A woman who senselessly killed her best friend as part of a teenage murder plot that captivated the nation a decade ago has been denied parole.

Rachel Shoaf, 26, will now remain in prison for the murder of her best friend, 16-year-old Skylar Neese, in 2012. 

Both Skylar’s parents, Dave and Mary Neese, testified at today’s parole hearing, which was the first time they had come face-to-face with one of their daughter’s killers in over a decade.

Teens Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy lured Skylar Neese from her home in West Virginia in July 2012 and drove around and smoked marijuana. When they reached the woods in Pennsylvania Eddy and Shoaf stabbed her to death and dumped her body along the road.  

Both teenagers comforted Skylar’s parents and played the part of grieving friends when Neese was reported missing, before Shoaf finally admitted to the brutal murder in early 2013. 

On May 1, 2013, Shoaf, then 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 10 years. 

Rachel Shoaf can be seen smiling in the latest photo taken at the Lakin Correctional Center

Rachel Shoaf can be seen smiling in the latest photo taken at the Lakin Correctional Center

Shoady has been denied parole for the murder of 16-year-old Skylar Neese in 2012

Shoady has been denied parole for the murder of 16-year-old Skylar Neese in 2012

Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal and senseless murder in May 2013

Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal and senseless murder in May 2013

Today, she appeared via video link at the hearing attended by Skylar’s family.

Dave and Mary Neese wore purple to the hearing, which was Skylar’s favorite color.  

According to WBOY 12 News, when asked what she would say to the family, Shoaf said: ‘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 I just want them to know how deeply sorry I am.’

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She reportedly added: ‘I’ve made a terrible, terrible mistake that I can’t change, but I’m not a bad person because I made one bad choice.’

Before the hearing, over 33,000 people signed an online petition with hopes that Shoaf will remain behind bars. 

Shoaf, 26, is currently incarcerated at the Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County. 

Eddy was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years.   

Prosecutors said the pair planned to kill their friend, but at the time of Shoaf’s confession, a motive for the brutal murder was not revealed.

Shoaf allegedly told police the girls no longer wanted to be friends with Skylar, and prosecutors said it was due to a deteriorating friendship and fears that Skylar would divulge secrets. 

Speaking at the hearing today, Shoaf said that she and Eddy were in a relationship and feared consequences if they were exposed, WBOY 12 News reported. 

‘After things became known with the relationship, there was tension between us,’ Shoaf said. It was hostile and violent, in our teenage minds we didn’t know how to handle the conflict and we just wanted it to stop.’

In the early hours of July 6, the pair picked up Skylar from her apartment in Star City, before smoking marijuana and driving toward Pennsylvania. 

Shoaf allegedly also blamed her actions on being under the influence of the drug.

Dave and Mary Neese hold up a photo of their daughter months, before Shoaf admitted to the killing

Dave and Mary Neese hold up a photo of their daughter months, before Shoaf admitted to the killing 

Killers Rachel Shoaf (left) and Sheila Eddy (center) with their friend, and later victim Skylar Neese (right) in a Facebook photo

Killers Rachel Shoaf (left) and Sheila Eddy (center) with their friend, and later victim Skylar Neese (right) in a Facebook photo

Shoaf and Eddy hid kitchen knives under their clothes and at a predetermined signal, began to stab Skylar repeatedly. 

The pair planned to bury the body, bringing a shovel with them, but authorities said they were not strong enough to break the ground and so they dragged her body away from the road and covered her in debris. 

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Shoaf and Eddy then returned home and played the part of distraught friends, crying and grieving with Skylar’s parents. 

Shoaf tweeted: ‘Where @ highastheSky?’ – the name Skylar used on Twitter, and both teenagers continued to post chilling messages on social media in the months following the murder. 

Skylar’s father, Dave, said how the pair helped the family distribute missing person flyers, and Eddy asked to come over and sit on the missing girl’s bed. 

Skylar’s aunt Carol Michaud said in 2013: ‘She came and acted as if she knew nothing. She pretended and stayed with us and comforted us and swore she had no idea what was going. To come to this day and admit she did just shows how evil she can be.’ 

Sheila Eddy was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend in March 2014

Sheila Eddy was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend in March 2014

The place where the teenagers left Skylar's body in Pennsylvania is now a memorial

The place where the teenagers left Skylar’s body in Pennsylvania is now a memorial 

Sheila Eddy (pictured) and Rachel Shoaf, now both 23, lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese from her home in July 2012 and stabbed her to death

ter confessing to the murder, Shoaf (pictured) said it was because they didn't like Neese anymore

Sheila Eddy (left) and Rachel Shoaf (right) smile in mugshots from 2019. The pair lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese from her home in July 2012 and stabbed her to death. After confessing to the murder, Shoaf said it was because they didn’t like Neese anymore 

In January 2013, Shoaf finally cracked and told investigators what had happened and where to find the body. 

The site is now a memorial to Skylar, with photos and mementos of her life. 

When she was sentenced, Shoaf asked the court for its forgiveness. 

‘She’s not sorry – she’s sorry she got caught,’ said Dave Neese in response to her apology. ‘That’s the only thing she’s sorry for.’

At the time, he said she would fight to make sure she wasn’t granted parole. 

When Eddy was sentenced in February 2014, Dave Neese, addressed the court, saying he was ‘speaking on behalf of my daughter because she can’t be here’.

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Eddy refused to address the court other than to say guilty. Neese’s father later said he found her silence ‘unacceptable’. 

Since her death, Skylar’s parents spearheaded Skylar’s Law, which would require Amber Alerts to be issued in West Virginia for all missing children. 

According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Shoaf’s projected release date is April 30, 2028. 

DailyMail

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