Murder of Skylar Neese

Skylar Earl Neese

Skylar Earl Neese
Born February 10, 1996
Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
Died July 6, 2012 (aged 16)
Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, USA
Cause of death Homicide by stabbing
Parent(s) Dave Neese and Mary Neese

Sixteen-year-old Skylar Neese (February 10, 1996 – July 6, 2012) was an American girl who disappeared from her home in Star City, West Virginia around midnight on July 6, 2012.[1] Neese's remains were found on January 16, 2013, in Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania.[2]

On May 1, 2013, teenager Rachel Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Shoaf told authorities that she and another teenager, Shelia Eddy, both friends of Neese, planned and carried out Neese's murder.[3] Neese's disappearance led to new West Virginia legislation that made changes to the Amber Alert missing child alert system.[4]

Background information

Victim

Skylar Annette Neese was the only child of Mary and Dave Neese. Mary Neese worked as an administrative assistant in a cardiac lab and Dave Neese was a product assembler at Walmart. Skylar was an honors student at University High School who wanted to become a criminal lawyer. She worked at Wendy's with two close friends.

Perpetrators

Shelia Eddy (born September 28, 1995) was the only child of Tara Clendenen and Greg Eddy. Shelia was born in Blacksville, West Virginia. Her parents divorced in 2000 when her father got into a car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and permanent disability. Tara struggled as a single mother, working as an accountant for a car dealership. In October 2010, Tara moved with her new husband, Jim Clendenen, to Morgantown, West Virginia, where Shelia started attending University High School and became an honors student.

Rachel Shoaf (born June 10, 1996) grew up in Morgantown. She is the only daughter of Rusty and Patricia Shoaf. Rachel regularly volunteered with the Special Olympics and was also an honors student at University High School. She had a passion for acting and singing, participating in many school plays.

Disappearance

On Thursday July 5, 2012, Neese returned to her family's Star City, West Virginia apartment after working at her job in a shift at Wendy's. She disappeared from her home that night. Apartment complex surveillance video showed the teenager leaving the apartment by the window at 12:31 A.M. on July 6, 2012 and getting into a sedan.[1] Neese's father said that she did not take her cell phone charger, that her window was left open, and that she planned on coming home.[5]

Murder

Late in the evening of July 5, 2012, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf convinced Skylar to sneak out with them. Skylar, who had recently fallen out with the two, was initially hesitant. But after a series of phone calls and texts from the girls, Skylar changed her mind.

About a half-hour after midnight, Skylar climbed from her bedroom window into the back seat of the car, and the three girls headed north from Star City on U.S. Route 19. They had planned to travel along Route 7, but turned around after spotting State Police car parked in front of a gambling lounge; they wound up taking an alternate road to Blacksville.

They eventually arrived at their destination: a long, heavily wooded dirt road across the Pennsylvania border, where the girls would occasionally smoke marijuana on the way to and from Shelia's father's house. Shelia and Rachel brought with them kitchen knives, which they concealed on their bodies, and in the trunk hid paper towels, bleach, Handi Wipes, clean clothes, and a shovel.

Once the girls were out of the car and Skylar had turned her back to the other two, Rachel began counting to three—a premeditated signal—at which point she and Shelia began stabbing Skylar. Skylar attempted to run but didn't make it very far; Rachel tackled her to the ground and continued stabbing her. Although Skylar managed to grab Rachel's knife and attempted to defend herself, she died after suffering over fifty stab wounds. As her friends continuously stabbed her to death, Skylar kept screaming out the same repeated question, "Why?"

Now certain that Skylar was dead, Rachel and Shelia dragged Skylar's body to the side of the road running along a creek. The soil there was too rocky to dig, so they covered Skylar's body with rocks, fallen branches, and dirt. The girls then returned to the car to clean up the murder scene and dispose of their blood-soaked clothing.

Investigation

For months police investigated several unproductive leads in Neese's disappearance.[6] Neese was initially considered to be a runaway by law enforcement authorities, and an Amber Alert was not immediately issued in connection with her disappearance.[4] An early tip indicated that Neese had been seen in North Carolina, but the Star City Police Department determined that the person spotted was not Neese.[7] Neese's parents posted flyers about their missing daughter in the Monongalia County region.[8] Police determined that the unknown sedan in which Skylar Neese was last seen belonged to one of her friends and interviewed her. The friend (Shelia Eddy) admitted picking up Neese but stated that she had dropped her off an hour later.[9] The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police joined the search for Skylar Neese on September 10, 2012, and began interviewing Neese's school friends.[9]

A major break in the case was made when Rachel Shoaf admitted plotting with fellow teenager Shelia Eddy to kill her. [6][10] The motivation Shoaf gave for the murder was they "didn't like her". [6][11] Dave Neese stated that these two girls were among his daughter's best friends,[12] and that Shelia Eddy had even helped the family look for her by distributing missing person fliers.[13][14] After her confession, Rachel Shoaf led investigators to Neese's body.[10] On March 13, 2013, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II released a press release[15] stating that a body found in Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania[16][17][18] on January 16, 2013 had been identified as the remains of Neese. Neese's remains were found less than 30 miles away from her home.[2]

Criminal charges

On May 1, 2013, Rachel Shoaf pleaded guilty to second degree murder.[3][19] According to the court transcript, Shoaf said that she and Shelia Eddy picked up Neese in Eddy's car. The girls drove to Pennsylvania, got out of the car, and began socializing. At a pre-arranged time, Shoaf and Eddy stabbed Skylar to death on the count of three.[20] The teens attempted to bury Neese's body, but were unable to do so and instead covered the body with branches. The court transcript indicates that other students overheard conversations between Shoaf and Eddy about the murder plot, but failed to report it, thinking they were joking.[3] According to Shoaf's plea agreement,[21] she pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree by "unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, maliciously and intentionally causing the death of Skylar Neese by stabbing her and causing fatal injuries". In the plea agreement, the State of West Virginia will recommend a sentence of forty years incarceration.[19][21] Shoaf's family issued a public apology for her actions through their lawyer.[22]

On September 4, 2013, West Virginia prosecutors publicly identified Shelia Eddy as the second alleged perpetrator of the murder of Skylar Neese and announced that she would be tried as an adult.[23] Eddy was indicted by a grand jury on September 6, 2013 with one count of kidnapping, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.[24] Shelia Eddy pleaded not guilty to these charges.[25]

The date of the trial was originally set for January 28, 2014,[26] but on January 24 – four days prior to the trial – Shelia Eddy changed her Not Guilty plea to Guilty to first degree murder with mercy. As a result, Eddy was sentenced to life imprisonment, with parole eligibility after she has served 15 years.[27]

Following her guilty plea on May 1, 2013, Rachel Shoaf was remanded on charges of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on February 26, 2014, with parole eligibility after she has served 10 years.[28][29]

Skylar's Law

An Amber Alert was not issued in Neese's disappearance because the circumstances did not meet all four criteria for an alert to be issued: (1) That a child is believed to be abducted; (2) the child is under 18; (3) the child may be in danger of death or serious injury; (4) there is sufficient information to indicate the Amber Alert would be helpful.[30] A waiting period of 48 hours had to elapse before a teenager could be considered missing.[31] A West Virginia state legislator from the Neese family home district introduced a bill[32] called Skylar's Law to modify West Virginia's Amber Alert plan to issue immediate public announcements when any child is reported missing and in danger, regardless of whether the child is believed to have been kidnapped.[2][33] Opinion columns appeared in both West Virginia and national media in support of Skylar's Law,[34][35] some of which also acknowledged criticism and drawbacks of the legislation.[34] On March 27, 2013, the West Virginia House of Delegates approved Skylar's Law with a 98-0 vote.[4] On April 12, 2013, the West Virginia Senate unanimously passed the law, but made minor technical changes [36] to the bill which the House of Delegates voted to accept on the same day.[37] West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed the legislation into law in May 2013.[5]

National media attention

On May 31, 2013, Anderson Cooper 360 covered the story of Skylar Neese's murder.

On March 7, 2014, Dateline NBC aired an episode entitled "Something Wicked" which chronicled the story of Skylar Neese's murder.

On March 10, 2014, the Dr. Phil show covered Skylar's story. Her parents Dave and Mary were both present, as were two women who described themselves as "second mothers" to Rachel Shoaf.

On April 12, 2014, Lifetime aired Death Clique, a fictional drama inspired by the story of Skylar Neese's murder.

On July 18, 2014, ABC's 20/20 covered Skylar's story in the episode called "Unfriended".[38]

On October 22, 2014 LMN's show I Killed My BFF (TV series) covered Skylar's story using parent and friend commentaries in an episode titled "Real Life Heathers".[39]

On November 14, 2014 Investigation Discovery's show "See No Evil" covered Skylar's story in an episode titled "Skylar Neese". The show uses the real-life surveillance video of Skylar to piece together the last few hours of her life. First person interviews with her family, friends, and the investigators are used, along with limited dramatic recreation.[40]

On March 26, 2016 ReelzChannel show "Copycat Killers" covered Skylar's story in an episode titled "Heathers".

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kelly Rippin, "Father of Star City Teen Begs for Return Home," WBOY News, August 2, 2012. http://www.wboy.com/story/19069371/father-of-star-city-teen-begs-for-return-home, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 CBS News Crimesider, "Skylar Neese Death: Body Found in Pennsylvania is Missing West Virginia Teen, Federal Officials Say," March 14, 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57574289-504083/skylar-neese-death-body-found-in-pennsylvania-is-missing-west-virginia-teen-federal-officials-say/ Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Kim Freda, "Court Transcript: Shoaf and Co-conspirator Planned Skylar Neese's Murcer," WBOY news, May 16, 2013. http://www.wboy.com/story/22274120/court-transcript-shoaf-and-co-conspirator-planned-skylar-neeses-murder, Retrieved May 31, 2013
  4. 1 2 3 Shauna Johnson, "House Approves Skylar's Law," West Virginia MetroNews, March 27, 2013. http://wvmetronews.com/house-approves-skylars-law/, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  5. 1 2 WPXI News, "Target 11 Investigates How Authorities Handle Missing Persons," May 21, 2013. http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/target-11-investigates-how-authorities-handle-miss/nXyDw/, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Daily Mail and The Associated Press, "Shock as 16-Year-Old Confesses to Stabbing Classmate Who Was Missing for Two Months 'Just Because She Didn't Like Her Anymore'," Daily Mail, May 25, 2013. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330904/Shock-16-year-old-confesses-luring-classmate-house-stabbing-death-premeditated-attack.html, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ WBOY News, "Update: Star City Police Continue Looking for Missing Girl," July 23, 2012. http://www.wboy.com/story/18980671/update-star-city-police-continue-looking-for-missing-girl, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ The Associated Press, "High School Horror in Mon County: Star City Transfixed by Teen Girls' Murder Plot," Saturday Gazette-Mail, May 25, 2013. http://www.wvgazette.com/News/policeblotter/201305250019, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  9. 1 2 David Lohr, "Skylar Neese's Family Fears for Her Safety," Huffington Post, September 10, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/skylar-neese-missing_n_1871268.html, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  10. 1 2 9 News MSN, "US Teen Admits to Plotting Best Friend's Murder," May 29, 2013. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/29/16/03/us-teen-admits-to-plotting-best-friend-s-murder, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gail Deutsch and Alexa Valiente, "From Best Friends to Killers: Teens Murder Friend Because They 'Didn't Like Her'." ABC News, Jul 16, 2015. http://abcnews.go.com/US/best-friends-killers-teens-murder-friend-didnt/story?id=24573749#all
  12. ↑ Associated Press, "Parents of slain girl say 1 of 2 teens accused in her stabbing death was 'like our daughter'," The Washington Post, June 26, 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/parents-of-slain-girl-say-1-of-2-teens-accused-in-her-stabbing-death-was-like-our-daughter/2013/06/26/b736f00a-de4a-11e2-bc84-8049224b33e1_story.html, Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ Iris Carreras, "Skylar Neese Update: Prosecutors ID 2nd suspect in W. Va. teen's murder," CBS News, Sept 5, 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57601480-504083/skylar-neese-update-prosecutors-id-2nd-suspect-in-w-va-teens-murder/, Retrieved Sept 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ Jeff Jenkins, "Skylar Neese's Father Full of Emotion," West Virginia MetroNews, May 1, 2013. http://wvmetronews.com/skylar-neeses-father-full-of-emotion/, Retrieved May 31, 2013
  15. ↑ William J. Ihlenfeld, II, "Teens Charged With Murder of Skylar Neese," Office of the United States Attorney Northern District of West Virginia press release, May 1, 2013. http://www.justice.gov/usao/wvn/news/2013/may/neese.html, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  16. ↑ "WV MetroNews – Skylar Neese’s father says he won’t call off protest next time". Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Krista Baker (24 June 2013). "Skylar Neese Memorial Placed in Green County, Pa". Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Skylar Neese Death: Body found in Pennsylvania is missing West Virginia teen, federal officials say". 14 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  19. 1 2 The Associated Press, "W. Va. Girl Pleads Guilty in Slaying of Fellow Teen," Charleston Daily Mail, May 1, 2013. http://www.dailymail.com/News/breakingnews/201305010078?page=1&build=cache, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  20. ↑ Vicki Smith, "Skylar Neese: What mother says about her suspected killers," Associated Press, June 29, 2013. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0629/Skylar-Neese-What-mother-says-about-her-suspected-killers, Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  21. 1 2 State of West Virginia Vs. Rachel Shoaf, Case Number 13-F-88, Waiver of Indictment, May 1, 2013. http://wvmetronews.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Shoaf-plea-agreement.pdf, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  22. ↑ The Shoaf Family, Angoiti and Straface L.C. Press Release, 2013. http://www.wdtv.com/content/files/neese-statement.pdf, Retrieved May 31, 2013. http://www.fbi.gov/pittsburgh/press-releases/2013/teens-charged-with-murder-of-skylar-neese.
  23. ↑ Philip Caulfield, "Second teen girl suspected of slaying best friend in shocking West Virginia murder will be tried as an adult," New York Daily News, September 5, 2013. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/teen-girl-suspected-slaying-best-friend-shocking-west-virginia-murder-adult-article-1.1446955#ixzz2e39yEopL, Retrieved Sept 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ Tara Kinsell, "Making the case for jurisdiction," Observer-Reporter, Sept 10, 2013. http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20130909/NEWS02/130909392#.Ui9lDz_zFf0, Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  25. ↑ Daily Mail, Associated Press, and Ryan Gorman, "Teenage girl accused of stabbing her best friend to death because she didn't like her any more denies the charge in court," Daily Mail, Sept 17, 2013http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2423972/Sheila-Eddy-pleads-guilty-killing-best-friend-Skylar-Neese-didnt-like-more.html, Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Monongalia County Judge Sets New Trial Date for Shelia Eddy". 1 May 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  27. ↑ Stebner, Beth (January 25, 2014). "West Virginia teen Sheila Eddy pleads guilty to murdering friend, sentenced to life in prison". New York: Daily News. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  28. ↑ Wilson, Dave (February 25, 2014). "Rachel Shoaf sentenced to 30 years in prison". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  29. ↑ "‘She's only sorry she got caught’: Emotional dad hits out at daughter's remorseless killer as second girl in teen stabbing plot is handed 30-year sentence". dailymail.co.uk. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  30. ↑ Tara Kinsell, "Remains Identified as Those of Missing Teen," Observer-Reporter, March 14, 2013. http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20130313/NEWS02/130319685/0/NEWS08#.UaY-NmzD-kw, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  31. ↑ Fallon Pierson, "Parents Cope With Life After Morgantown Teen Dies," WDTV News, April 28, 2013. http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=Parents-Cope-with-Life-After-Morgantown-Teen-Dies9431, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  32. ↑ Delegates Marshall, Guthrie, Sumner, Barill, D. Poling, Fragale, Hamilton and Boggs, West Virginia House Bill 2453, April 12, 2014. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2453%20SUB%20ENR.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&i=2453, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  33. ↑ John Kerkhoff, "Star City Teenager Still Missing After Seven Months," West Virginia MetroNews, February 7, 2013.http://wvmetronews.com/star-city-teenager-still-missing-after-seven-months/, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  34. 1 2 The Journal News, "Skylar's Law Should Be Strongly Considered," March 21, 2013. http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/592384/-Skylar-s-Law--should-be-strongly-considered.html, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  35. ↑ The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register, "'Skylar's Law' May Save Lives," March 28, 2013. http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/583164/-Skylar-s-Law--May-Save-Lives.html?nav=509, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  36. ↑ Jeff Jenkins, "Skylar's Law Heading to Governor's Desk," West Virginia Metro News, April 12, 2013. http://wvmetronews.com/skylars-law-heading-to-governors-desk/, Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  37. ↑ Ann Ali, "'Skylar's Law' Goes to Gov. Tomblin for Approval," The State Journal, April 12, 2013. http://www.statejournal.com/story/21958002/skylars-law-goes-to-gov, Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  38. ↑ "20/20 07/18: "Unfriended"". http://abc.go.com/. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 4 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  39. ↑ ""I Killed My BFF" s09/e02:"Real Life Heathers"". Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  40. ↑ ""See No Evil" s01/e02: "Skylar Neese"". IMBD. Retrieved 25 March 2015.

External links

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