Teen Skylar Neese Betrayed and Murdered by Her Best Friends

In July 2012, the quiet town of Star City, West Virginia, was thrust into the spotlight following the disappearance of 16-year-old Skylar Neese. What initially seemed like a runaway case turned out to be a chilling premeditated murder orchestrated by her closest friends. Disturbing events led to Skylar's death, and the aftermath left a community in shock.

The Disappearance of Skylar Neese

On the evening of July 5, 2012, Skylar Neese, a bright and social high school student, left her family's apartment for what was supposed to be a night out with friends. Her father, Dave Neese, woke up the next morning to find Skylar missing, her bedroom window open, and no sign of her. As panic set in, he realized his daughter had snuck out and never returned.

Skylar's friends, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, claimed they had picked her up for a drive and dropped her off near her home before midnight. However, surveillance footage later revealed that a car had picked Skylar up at 12:30 a.m., casting doubt on their story. The police were initially stymied by the lack of evidence but soon started to suspect that Skylar's friends were not being truthful.

The Disturbing Confession

Months of searching and mounting pressure eventually broke Rachel Shoaf, who confessed to the police in January 2013 that she and Shelia Eddy had brutally murdered Skylar Neese. Shoaf admitted that the pair had planned the murder because they simply "didn't like her anymore." They lured Skylar into the woods over the state line into Pennsylvania, where they stabbed her more than 50 times and left her body covered in branches and debris.

The community was stunned by the revelation that two teenage girls, who had publicly mourned their missing friend and assisted in the search efforts, were responsible for her murder. The callousness of the crime and the betrayal by those closest to Skylar left a deep scar on the town of Star City.

The Motive Behind the Murder

The motive for Skylar's murder was as shocking as the crime itself. The trio's friendship had become strained, with frequent arguments and tensions that often spilled over onto social media. Skylar had posted cryptic tweets expressing her frustration with her friends in the days leading up to her disappearance. The animosity had reached a breaking point, and in a disturbing turn, Eddy and Shoaf decided to eliminate Skylar from their lives permanently.

During Shoaf's confession, it was revealed that she and Eddy had been in a romantic relationship and feared that Skylar would expose their secret. This fear, coupled with their growing dislike for Skylar, led them to plan and execute the murder. The fact that the murder was premeditated and carried out with such cold precision added another layer of horror to the crime.

The Aftermath and Justice

Following Shoaf's confession, authorities recovered Skylar's body and arrested both girls. Shelia Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence, while Rachel Shoaf, who cooperated with the investigation, was sentenced to 30 years for second-degree murder. Both are currently serving their sentences in a West Virginia prison, where they remain in contact and continue to receive fan mail, a disturbing testament to the fascination some hold for the macabre.

Skylar's parents, Dave and Mary Neese, have turned their grief into advocacy, speaking at schools and prisons to educate others on the importance of friendship, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of violence. They continue to honor Skylar's memory through their work and by sharing her story, ensuring that her legacy lives on.

The murder of Skylar Neese is a tragic reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind seemingly close friendships. The brutal betrayal by her friends serves as a sobering example of the complexities and dangers of teenage relationships. Skylar's story underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for communities to come together to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.

References: 16-Year-Old Skylar Neese Killed By Friends in Tragic Betrayal: "We Just Didn't Like Her" | How 2 teenagers plotted their best friend's murder