Dr. Lester Hoversten was a college friend of Sam Sheppard. They attended osteopath school in California together. He was an osteopathic doctor as well, and was used as a motive witness to shed light on the Sheppard marriage. Hoversten said he had discussions about divorce with Sam Sheppard. Steve Sheppard tried to shed some suspicion on Hoversten, but there was nothing connecting him to the crime. Hoversten briefly stayed with the Sheppards as a guest, before the murder.