In the winter of 2023, concern grew for 27-year-old Colby Dennis Sheppard of Enid, Oklahoma. His family last saw him on December 27, 2023, and the last confirmed sighting of him was at a Pizza Hut on East Broadway in Enid. At the time, he was wearing blue jeans, a blue shirt, and a grey hat. Sheppard's vehicle, a gold 2008 Honda Civic, was later found abandoned on January 10, 2024, just a block from where he was last seen. He was officially reported missing on January 4, 2024.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were complicated by the fact that his ex-girlfriend, Kendra Battelo, had been missing since 2022. There was a pending domestic violence case against Sheppard with Battelo as the victim, but it was dismissed after she disappeared. While authorities never named him a person of interest, Sheppard was questioned by police several times regarding her case.
The investigation into Sheppard's disappearance took a grim turn in August 2024. Acting on a tip, Enid Police discovered human remains in the cellar of a property on North 12th Street. Though formal identification was pending from the Medical Examiner's Office, authorities believed the remains belonged to Sheppard. Investigators soon came to believe that Sheppard's death was a retaliatory act connected to the disappearance of Kendra Battelo. Police stated that evidence suggested Sheppard was killed because of his rumored involvement in Battelo's case, although they maintained they had no evidence to support this allegation. According to court documents, it is alleged that Sheppard was lured to a residence where he was assaulted.
Following the discovery of the remains, four individuals—Victor Battelo, Charles Jordan, Devin Harris, and Heaven Jordan—were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. It is alleged that Heaven Jordan lured Sheppard to the house where the others were waiting. A witness claimed that Victor Battelo admitted to assaulting Sheppard at Charles Jordan's house. Another individual, an inmate, told authorities that Charles Jordan had confessed to being in charge of disposing of Sheppard's body, which he allegedly wrapped in plastic and a blanket. The case serves as a tragic resolution to a missing person investigation that was intertwined with another ongoing mystery. While arrests have been made in Sheppard's death, the case of his missing ex-girlfriend, Kendra Battelo, remains an active investigation.Last Seen: Dec 28, 2023
