BREAKING: Two arrested, charged with missing MV teen’s murder

UPDATED: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 10:45 a.m., With additional details regarding arrests.

UPDATED: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 1:30 p.m., With video and booking forms.

UPDATED: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 3 p.m., With additional details/press release from sheriff’s officials.

MORENO VALLEY — Authorities yesterday arrested two men in connection with the disappearance of Aranda Briones, a Moreno Valley teen who was last seen a month ago, on Sunday, Jan. 13. The 16-year-old girl’s disappearance last month kicked off a frantic search by family, friends, and law enforcement.

Riverside County jail records indicate Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit investigators have arrested two Hesperia brothers, identified as 18-year-old, Owen Skyler Shover, and 21-year-old, Gary Anthony Shover.

Early reports indicated Briones had been in a dating relationship with Owen Shover. However, family and friends have since corrected that Briones and at least one of the two brothers were just high school acquaintances and had not been involved in a dating relationship.

It was not immediately known if the missing girl’s body has been found, but online booking records indicate Owen Shover was booked on suspicion of first degree murder, while Gary Shover was booked on suspicion of second degree murder and conspiracy. Both remain in custody at different jail facilities and are being held without bail.

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Deputies assigned to Moreno Valley Police Department began investigating Briones’ disappearance after she never returned home after a night out with some friends, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Favero previously explained.

“Briones’ last known location is believed to be near Moreno Valley Community park located at 13380 Frederick Street in Moreno Valley,” Favero said shortly after the teen’s disappearance. 

As their missing person’s investigation continued, officials searched every home and location Briones was known to frequent, and spoke to several family and friends in an attempt to locate her. Investigators also searched footage from Moreno Valley’s citywide camera system and followed up on numerous leads generated by the public.

“Since the inception of the investigation, Moreno Valley Police have utilized every available resource, to include the anti-human trafficking team and the FBI in an effort to locate Aranda Briones,” said Favero.

“On February 11, 2019, at approximately 10:30 PM, members of the Sheriff’s SWAT team served a search warrant in the 16200 block of Grevillea Street in the City of Hesperia,” the Sgt. explained in an updated press release shortly before 3 p.m. this afternoon. “They were assisted by investigators with the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit, Major Crimes Unit and the Moreno Valley Police Special Enforcement Team.”

During the service of that warrant, officials arrested brothers Owen and Gary Shover.

Multiple sources including law enforcement officials have indicated that Owen Shover is believed to be the last person who saw her the night she disappeared. He has been a person of interest from the beginning of the missing person investigation, according to Favero.

Anyone with information about this ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact Master Investigator David Drexler at the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV190140275 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit an anonymous tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.