On 12 October 2012, Shayna Hubers fatally shot her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Ryan Poston, six times in his condo. Though she claimed self-defense, evidence of obsession and jealousy emerged, especially after learning Ryan had planned a date that night with Audrey Bolte, a former Miss Ohio USA.
The Life of Ryan Poston
Ryan Poston was born on 30 December 1982, in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. He came from a well-established family and had three younger sisters. Known for his sharp mind and drive, Ryan stood out for his intelligence and ambition.
He pursued higher education at Indiana University where he triple-majored in history, geography, and political science. Later, he earned a law degree from Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Ryan eventually started practicing law in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Legacy reports.
In addition to his academic success Ryan was described by friends and family as charming and well-liked. He had a charismatic personality and was admired for his work ethic and dedication. Ryan was also known for his appearance and was often complimented for his looks and confidence.
At the time of his death, he was 29 years old and had a promising career ahead of him.
Shayna Hubers
Shayna Hubers was born on 8 April 1991, in Lexington, Kentucky. She had an impressive academic background earning a psychology degree from the University of Kentucky and later pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling at Eastern Kentucky University.
Shayna and Ryan met in 2011 through Facebook and began dating soon after, according to WCPO.
From the beginning, their relationship was described as intense and turbulent. According to friends and family members, Shayna appeared to be overly attached and possessive of Ryan. Although they dated for about a year and a half, the relationship included several breakups and reconciliations.
Ryan reportedly expressed concerns to his close friends about Shayna’s obsessive behavior, and he often spoke about ending the relationship permanently.
By the fall of 2012, Ryan had decided he no longer wanted to continue the relationship. He confided in friends that he was trying to distance himself from Shayna.
Around that same time, he had started talking to a new woman, Audrey Bolte, a former Miss Ohio USA and had plans to go on a date with her.
The Night of the Incident
On the evening of 12 October 2012, Ryan Poston was at his condominium in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Shayna Hubers visited him that night.
According to her later testimony, they had been arguing, and she claimed Ryan was verbally abusive and threatening during the dispute. She stated that during the altercation, she feared for her life and acted in self-defense.
Shayna called 911 at around 8:25 PM and told the dispatcher that she had shot her boyfriend in self-defense. Police arrived at the scene and found Ryan Poston dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
He had been shot six times, including once in the face. Shayna was taken into custody that night for questioning, according to News.
During the police interrogation, Shayna spoke at length. She claimed Ryan had pushed her and was reaching for a gun when she managed to get to it first. She said she shot him to protect herself.
However, as the interview progressed, she made several odd statements including saying “I shot him right here. I gave him his nose job he wanted”, per E News.
Investigation and Evidence
As detectives delved deeper into the case, they noticed inconsistencies in Shayna’s statements. Her demeanor during the interrogation raised concerns, as she displayed strange behavior and even danced while alone in the interrogation room, the Nzherald reports.
Authorities began to question whether the shooting was truly an act of self-defense.
According to WCPO, the forensic evidence also painted a different picture. Ryan had been shot six times, including while seated, and some of the wounds appeared to be inflicted as he was already incapacitated. Police determined that the shooting was excessive and inconsistent with Shayna’s self-defense claim.
Text messages and emails between the couple further revealed the unstable nature of their relationship. Ryan had expressed his desire to end things with Shayna, and friends reported that she had been distraught and unwilling to let go. These findings contributed to the decision to charge Shayna Hubers with murder.
The First Trial
Shayna Hubers’ first trial began in April 2015. Prosecutors argued that the murder was premeditated and motivated by Shayna’s inability to accept Ryan’s rejection. They presented evidence of her obsessive behavior, including messages in which she admitted to being upset that Ryan wanted to date other women.
Witnesses testified that she frequently checked Ryan’s social media and email accounts and often contacted him even after breakups.
The prosecution emphasized the number and placement of the gunshots as signs of intentional killing rather than self-defense. They argued that Shayna shot Ryan out of jealousy and anger after learning he was planning a date with another woman, AETV reports.
The defense maintained that Shayna acted in self-defense after a heated argument turned physical. They highlighted her claims of being mistreated and presented her psychological state as a factor in her reaction.
After hearing the testimonies, the jury found Shayna Hubers guilty of murder. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison. However, in 2016, her conviction was overturned after it was discovered that one of the jurors had a prior felony conviction, making them ineligible to serve, according to ABC News.
The Retrial and Final Verdict
A retrial began in August 2018. Much of the same evidence was presented, including Shayna’s interrogation footage, text messages, and forensic details. Shayna again claimed self-defense, but the prosecution maintained that the act was premeditated.
During the second trial, prosecutors also focused on Shayna’s behavior following the shooting. Surveillance footage showed her dancing in the police station, and her recorded comments appeared to show a lack of remorse.
The jury was also shown messages Shayna had sent to friends, including one where she said, “When I go to the shooting range with Ryan tonight, I want to turn around, shoot and kill him and pretend it’s an accident”, per WLWT 5.
On 28 August 2018, the jury once again convicted Shayna Hubers of murder. This time, she received a life sentence, with the opportunity for parole after serving 20 years.
Shayna is currently serving her sentence at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women, the Lex 18 reports.
