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Murder of Skylar Neese

The murder of Skylar Neese was the July 2012 killing of 16-year-old Skylar Neese, a West Virginia teenager who disappeared after leaving home and was later found stabbed to death in Pennsylvania.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The murder of Skylar Neese was the July 2012 killing of 16-year-old Skylar Neese, a West Virginia teenager who disappeared after leaving home and whose remains were later discovered in Pennsylvania. Two of her classmates and former best friends, Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, were charged as adults and convicted. The case attracted national attention and contributed to changes in West Virginia's missing-child alert system.

Background

Skylar Neese was a 16-year-old student from Star City, West Virginia, when she disappeared in July 2012. She was reportedly close friends with Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy before the crime.

Investigation and discovery

After Neese was reported missing, investigators eventually found her remains in Pennsylvania in January 2013. Evidence and Shoaf's confession helped identify the two suspects.

Criminal proceedings

Both teens were charged as adults. Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, while Eddy later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder under a plea agreement.

Sentencing

Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison with parole eligibility after 10 years. Eddy received life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 15 years.

Legacy

The case had a lasting impact in West Virginia and was linked to later changes in the state's response to missing children, including Skylar's Law.

Key facts

  • Skylar Neese was 16 when she disappeared from Star City, West Virginia, in July 2012.
  • Her body was found in Pennsylvania; she had been stabbed to death.
  • Two former best friends, Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, were convicted of her murder.
  • Shoaf received a 30-year sentence; Eddy received life with parole eligibility after 15 years.
  • The case led to Skylar's Law, which changed missing-child alert procedures in West Virginia.
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Canadian context

The case received broad North American true-crime coverage, so Canadian readers may know it through media reporting and documentary coverage rather than direct Canadian legal relevance.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Skylar Neese?
Skylar Neese was a 16-year-old girl from Star City, West Virginia, whose 2012 disappearance and murder became a widely reported criminal case.
Who killed Skylar Neese?
Authorities said Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, two of Neese's best friends, planned and carried out the killing.
How was Skylar Neese killed?
She was stabbed to death; her body was found in Pennsylvania after she had gone missing from West Virginia.
What happened to Rachel Shoaf?
Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2013 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 10 years.
What happened to Shelia Eddy?
Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2014 and received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years.
Did the case affect West Virginia law?
Yes. Reporting on the case says it helped drive advocacy for 'Skylar's Law,' which changed how missing-child alerts are issued in West Virginia.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Skylar_Neese
    Supports: Date, location, perpetrators, confession, plea, and sentencing details
  2. ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/2-teenagers-plotted-best-friends-murder/story?id=108891016
    Supports: Overview of the plot, charges, and sentencing outcomes
  3. U.S. Department of Justice — https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/teens-charged-murder-skylar-neese
    Supports: Charges filed against the teenagers and Shoaf's adult transfer/guilty plea
  4. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-virgina-teen-sentenced-to-life-in-skylar-neeses-murder/
    Supports: Eddy's guilty plea and life sentence with parole eligibility
  5. Time — https://time.com/7382962/skylar-neese-murder-documentary/
    Supports: Case legacy and Skylar's Law context
  6. People — https://www.people.com/skylar-neese-inside-the-mean-girls-murder-by-her-best-friends-11928495
    Supports: Background, discovery of the body, and motive summary