Further Details Released Surrounding Murder

Ashlyn Nicole Shepard

Further details have been released regarding a Mishawaka woman’s involvement in the grisly murder of a young Syracuse couple Thursday, Feb. 19. Ashlyn Nicole Shepard, 21, was arrested at approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, and preliminarily charged with obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony, in connection with the murder of Tara Thornburg and Joshua Knisley.

According to a probable cause affidavit released by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor today, Shepard is reportedly the girlfriend of Kyle DeHart, who was arrested on March 6 for two counts of murder and one count of obstruction of justice in connection with the murder. According to officials, DeHart was found at Shepard’s residence located at 14463 Day Road in Mishawaka. While speaking with officers, a television news cast appeared on Shepard’s television with a photograph of Brandon Woody stating officers were attempting to locate him in connection with the murder.

Indiana State Police Trooper Neil Hodges interviewed Shepard who stated she was with DeHart from the night of Feb. 18 through the day of Feb. 19 when officers arrived. She stated she never saw Woody during that time period.

Officers spoke with a woman who advised she received a phone call on Feb. 19 from Brandon Woody in which she could hear Woody tell DeHart to stop texting and driving. Woody, when interviewed by police, informed he was hiding from the police in Kyle DeHart’s vehicle because he knew his name and photograph was “all over the news” in connection with the murder. Woody advised from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, he was with DeHart until he was apprehended.

Police obtained a search warrant for access into DeHart’s cell phone and discovered DeHart had made phone calls to Joan DeHart and Shepard. On March 4, Joan DeHart was arrested for assisting a criminal at which time her cell phone was collected as evidence. After receiving a search warrant for Joan DeHart’s phone, officers discovered messages from Shepard at approximately 4:02 p.m. Feb. 19 stating “emergency, they are here” in reference to the police arriving at her residence.

On March 4, Shepard admitted to lying to Trooper Hodges about being with DeHart on Feb. 18 to Feb. 19. She advised she met with DeHart on Feb. 18 at approximately 9 p.m. for a short time at One-Stop Gas Station in Mishawaka where she obtained money from DeHart and he left. She advised she met with DeHart again at the same gas station at approximately 9 a.m. Feb. 19 and took him to her residence where police arrived and arrested DeHart. Surveillance footage obtained from One-Stop Gas Station showed DeHart’s gold Ford Taurus arrive at the station at approximately 1 p.m. Feb. 19.