‘Dateline NBC’ Behind The Cold-Blooded Killing Of Skylar Neese
Dateline NBC‘s new episode titled “Something Wicked” took a look at the gruesome killing of Skylar Neese. The murder, which rocked small-town Pennsylvania, is something that still impacts the local community 12 years later. So, who killed Skylar Neese and what led to her brutal death? Continue reading for the details.
Who Is Skylar Neese?
Dateline NBC took a deeper look at the Skylar Neese case. Interviews included in the episode feature Mary and Dave Neese, Officer Jessica Colebank, and Cheryl and Dave Lawrence.
Skylar Annette Neese was born on February 10, 1996. She was from Star City, West Virginia, and, by all accounts, was a normal teenage girl. Many people describe her as friendly and outgoing. This is until she became the victim of a heinous crime. The 16-year-old girl went missing from her home around midnight on July 6, 2012.
Skylar Neese went out on a night out with two of her friends, Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy. The trio were considered to be best friends. What was supposed to be a fun girls’ night out turned out to be Skylar’s last night alive.
Ultimately, Shoaf and Eddy stabbed Skylar Neese to death. It took Rachel Shoaf six months to confess to the murder, which helped investigators find her body in Wayne Township, Pennsylvania.
A Confession Leads To A Break In The Case
Rachel Shoaf’s confession presented a major break in the case. Prior to this, investigators didn’t have any leads on the missing persons case. Her confession was sufficient enough to implicate Sheila Eddy in the murder as well as help authorities locate Skylar Neese’s body.
Both Eddy and Shoaf were arrested and charged in connection to Neese’s murder. They were tried separately in court. Dateline takes a look at the trials that unfolded, detailing the sick, twisted tale. According to Shoaf and Eddy, they killed Skylar Neese simply because they didn’t like her and didn’t want to be friends anymore. Because of this, they decided to carry out her premeditated murder.
Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. During her trial, she provided the devastating details of how the two girls killed Skylar. Neese was stabbed multiple times, including fatal wounds to her head and chest. Then the girls covered her up with branches and leaves in an attempt to conceal her body.
Dateline NBC Shares Rachel Shoaf’s Apology
Rachel Shoaf expressed remorse for her actions in the courtroom. “I know, I can’t express how sorry I am for what I have done and for the pain I have caused,” she said to Skylar Neese’s family. “I loved her. I know what we did was terrible and there’s no words to describe the pain that we caused and I know there is nothing I can say or do.”
“I just pray for them all the time and pray for peace in their heart. I would trade places with Skylar so she could be with her loved ones. I just want them to know how deeply sorry I am,” she concluded.
She was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 10. When she was up for parole in May 2023, the request was denied.
Sheila Eddy, on the other hand, showed absolutely no remorse for what she had done during her trial and she didn’t issue an apology to the family. Because of this, she was sentenced to life in prison “with mercy.” Although she was tried as an adult, West Virginia law requires parole to be offered to juvenile offenders who are sentenced to life. She will be up for parole in another four years.
Dateline NBC Season 32 is now airing on television. New episodes air every Friday at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.
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