Bio

Sheena Renea Eastburn was born on September 30, 1975. Reports name her as the only child of a woman whose name appears in news accounts as Alica Bleavins or Lisa Blevins. Her mother lived in Stella, Missouri.

Sheena married Timothy Eastburn on November 15, 1990, when she was 15 years old. Their marriage was later dissolved on September 17, 1992, when she was 16. Reports say the two continued to see each other after the divorce.

When Sheena was 13, she received a psychological evaluation at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin. That report described her as excitable, easily led, and given to action that was guilt free. The report also recorded that she had been raped as a child and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Later testing gave two different IQ scores, one of 91 and another of 80. Reports say she had emotional and mental problems, including depression. Her mother and others said Sheena had been “wild” as a teenager and that many things had happened to her in childhood that she did not tell them.

Her mother said she wished she could have done more for Sheena when she was young. Accounts note that family members stayed involved in her life and remembered her childhood and teenage years closely.

Murder Story

On November 19, 1992, 22-year-old Tim Eastburn was killed at his home in Rocky Comfort, McDonald County, Missouri. Sheena Renea Eastburn was 17 at the time. She was arrested three days later.

Police identified three teenagers as suspects: Sheena Eastburn, Terry Banks, and Matt Myers. All three gave statements to police about their roles. Prosecutors said Sheena planned the act. She denied that and said she agreed only to a robbery.

At trial, the state presented physical evidence and witness testimony. The jury found Sheena guilty of first-degree murder. In 1995 she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Terry Banks went to trial and was convicted of first-degree murder and given life without parole. Matt Myers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 67-year sentence with parole eligibility.

Sheena later sought a new trial and raised issues about her counsel, her mental evaluations, and other matters that she said were not shown to the jury. Courts held hearings on those claims. The Missouri courts denied her motions. In 2013 the Missouri Supreme Court refused further relief.

Sheena was 17 at the time of the conviction. Her lawyer argued that a later U.S. Supreme Court ruling about juvenile life-without-parole sentences should affect her case. Missouri courts rejected that argument in her appeals.

While jailed before trial, Sheena said a jailer sexually assaulted her. Years later that jailer was charged in a separate case. As part of a plea deal, the prosecutor dismissed the rape charge involving Sheena and the jailer received a prison term in the later case.

Records and testimony show Sheena had psychological evaluations and IQ testing before trial. Scores reported included 91 and later 80. Her lawyers said those results and other records could have affected the defense strategy.

Sheena has said she did not intend that Tim die. She has also said she tried to help him after he was hurt. Others involved gave different accounts, and jurors convicted her of first-degree murder.

In prison, Sheena earned a high school diploma and worked in programs. She trained rescue dogs, taught aerobics, and led victim impact classes. Her attorney and some prison staff have described her participation in those programs.

Members of Tim Eastburn’s family opposed reopening the case and oppose any early release. Sheena’s mother has continued to support her and kept in touch while she was incarcerated.