Charges against a Mishawaka woman accused of lying to police in connection with a double murder have been dropped.
Ashlyn Shepard, 22, was charged with one count of obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony.
On Monday in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton filed a motion to dismiss the charge. Judge Michael Reed approved the motion.
Shepard was charged with lying to police about Kyle Dehart’s whereabouts during the time of a double murder in Syracuse. Dehart is the father of Shepard’s child.
In February 2015, police found Joshua Knisley dead with a gunshot to the back of the head and Tara Thornburg with a gunshot wound to her head. Thornburg was able to identify Brandon Woody as the man who shot her and Knisley. She died the next day.
Police arrested Woody, along with his friend, Dehart, who were convicted of the double murder Oct. 7 after a four-day trial. On Oct. 26, Woody was sentenced to 120 years and Dehart to 110 years in prison.
A third man, Thomas Hursey, also believed to be involved in the slayings, is charged with two counts of murder. Hursey is scheduled for a plea hearing at a later date where he is expected to plead guilty to charges related to the case.
Shepard originally told police Dehart was with her during the time Thornburg and Knisley were killed. During the trial, she testified she lied to police because she didn’t want her grandmother to know she was out drinking that night.
Hursey testified that while fleeing the scene Dehart tossed his shoes out of the window of the vehicle. Police were able to locate the shoes. Shepard testified she had seen the shoes in Dehart’s residence. Shepard testified she had not received any promise of leniency in exchange for her testimony.
Hampton said Shepard’s willingness to testify at the trial showed her rehabilitation and acceptance of responsibility in the case, he said.pton said in the release.
Dehart’s mother, Joan Dehart, also has been charged in the case. Joan Dehart faces one charge of assisting a criminal after police said she offered to lie to law enforcement for Woody and Dehart and drove Woody away from her residence.
Joan Dehart’s next court date is a pre–trial conference set for Dec. 5.
