California Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Murdering Former Classmate Over School Expulsion

Owen Skyler Shover, 23, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday, October 25, for the 2019 killing of his former classmate, 16-year-old Aranda Briones. Shover blamed Briones for getting him expelled from Moreno Valley High School, a grudge that led to her death. Briones' body has never been found, leaving lingering questions. “There are many questions left unanswered, none more than where is Aranda?” Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst told Shover during sentencing. “You are the face of pure evil,” the judge said, adding that Shover appeared incapable of remorse. The events leading to the tragedy began on November 7, 2017, when Briones and Shover, along with friends, skipped class to hang out at a park. Shover, carrying a handgun, gave it to Briones to hide when a school resource officer approached. Panicked, she threw the weapon into a drainage canal, but the officer saw her dispose of it and detained her. Both students were expelled from school in February 2018 following the incident. Prosecutors revealed that Shover harbored resentment against Briones for the expulsion. Social media messages from November 2018 to January 2019 detailed Shover’s attempts to obtain another handgun. On January 12, 2019, he invited Briones to join him on a so-called “adventure,” promising she could ride along on drug deliveries and robberies. The two met at Bayside Park the following day, with Briones posting photos of their reunion. However, by 6 p.m., Shover’s intentions became clear when he messaged his brother, “Be ready for tonight. Get shovels and lighter fluid ready.” The pair drove into the San Bernardino Mountains, where the phone signals dropped between 8:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., leaving no trace of their location. Shover’s phone reactivated later that night at his father’s house. Briones was reported missing soon after. Investigators discovered her blood in the trunk of Shover’s car and a Facebook message to his brother confirming plans for the crime. At sentencing, Briones' friend described her as “a kind spirit who was always joyful, even in bad moments.” Shover’s brother, Gary, pleaded guilty in March to being an accessory after the fact and received 12 months' probation. Shover’s attorney, Stephen Allen, expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying, “We are sad about the outcome and hopeful the appellate process will address any errors.” Shover will serve life in prison without parole, leaving the question of Briones’ final resting place unanswered. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com