It’s been over a decade, but the names Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf still send a chill down the spine of anyone who remembers the headlines from 2012. You’ve probably seen the grainy surveillance footage. It’s midnight in Star City, West Virginia. A 16-year-old girl named Skylar Neese climbs out of her ground-floor window and hops into a car with two people she trusts more than anyone.
She thought they were going to smoke some weed and hang out. Instead, they drove her across the Pennsylvania state line to a spot they knew well and stabbed her to death.
Why?
Honestly, the answer is more chilling than the act itself. When investigators finally got Rachel Shoaf to talk months later, her reason was simple and terrifying: "We just didn't like her anymore." But as years have passed and parole hearings have come and gone, we've learned the motive was actually much more calculated.
The Night Everything Changed for Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf
It wasn't a snap decision. This was planned. On July 6, 2012, Shelia and Rachel didn't just show up at Skylar’s window on a whim. They had kitchen knives hidden in their hoodies. They had a "kill kit" in the trunk—towels, bleach, a shovel, and a change of clothes.
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They drove to a secluded spot near Brave, Pennsylvania.
The three girls got out of the car. They walked into the woods. At a pre-arranged signal—counting to three—Shelia and Rachel turned on their "best friend." Skylar tried to run. She almost made it. She even managed to get a knife away from Rachel and stab her in the leg in a desperate attempt to survive, but she was outnumbered.
The Months of Deception
What happened next is what really makes people sick. For six months, Skylar was a "runaway." Shelia Eddy didn't just hide; she played the grieving friend. She helped Skylar's parents, Dave and Mary Neese, hand out missing person flyers. She sat in Skylar's bedroom. She tweeted about how much she missed her.
It was a performance.
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Rachel Shoaf, on the other hand, was cracking. By January 2013, she had a nervous breakdown. She ended up in a psychiatric hospital. When she got out, she went straight to her lawyer and confessed. She led the police to the body, which was covered in brush because the ground had been too hard to dig a grave that night.
Where Are They Now?
People always ask if they're out yet. The short answer is no. But the legal details are kinda complicated because they were juveniles when it happened.
Shelia Eddy is currently serving a life sentence at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Virginia. Because she was a minor at the time of the crime, she was sentenced with "mercy," which is just a legal way of saying she eventually gets a shot at parole. Her first eligibility date isn't until 2028. She has remained notoriously silent, showing almost zero remorse in court.
Rachel Shoaf got a slightly "better" deal for confessing. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and got 30 years. She had her first parole hearing in May 2023.
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It didn't go well for her.
During that hearing, the real motive finally came out in full. Rachel admitted that she and Shelia were in a secret romantic relationship. They were terrified Skylar was going to "out" them to their peers and families. To protect their secret, they decided Skylar had to die.
The parole board wasn't moved. They denied her request, citing the brutality of the crime and the fact that she was still being dishonest about certain details, like drug use on the night of the murder.
Why This Case Still Matters
This wasn't just a "mean girls" situation gone wrong. It changed the law. Because Skylar was initially treated as a runaway, no Amber Alert was issued. Her parents fought for "Skylar’s Law," which changed West Virginia's Amber Alert criteria so that police don't have to wait for proof of abduction to start a public search.
It's a reminder of how social media can mask true intentions. If you look at Shelia Eddy’s Twitter feed from 2012, it looks like any other teenager's—until you realize she was tweeting about the girl she had just murdered.
Key Facts to Remember
- The Sentence: Shelia got life (mercy); Rachel got 30 years.
- The Location: Both are currently at Lakin Correctional Center.
- The Next Date: Shelia Eddy becomes eligible for parole in 2028.
- The Motive: Fear that Skylar would reveal Shelia and Rachel’s relationship.
If you’re following this case, the best thing you can do is support organizations that focus on teen mental health and bullying prevention. The Neese family often speaks at schools through their "Skylar Talks" program to ensure no other family has to endure a "best friend" betrayal like this. Keep an eye on the West Virginia Parole Board records as 2028 approaches, as that will be the next major turning point for Shelia Eddy.