The murder of Skylar Neese in 2012 by Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf is a chilling and disturbing story that sent shockwaves through the community of West Virginia. The case would lead to the establishment of Skylar’s Law, and both Shelia and Rachel remain in prison to this day after their heinous crime.
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Where are Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf now?
Shelia would be found guilty of first-degree murder, receive a life sentence “with mercy,” and be eligible for parole in fifteen years. Rachel would also be found guilty and be sentenced to thirty years in prison, with parole eligible after ten. Both women are currently imprisoned in the Lakin Correctional Centre in Mason County.
What happened to Skylar Neese?
Skylar went missing on July 6, 2012, from her family home in Star City, West Virginia. The police were informed that Skylar was missing, and when the CCTV footage was checked, they found that the young girl had left home through her bedroom window and was picked up in a large car at around 12.30 am.
This led the police to conclude that Skylar had left the house of her own accord and there was no crime to report. However, Skylar’s family was not convinced that there was nothing sinister at play and noted that despite her use of social media, there had been no updates on the platforms she used.
They began raising awareness of Skylar being missing and hoped that someone would be able to shine a light on her whereabouts.
On January 16, 2013, a body was found in Greene County. Hidden in the undergrowth, covered in dirt, stones, and twigs, the body had several stab wounds and would eventually be identified as the missing Skylar Neese.
Who are Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy?
To find Skylar Neese, the first port of call would be the car that had picked Skylar up, and Shelia Rae Eddy owned that vehicle. After being questioned, Shelia would state she had picked Skylar up, and then dropped her off an hour later. The line of inquiry would then turn to her other friends. The questioning would get the desired result, and a close friend of Skylar’s called Rachel Shoaf would confess to the killing, naming Shelia Rae Eddy as also being involved.
Rachel had been friends with Skylar since they were very young, and Shelia had met them during their freshman year. It was reported that the two girls had planned the murder.
Why did Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy murder Skylar Neese?
The motive for the killing has never fully been resolved. Some reports indicate that Skylar Neese had found out about a romantic relationship between Rachel and Shelia, which was the main trigger for the crime.
Other sources suggest that the murder was done solely for kicks by the disturbed couple.
Who is Rachel Shoaf married to?
Some online sources, including Reddit, would report that Shoaf married another inmate called Amy Cobb. There have been different and contradictory reports about the relationship, so it is hard to know the truth, but if there is any truth in the rumor about the marriage, it may shed some light on the motive for the murder.
What is Skylar’s Law?
The case would lead to the formation of Skylar’s Law. This new law would change the criteria surrounding missing people in West Virginia.
The law ensures that if a child is reported missing, there will be an immediate public announcement regardless of whether a kidnapping occurred. A forty-eight-hour waiting period was now no longer applicable.
