Murder, Mystery & Makeup

Episode: From Obsession To Murder: The Girlfriend Who Couldn't Let Go - Shayna Hubers

Host: Bailey Sarian
Date: January 20, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

Bailey Sarian delves into the tumultuous story of Shayna Hubers, a young woman whose extreme obsession with her boyfriend, Ryan Poston, ended in his murder. Dubbed "the Kentucky Jodi Arias," Hubers' story weaves together themes of manipulation, jealousy, toxic relationships, and the question of self-defense versus calculated homicide. Bailey delivers the story in her signature irreverent, empathetic style, blending meticulous case research with candid, comedic commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Beginning: A Picture-Perfect Couple?

[01:37 - 09:00]

• Shayna Hubers, 19, was seen as attractive and intelligent—a psychology student and occasional model.
• Ryan Poston, a 29-year-old attorney, discovered Shayna via a Facebook photo and pursued her.
• Their initial connection was electric and long-distance, with frequent weekend visits.
• Ryan’s family and friends described the relationship as “picture-perfect” on the outside, but cracks soon formed.
• Ryan struggled to break up with Shayna, feeling guilt and wishing not to hurt her, whereas Shayna painted the relationship as headed for marriage.

2. Red Flags and Escalation

[09:00 - 13:48]

• Shayna claimed emotional and physical abuse by Ryan to friends; one incident involved her showing bruises after an alleged altercation.
• Ryan considered ending things, especially after meeting and planning a date with Audrey Bolt, "Miss Ohio."
• Shayna’s mother sensed something wrong after a late-night phone call and drove hours to check on her daughter—a sign of ongoing volatility.

3. The Night of the Murder

[13:48 - 16:55]

• After being dropped at Ryan’s condo by her mother, Shayna called 911 at 8:53 PM on October 12, reporting she had shot Ryan in self-defense.
• On the call, Shayna recounted:

  "I killed my boyfriend in self-defense." – Shayna Hubers [14:03]

• Her story shifted repeatedly, citing various forms of physical confrontation.
• Disturbingly, Shayna told the dispatcher:

  "After I first shot Ryan, he started twitching, so I shot him again... enough to make sure he was dead because he was twitching so bad. I didn’t want him to lay there and twitch." – Shayna Hubers via 911 Call [16:55]

• The dispatcher pressed her on details, noting inconsistencies.

4. The Interrogation: Bizarre Confessions

[21:24 - 27:11]

• At the station, after requesting an attorney, Shayna continued talking unprompted, describing their relationship and defending her actions.
• Notable moment:

  "I gave him his nose job he wanted." – Shayna Hubers [21:56]

• Bailey’s live reaction underscored its disturbing absurdity:

  "She gave him the nose job he always wanted. Shut up. Why would she... why is she talking?" – Bailey Sarian [22:41]

• Shayna rambled about bruises, academic deadlines, her period, and jail hygiene—frequently shifting moods and topics.
• She seemed more concerned with her legal situation and personal inconveniences than the gravity of her actions.

5. Interrogation Room Oddities

[28:26 - 30:27]

• Alone in the interrogation room, Shayna sang, danced, and admitted to the crime audibly to herself.

  “Yeah, I did. Yeah, I did. I cannot believe I did that.” – Shayna Hubers [29:47] “Oh, I’m a good actor.” – Shayna Hubers [30:22]

• Bailey was stunned:

  “Do people not realize that they're being... I thought it’s like common knowledge. You're being filmed.” – Bailey Sarian [29:55]

6. The Investigation Unfolds

[30:27 - 38:27]

• Autopsy revealed Ryan was shot six times; some shots were fired at close range and at a downward angle, conflicting with Shayna’s story.
• Shayna’s digital footprint revealed she had researched “Miss Ohio” and “how to unlock a house door with a bobby pin” within days and hours of the murder.
• Message logs uncovered obsessive behaviors: Shayna sent Ryan dozens of texts per day, fabricated situations, harassed him using fake numbers, and accessed his social accounts to monitor or sabotage his interactions with other women.

  “She was really giving Stepford wife energy.” – Bailey Sarian [38:27]

• Friends found her drama entertaining at first, but some became exasperated, encouraging her to move on, to no avail.

7. The Toxic Back-and-Forth

[38:27 - 48:41]

• Friends and family provided further insight:
  • Christy (a dentist and Shayna’s close friend) once reached out to Ryan out of sheer frustration with Shayna’s fixation.
  • Ryan’s texts to friends at times revealed emotional burden and, at moments, violent or dark humor (“...I told her I wouldn't be too surprised if that happened, but it would only be if I didn't have anything better to do.” – Ryan to Shayna [no timestamp]).
• Both displayed unhealthy behaviors, but the imbalance and escalation from Shayna were clear.

8. The First Trial

[48:41 - 63:50]

• Trial (April 2015): Shayna pled not guilty, sticking to a self-defense claim.
• Crucial evidence: She called her mother first, then 15 minutes later, called 911.
• Jailhouse witnesses testified Shayna joked about the murder, boasted of her intelligence, discussed learning from the Jodi Arias trial, and openly strategized about her defense.
• Friends read aloud texts where Shayna explicitly joked, “when I go to the shooting range with Ryan tonight, I want to turn around, shoot him, and kill him and play like it’s an accident” [approx 56:51].
• The prosecution argued calculation:

  “She grabbed the gun from the table, shot Ryan twice while he was sitting down... shot him four more times before his body fell to the floor.” – Prosecutor’s account [63:50]

• Jury found Shayna guilty. She received 40 years with the possibility of parole after 20.

9. The Appeal & Retrials

[63:50 - 67:30]

• A mistrial was declared when it was discovered a juror was a felon (not permitted to serve).
• While awaiting a new trial, Shayna married another inmate, Unique Taylor, further raising questions about her motives.
• After delays and denied motions (including attempts to suppress interrogation footage), the second trial began in August 2018.

10. Second Trial: New Details, Worse Outcome

[67:30 - 72:00]

• Shayna testified, this time focusing on sexual coercion and emotional abuse by Ryan.
• Despite shifting strategies, the prosecution’s reenactment convinced the jury: guilty of first-degree murder, this time sentencing her to life in prison (eligible for parole after 20 years).
• Shayna quickly filed for divorce from Unique after her life sentence.
• In 2020, further appeals based on media coverage and evidence admissibility were denied.

11. The Aftermath & Legacy

[72:00 - End]

• Shayna remains incarcerated, ineligible for parole until 2032.
• The case prompted legal reform in Kentucky: the introduction of interpersonal protective orders for dating violence victims.
• Bailey’s final thoughts: the case marks a tragic intersection of obsession, toxicity, and preventable violence.

  “The sad truth is that we may never really know... what happened that night. It’s clear the relationship was toxic, and Shayna was completely obsessed. Ryan was like an F boy, but that doesn’t mean he deserved to be murdered.” – Bailey Sarian [75:10-end]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “This woman... she had it all. A hot bod... Except the one thing she could not control: her obsession.” – Bailey Sarian [01:37]
• “I shot him right here. I gave him his nose job he wanted.” – Shayna Hubers [21:56]
• “Do people not realize that they’re being... I thought it’s like common knowledge. You’re being filmed.” – Bailey Sarian [29:55]
• “She was really giving Stepford wife energy, you know, which isn’t bad if that’s what you want to do, but... Ryan never really did anything sweet like that for her.” – Bailey Sarian [38:27]
• “The sad truth is that we may never really know what happened that night... Ryan was like an F boy, but that doesn’t mean he deserved to be murdered.” – Bailey Sarian [75:10]
• “I cannot believe I did that... Oh, I’m a good actor.” – Shayna Hubers, alone in interrogation [29:47–30:22]

Important Timestamps

• 01:37 – Main story introduction and description of Shayna and Ryan’s first encounter.
• 09:00 – Red flags in the relationship and Ryan attempting to move on.
• 13:48 – 911 call: Shayna confesses, conflicting details emerge.
• 21:24–27:11 – Interrogation tape: unusual behavior and confessions.
• 29:47–30:27 – Shayna’s odd solo behavior in interrogation room.
• 38:27 – Bailey discusses digital evidence and the obsessive nature of Shayna’s actions.
• 48:41 – The trial, testimony from jailmates, and evidence of premeditation.
• 63:50 – Prosecution’s reenactment, guilty verdict, and sentencing.
• 67:30 – Appeal, retrial, and increased sentence after second guilty verdict.
• 75:10 – Bailey’s reflections and contextual legal changes (“interpersonal protective order”).

Overall Tone & Style

• Bailey’s voice is witty, empathetic, and sometimes irreverent, but she treats the underlying tragedy with seriousness.
• She emphasizes the “exhausting” nature of Shayna’s fixation and the destruction it wrought, while also acknowledging the complexity of both parties’ behavior.
• The episode balances true crime detail with commentary on social dynamics, law, and personal safety, ending with a call for compassion and vigilance around stalking—especially for men.

Summary Takeaway

Bailey Sarian’s episode paints a chilling, exhaustive portrait of how unchecked obsession and manipulation can spiral into lethal violence. The Shayna Hubers case, rife with digital breadcrumbs, legal twists, and a barrage of red flags, ultimately asks listeners to consider the importance of boundaries, the warning signs of toxic relationships, and the limitations of the justice system in protecting would-be victims before it's too late.

If you or someone you know is being stalked, harassed, or feeling unsafe in a relationship, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.