[38] A West Virginia state legislator from the Neese family home district introduced a bill[39] 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. A few months later, Shoaf suffered a nervous breakdown. They planned on carrying out the murder just before Shoaf left for summer camp. "She was also very loyal to her friends, the people she thought was her friends," said her father David Neese. On March 13, 2013, the officials announced that the body belonged to Skylar Neese. Skyler Neese (right) is pictured here with Sheila Eddy (left) and Rachel Shoaf (middle) in this June 2011 photo. Amber Alerts for missing children in West Virginia changed following Neeses tragic disappearance. Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, then 18, admitted to stabbing their University High School classmate to death in Greene County, Pennsylvania in July of 2012. According to CBS News, when Skylar first disappeared, an Amber Alert wasn't issued in West Virginia because the police weren't sure she had been abducted and thought she might have run away. On July 5, the night before she was murdered, after leaving her job at Wendy's, Skylar tweeted: "you doing sh*t like that is why I will NEVER completely trust you." As a 17-year-old Rachel Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in February of 2014 because circuit judge at the time, Russell Clawges said sentencing her as a juvenile would not be justice.. Shoaf, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, was sentenced to 30 years in prison the following month. cremated. A bench with the words "In loving memory Skylar A. Neese 1996-2012" written on it was dedicated to her on June 23, 2013. Previously, the trio had driven to Brave, a town just over the state line Pennsylvania, to get high. Meanwhile, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf began hearing things on social media that made them nervous. She'd gotten home in the evening after finishing her shift at Wendy's. Though she was well-liked and enjoyed being in school plays, she came from a strict Catholic family and idolized Eddy for her somewhat wild and carefree attitude. Skylar Neese (right), Sheila Eddy (center) and Rachel Shoaf (left) are seen here together in this April 2011 photo that was posted on Neese's Facebook account. She is survived by her parents David and Mary Neese and an aunt, Carol Michaud. Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Public hearing for RV campground sites in Morgan County postponed for now. [30] Facing the prospect of additional charges from Pennsylvania authorities, Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The spot where Skylar was murdered has since become a memorial. Failed to delete memorial. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Indiana, Skylars parents pushed for the enactment of Skylars law in memory of Neese Amber Alerts for missing children in West Virginia changed following Neeses tragic disappearance. Learn more about managing a memorial . Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. According to her mother Mary Neese, "She devoured the Twilight books. Rachel Shoaf is also imprisoned at Lakin Correctional Center and should be eligible for parole from 1st May 2023. The memorial service will start at 5 p.m. Friday.The Neeses have opened the service to the public.Funeral services are under the direction of McCulla Funeral Home, 770 Fairmont Road Westover, WV 26501. Gregg County, Some posts were odd, such as the one on November 5, 2012, that said, no one on this earth can handle me and Rachel if you think you can youre wrong.. In the plea agreement, the State of West Virginia recommended a sentence of 20 years incarceration. She was an honors student at University High in Morgantown, WV. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The girls were caught in a lie. It seemed the rift in the trio provided some solid evidence that perhaps Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf had something to do with Neeses disappearance. Although it was scorching hot outside, Shoaf and Eddy wore hoodies to conceal the fact that they were hiding the knives. "She has a lot of friends and is big into social networks but has not been online since she disappeared. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Washington, Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, then 18, admitted to stabbing their University High School classmate to death in Greene County, Pennsylvania in July of 2012. I wanted to take the horrible thing that happened here and try to turn it into something good a place that people can come and remember Skylar and remember the good little girl that she was, and not the little beast that they treated her like.. Shoaf's family also issued a public apology for her actions through their lawyer. They reported their daughter missing. All the 3 of them attended University High School together, and relatives said they shared a tight bond. Shelia might have gotten away with the murder had Shoaf not crumbled under pressure and come clean about the brutal killing. [4] Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on January 24, 2014, and was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years. thanks friends, love hanging out with you all too. The day before, Neese posted, you doing s*** like that is why I can NEVER completely trust you.. Rachel Shoaf, on the other hand, was the opposite of Eddy. But the surveillance video said otherwise. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Everything in my gut was, Shelia is acting wrong. enough to make Shelia and Rachel comfortable working there in the middle of the night, knowing there'd be little In February 2014, Rachel was sentenced to 30 years in prison. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Neese's body was found on January 16, 2013, in Wayne Rachel confessed that she and Shelia had allegedly planned the murder for months and picked Skylar on July 6, 2012, intending to kill her. On January 3, 2013, Shoaf confessed to authorities that she and Eddy planned and carried out Neese's murder. Mary Neese, Skylar's mother, also thought of the girl as her daughter's best friend. We have set your language to Resend Activation Email. However, there was an underlying tension present in their equations which ultimately manifested into them killing Skylar together. Skylar Neese The disappearance of a 16-year old Star City, W.Va., teen ended in tragedy on Jan. 16 when her body was identified as one found on off of Morris Run in Wayne Township. It requires Amber Alerts for all missing children, not only those believed to have been kidnapped. No explanation or punishment can bring peace to Skylar's parents. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. I mean, what kind of sickness is that?" Authorities cross-referenced surveillance footage from nearby businesses of that July night. When Rachel Shoaf pleaded guilty in 2013, Kelly Kerns, a close family friend who was effectively Rachel's aunt, couldn't believe that the girl she had helped raise was capable of committing such a horrible crime. Then they pounced and started attacking her. Her disappearance left her family and the authorities in a state of confusion. The law enforcement officials began to interview and look into friends circles of Skylar. At 16 years old, Neese vanished from her parents' apartment in Morgantown, West Virginia, on July 6, 2012. There has been no bank activity and her cell phone has not been turned on," a family member told the Huffington Post. A few months later, Shoaf suffered a nervous breakdown. The mourning father occasionally visits a tree in the woods in Pennsylvania, decorated with photos of his only child, his beloved daughter, killed because of two jealous best friends. As she continued talking, the grim truth about the case of Skylar Neese only became more and more clear. Murder Victim. Skylar Neese was a thriving, lively, and sociable girl. About seven months later, Shoaf led police to the body after suffering a nervous breakdown and confessing to the crime. Once they were in the woods, Shoaf said the plan was to count to three, then stab Neese to death. Who Killed Her? (There are several Wayne Townships across Pennsylvania; this one is in Greene County.) The court sentenced her to life imprisonment, but with mercy. It means that shell be eligible for parole fifteen years into her sentence. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181188936/skylar-annette-neese. But with no legitimate cause to make an arrest yet, the police had to keep investigating and the Neeses had to endure an agonizing wait before the truth about their daughter would come out. The prosecution had little physical evidence linking Shelia to the murder, but crucially, Rachel Shoaf was willing to testify against Shelia. There is a problem with your email/password. She was an honors student at University High in Morgantown, WV. A missing child no longer needs to be in immediate danger for police to issue an Amber Alert for the child. A missing child no longer needs to be in immediate danger for police to issue an Amber Alert for the child. [29], The date of the trial was originally set for January 28, 2014. Rachel Shoaf, guilty of second-degree murder, received a 30-year sentence. While Sheila Eddy hasn't been active on her Twitter account since the day before she was arrested, her feed is still visible to the public. Shelia didnt even knock on the door when she came over, she just came on in.. When her parents woke up the following morning, Skylar was gone. [17][18] After her confession, Shoaf led investigators to Neese's body. The lonely stretch of road where Skylar was killed is located in Wayne Township, Pennsylvania. There was a problem getting your location. After she finished her shift at Wendy's on the night of July 5, she went home and kissed her parents goodnight for the last time. She even pretended to feel grief over her friend's loss after her death. She loved to read, had an active social life and, like most teens, was all about posting her thoughts on social media. After Skylar went missing, the police started investigating. This account has been disabled. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Alex Mooney's Template for a Primary Victory, The Never Ending Water and Sewer Work in West Virginia. [5] On April 12, 2013, the West Virginia Senate unanimously passed the law, but made minor technical changes to the bill which the House of Delegates voted to accept on the same day. Add to your scrapbook. But, as David Neese stated, the hope is that "It may help someone else down the road," per WPXI. several Wayne Townships across Pennsylvania; this one is in Greene County.) to the road as the "Gun Club Road". In July 2012, Skylar Neese disappeared from her home in Star City, West Virginia. She is survived by her parents David and Mary Neese and an aunt, Carol Michaud. On December 28, 2012, a frantic parent called 911 in Monongalia County. She was an honors student at University High in Morgantown, WV. (There are several Wayne Townships across Pennsylvania; this one is in Greene County.) While she acknowledged picking up the 16-year-old that night, Shelia claimed that she had dropped her down the street from her home about an hour later. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. [3], On May 1, 2013, Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Were no longer a family,Neeses father said. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. You can always change this later in your Account settings. We asked Rachel, Why did you guys kill Skylar? And her only answer to that was, We just didnt like her, State Police Cpl. WebSkylar Annette Neese (February 10, 1996 July 6, 2012) was an American teenage girl who disappeared from her home in Star City, West Virginia, around midnight on July 6, 2012. Skylar Neese, 16, of Star City, WV. West Virginia teen Skylar Neese, an honors student with a 4.0 GPA, was never seen again after she snuck out of her parents home on July 6, 2012, to hang out with who she thought were her best friends, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, both also 16 at the time. What were you thinkin? On the other hand, Shelia was so much fun. Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for her role in the killing. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Something horrible happened here, Neese's father Dave Neese told "20/20" in a previous interview. David Neese, Skylar Neeses dad, says that those two girls did not deserve leniency from the courts. ", Then, on Jan. 3, 2013, Shoaf confessed to stabbing Neese to death with Eddy and told authorities where they had left her body. There is no new date for a public hearing as of Monday. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The following morning, Neese did not report for work a first for the responsible teen. which are 39.736806, -80.246387. In early January 2013, Rachel Shoaf took investigators to the rural woods where she and Shelia Eddy had killed Skylar Neese. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet Please try again later. She was 16 years old. Year should not be greater than current year. Skylar thought she could save her, Neeses mother, Mary Neese, said of her daughters relationship with Shelia Eddy. The stress and strain of concealing their crime continued to take its toll on Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy. Then, investigators could use this access to glean insight on the mental states of Eddy and Shoaf from their posts on social media. ET on ABC. It would not be until March 13 that a crime lab could officially confirm that the body was that of Skylar Neese. We have set your language to based on information from your browser. WebSkylar Annette Sky Neese Sponsored 10 Feb 1996 6 Jul 2012 Blacksville Cemetery Blacksville, Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA Richard Henry Dick Oland 1941 7 Jul 2011 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery Rothesay, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada Chazz Rocco Petrella 29 Jul 2002 21 Aug 2014 Cobourg Union Cemetery According to Mary, aside from a speeding ticket or breaking curfew, the girls had never done anything alarming when they were together. Chris Berry, a state trooper assigned to the case in August 2012, always believed that any murderer could not conceal what they had done for very long. A missing child no longer needs to be in immediate danger for police to issue an Amber Alert for the child. Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. In memory of their daughter, Dave and Mary Neese helped pass Skylars Law in West Virginia. Meanwhile, Shoaf was off to Catholic summer camp for two weeks. One of her tweets echoes in the tragic story of the murder of Skylar Neese. 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