WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Murdered teen's grandfather talks about ongoing trouble at southern Indiana home

Murdered teen's grandfather talks about ongoing trouble at southern Indiana home

By Scott Reynolds - bio | email     
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

ROCKPORT, IN (WAVE) - Authorities in southern Indiana say they have arrested a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Alexis Oesterle. Her stepfather, Ryan Lee Shelby, 32, was arrested Nov. 4 on a preliminary charge of murder. Now the victim's grandfather says Alexis may have been killed because of an on-going dispute with her stepfather.

Just over an hour after Shelby reported Oesterle missing, a deputy found her body next to a shed near the family's home. Now they have her stepfather in custody.

Investigators would not say if they found a weapon, but police did reveal the cause of the teen's death. Indiana State Police Sgt. Chad Dick said that an autopsy showed Alexis died from blood loss after a cut to her neck area.

From his home in Cleveland, OH, Jeff Spong, Alexis grandfather, said his daughter, Jessica, recently gave birth to a baby fathered by Shelby, and that Alexis and Jessica both were furious with the way he treated the child.

"She caught him abusing the new baby, as in the baby crying on the bed," Spong said. "He got upset and slammed the bed and the baby bounced up in the air."

Spong said his daughter reported Shelby for child abuse many times, but to no avail.

"They did an investigation, child services at her house," Spong said. "She showed them where Ryan had punched holes in the wall."

According to Spong, Jessica remained in the home with Shelby because of their baby.

Spong said Alexis had tried in the past to get the baby away from Shelby, but he cannot be sure if that is what may have caused him to allegedly kill his granddaughter.

Related story:

• Stepfather charged in Rockport teen's death

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