Podcasts > Three > "They Know" | Chapter 5

"They Know" | Chapter 5

By Wavland

In this episode of the Three podcast, the horrifying confession of Rachel Shoaf in the murder of Skylar Neese is revealed. Rachel meticulously describes how she and Sheila Eddy lured Skylar to a secluded area, attacked her from behind, and eventually killed her. The blunt confession leaves law enforcement officers stunned, while Sheila Eddy reacts with anger and hostility.

The summary details the chilling events and evidence that led authorities to locate Skylar's remains and belongings. It also captures the contrasting reactions of law enforcement's relief at confirming the truth, and Sheila's defiance in refusing to discuss the murder.

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"They Know" | Chapter 5

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"They Know" | Chapter 5

1-Page Summary

Rachel Shoaf's Confession to the Murder of Skylar Neese

Rachel's Chilling Confession

According to officer Chris Berry, Rachel Shoaf confessed to stabbing Skylar Neese with help from Sheila Eddy. After luring Skylar to a secluded area, Rachel and Sheila attacked her from behind, eventually overpowering and killing her. They concealed Skylar's body under foliage and discarded the murder weapons and bloody clothes.

Law Enforcement's Search for Skylar

Based on Rachel's information, authorities located and recovered Skylar's remains near an oak tree, finding her cell phone and other belongings at the site. However, the recovery was delayed due to harsh weather conditions.

Reactions to the Confession

Shock From Law Enforcement

Officer Ronnie Gaskins was stunned when relaying Rachel's confession, expressing disbelief with profanity. Prosecuting attorneys were equally shocked by the disturbing details. However, Rachel's calm demeanor and her phone records corroborating her story provided relief by confirming the truth.

Anger From Sheila Eddy

In contrast, Sheila reacted angrily to Rachel's confession, taunting her in a hostile tweet for not remaining silent. During a conversation where law enforcement hoped for a confession, Sheila instead deflected, refusing to discuss the murder.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Skylar Neese was a 16-year-old girl who was murdered by her friends Rachel Shoaf and Sheila Eddy in July 2012 in West Virginia. The two girls lured Skylar out late at night, stabbed her to death, and hid her body. The murder shocked the community, and the details of the crime emerged through confessions and investigations. The case highlighted the betrayal and brutality that can exist within teenage friendships.
  • Rachel Shoaf and Sheila Eddy were teenagers involved in the murder of Skylar Neese in 2012. Rachel confessed to the crime, detailing how she and Sheila lured Skylar to a secluded area and killed her. Sheila reacted angrily to Rachel's confession and initially refused to discuss the murder with law enforcement.
  • Rachel Shoaf and Sheila Eddy were friends with Skylar Neese. Rachel and Sheila conspired to murder Skylar, luring her to a secluded area where they attacked and killed her. Rachel confessed to the murder, implicating Sheila as her accomplice. Sheila initially reacted angrily to Rachel's confession and refused to discuss the murder with law enforcement.
  • Rachel Shoaf confessed to stabbing Skylar Neese with help from Sheila Eddy after luring Skylar to a secluded area. The attack took place from behind, leading to Skylar's death. The body was hidden under foliage, and the murder weapons and bloody clothes were disposed of. The remains were eventually found near an oak tree after a search based on Rachel's information.
  • Sheila Eddy, after Rachel Shoaf confessed to the murder of Skylar Neese, reacted angrily towards Rachel and taunted her in a hostile tweet for not remaining silent. When law enforcement hoped for a confession from Sheila, she deflected and refused to discuss the murder, displaying a defensive and uncooperative attitude. Sheila's behavior contrasted with Rachel's confession and the shock expressed by law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. This reaction added complexity to the case and highlighted Sheila's unwillingness to engage with the investigation.
  • Rachel's calm demeanor during her confession was significant as it contrasted with the shocking nature of her crime, leading to disbelief among law enforcement. Additionally, her phone records corroborating her story provided crucial evidence supporting the truthfulness of her confession. These factors helped confirm the accuracy of Rachel's account and lent credibility to her statements in the eyes of investigators and prosecutors.

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"They Know" | Chapter 5

Rachel Shoaf's confession to the murder of Skylar Neese

The chilling details of Skylar Neese's murder came to light following Rachel Shoaf's confession, uncovering the tragic events leading to the discovery and recovery of Skylar's body.

Details of Skylar's murder as told by Rachel Shoaf

Chris Berry, recalling information from Ronnie, stated that Rachel Shoaf confessed to stabbing Skylar Neese to death with the help of Sheila. On the night Skylar was murdered, Rachel took a shovel from her father's house, while Sheila brought kitchen knives tucked under their hoodies wrapped in rags for safety. Once they reached a secluded area, they used the signal "On three" before attacking Skylar from behind. Despite Skylar's attempts to fight back and escape, Rachel and Sheila overpowered and ultimately killed her.

After the murder, the girls tried to clear the evidence by stripping off their bloody attire, washing themselves in a creek or with Clorox wipes, and donning clean clothes. Unable to bury Skylar due to the hardness of the ground, they instead camouflaged her body under foliage near an oak tree. The blood-stained clothes, alongside Skylar's belongings, were discarded on the journey back, but Rachel was uncertain of the location. The knives were left in the car trunk, and Rachel's phone was lost during the encounter with Skylar.

Law enforcement's search for Skylar's body

The recovery of Skylar's remains

The police continued to search for Skylar under the assumption that she had run away, knowing only who she had left with but not her whereabouts. Following Rachel's confession, she led authorities 30 miles to the vicinity of the crime, identifying a particular oa ...

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Rachel Shoaf's confession to the murder of Skylar Neese

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Rachel Shoaf and Skylar Neese were once close friends, having known each other since childhood. Sheila Eddy was also a friend of Skylar's, forming a trio of friends. However, Rachel and Sheila conspired to murder Skylar, leading to the tragic events described in the text.
  • Camouflaging Skylar's body under foliage involved strategically placing natural materials like leaves, branches, and other vegetation over her to blend her remains with the surrounding environment, making it harder to spot her. This process aimed to conceal the body from casual observers and passing individuals, aiding in avoiding detection and delaying the discovery of the crime. The foliage acted as a form of natural cover, obscuring the body from view and helping it blend in with the forest floor, making it less conspicuous. This method is commonly used in outdoor settings to hide objects or individuals by mimicking the colors and textures of the surroundings.
  • Law enforcement faced challenges in the search for Skylar's body due to inclement weather, including deep snow that hindered their efforts. Despite the difficulties, Rachel's confession provided crucial information that led authorities to the vicinity of the crime scene. The search was delayed initially, but a team of officers eventually located Skylar's remains beneath snow and forest debris near the road. The recovery proce ...

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"They Know" | Chapter 5

Reactions to Rachel's confession

The revelation of Rachel's involvement in Skylar's murder sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community, while eliciting a cold response from her accomplice.

Shock and relief from law enforcement

Chris Berry, an officer involved in the case, talks about his initial disbelief regarding Rachel and Sheila's involvement in Skylar's murder. Both he and his colleagues had initially thought that the girls might have just witnessed the crime, not that they were the perpetrators. This disbelief was punctuated by Officer Ronnie's shock, which he expressed with profanity when he relayed the confession to Berry over the phone. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Perry Joe DeChristopher and Prosecuting Attorney Marsha Ashdown were similarly shocked by the details of Rachel’s confession.

Rachel, when confessing, was described by Officer Ronnie Gaskins as scared but not extremely upset. She did not attempt to downplay her involvement but rather acknowledged that it was a mutual decision and attack between her and Sheila. This admission gave law enforcement a sense of relief, as it confirmed the truth behind the horrifying event. Furthermore, Rachel's missing phone, which pinged cell towers at the murder site, provided concrete evidence that corroborated her account and implicated Sheila.

Anger and taunting from Sheila Eddy

Contrasting the law enforcement's shock, Sheila Eddy's reaction to Rachel's confession was on ...

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Reactions to Rachel's confession

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Officer Ronnie Gaskins played a crucial role in the case as he was involved in relaying important information to his colleague, Officer Chris Berry, about Rachel's confession. He expressed shock upon learning the details of Rachel's involvement in Skylar's murder. Officer Ronnie's reaction highlighted the gravity of the situation and the impact of Rachel's confession on the law enforcement team.
  • In the context of the text, the orchestrated conversation between Rachel and Sheila was a planned interaction by law enforcement where they hoped Rachel would be able to get Sheila to confess her involvement in Skylar's murder. Sheila, however, did not cooperate during this conversation and instead avoided discussing the crime, showing defiance and a refusal to acknowledge her role in the murder. This interaction was a strategic attempt to elicit a confession from Sheila through indirect means, using Rachel as a conduit to prompt a revelation of ...

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