16210 Grevillea St).

Trial Brief Details

Now that we finally have a glimpse of the details-- I'm anxious to learn of the search efforts in the San Bernardino Mountains. I just watched a YT (Profiling Evil) on the recovery of Dylan Rounds in the Utah desert and I'm saddened that more than five years has lapsed before we learned of these details.


View attachment 521957

CA-138 & CA-18
California 93544

I was just popping on to share the article that was published about this. You beat me to it!
 
Monday, August 5th:
*Trial continues with Jury Selection (Day 2) (Murder) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Aranda Isabel Briones (16) (Last seen Jan. 13, 2019 near the Moreno Valley Community Park at Frederick & Cottonwood, Moreno Valley, not found) – *Owen Skylar Shover (18/now 23) ex-bf arrested (2/11/19), charged (2/15/19) & arraigned (3/1/19) & recharged (9/16/22) with 1st degree murder & special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will not seek DP. Riverside County Jail
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst. DA Mike Hestrin.
Trial with jury selection began on 7/31/24 & continued on 8/5/24.

Court info from 2/15/19 thru 7/29/24 reference post #576 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...reno-valley-13-jan-2019-arrest.414244/page-29

7/30/24 Update: Pretrial motions began Tuesday where Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst ruled on motions concerning evidence, witnesses, briefs, scheduling & related matters. Jury selection was expected to begin by early next week. DA Mike Hestrin is prosecuting the case himself. He will not pursue capital punishment for Shover, if the defendant is convicted. Pretrial motion shearing continued on 7/31/24.
7/31/24 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 1: Jury selection got underway Wednesday. Pretrial motions concluded Wednesday morning, after which Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst summoned several panels of prospective jurors to the Riverside Hall of Justice for screening as to their availability and qualifications. Jury selection continues on Monday, 8/5/24.
*Gary Anthony Shover (21/now 27) – Plead guilty (3/7/24) & sentenced to a year in jail & to serve 12 months probation & pay victim restitution.
CA - *Owen Skylar Shover (20/now 23) charged (3/15/21) & arraigned (6/25/21) with bringing drugs into jail. Bond $5K.
Court info from 2/15/19 thru 7/2/24 & Trial Day 1 (7/29/24) reference post #576 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...reno-valley-13-jan-2019-arrest.414244/page-29

7/31/24 Update: Drugs: Felony Settlement Conference hearing on 8/23/24 @ 9am.
 
Any chance there will be live coverage of this trial? Or probably just tweets?
Good news -- it appears Court TV filed request for coverage on Friday and Judge granted the request. Whether or not the coverage is limited to still camera, the fact Court TV will be present is pretty much a guarantee other reporters will also be on site!

Case RIF1900705 - SHOVER, OWEN SKYLER - Actions & Minutes

Action DateAction TextDispositionHearing Type
08/05/2024 9:00 AM DEPT. 51 JURY TRIAL IN-PROGRESS CONFIRMED
08/02/2024 ORDER ON MEDIA REQUEST TO PERMIT COVERAGE SUBMITTED BY COURT TV FILED. ORDER G-GRANTED JUDGE TIMOTHY J HOLLENHORST
08/02/2024 MEDIA REQUEST TO PHOTOGRAPH, RECORD, OR BROADCAST FILED.

 
Live Update 2 minutes ago by Matt Johnson (Court TV) --during regular programming.

Opening statements on Tuesday, 8/6.

Gary Shover will testify per his plea agreement -- evidence will include texts between the brothers Owen and Gary.

AB's blood found in the trunk, and vehicle on surveillance entering San Bernardino (route to Mountain area).

Family wants answers -- where is beloved Aranda??!!

 
Last edited:
Live Update 2 minutes ago by Matt Johnson (Court TV) --during regular programming.

Opening statements on Tuesday, 8/6.

Gary Shover will testify per his plea agreement -- evidence will include texts between the brothers Owen and Gary.

AB's blood found in the trunk, and vehicle on surveillance entering San Bernardino (route to Mountain area).

Family wants answers -- where is beloved Aranda??!!


Geez.... I can't believe it. I can not access Court TV!!!??? Not fair.... All it does is that thingy keeps circling... :(

I am going to have to rely on someone reading here to give me updates - i.e. who the witnesses are? The defense attorney on the case - I do not believe I have seen their name anywhere.
Any news on the jury picked - i.e. men vs women?
TIA if anyone can help! :)

edited to add - and finding NO articles on the case...
 
Tuesday, August 6th:
*Trial continues (Day 1) (Murder) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Aranda Isabel Briones (16) (Last seen Jan. 13, 2019 near the Moreno Valley Community Park at Frederick & Cottonwood, Moreno Valley, not found) – *Owen Skylar Shover (18/now 23) ex-bf arrested (2/11/19), charged (2/15/19) & arraigned (3/1/19) & recharged (9/16/22) with 1st degree murder & special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will not seek DP. Riverside County
Trial with jury selection began on 7/31/24 & continued on 8/5/24. Jury selected.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst. DA Mike Hestrin.

Court info from 2/15/19 thru 7/29/24 & Jury Selection Day 1 (7/31/24) reference post #591 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...reno-valley-13-jan-2019-arrest.414244/page-30

8/2/24 Docket update: Media request to photograph, record or broadcast filed. Order on Media request submitted by Court TV filed-Order & Granted by Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst.
8/5/24 Monday, Jury Selection Day 2: Jury selection is completed. Opening statements begin on Tuesday, 8/6/24.

*Gary Anthony Shover (21/now 27) – Plead guilty (3/7/24) & sentenced to a year in jail & to serve 12 months probation & pay victim restitution.
CA - *Owen Skylar Shover (20/now 23) charged (3/15/21) & arraigned (6/25/21) with bringing drugs into jail. Bond $5K.
Court info from 2/15/19 thru 7/2/24 & Trial Day 1 (7/29/24) reference post #576 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...reno-valley-13-jan-2019-arrest.414244/page-29

7/31/24 Update: Drugs: Felony Settlement Conference hearing on 8/23/24 @ 9am.
 
Geez.... I can't believe it. I can not access Court TV!!!??? Not fair.... All it does is that thingy keeps circling... :(

I am going to have to rely on someone reading here to give me updates - i.e. who the witnesses are? The defense attorney on the case - I do not believe I have seen their name anywhere.
Any news on the jury picked - i.e. men vs women?
TIA if anyone can help! :)

edited to add - and finding NO articles on the case...

Last update by Matt Johnson was at 5:57 pm EST and there is nothing more/new than my initial update. Nothing on MSM but haven't checked Twitter/X.

 

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