Podcasts > Three > Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

By Wavland

In the Three podcast's latest episode on the Silent Snow, Secret Snow case, significant revelations emerge. The summary details the positive identification of Skylar Neese's remains and the disturbing location where her skull was found months later.

It also chronicles the investigation process, including Rachel Shoaf's confession and plea deal for second-degree murder, as well as the authorities covertly building their case against Sheila. The summary highlights both suspects' unsettling social media activity—insensitive posts, birthday messages to Skylar, and cryptic tweets—during and after the murder investigation.

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Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

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Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

1-Page Summary

Skylar's Murder Confirmed and Friends Charged

Skylar's Remains Identified and Location Details

Skylar's remains were definitively identified through DNA testing, as stated by FBI advocate Tessa Cooper to Skylar's father Dave Neese. Notably, Skylar's skull was found months later, 80 yards from her body location.

Rachel's Confession and Plea Deal

Rachel Shoaf confessed to the crime and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, securing a plea deal. Shortly after her confession, authorities arrested her friend Sheila, indicating Rachel's cooperation against Sheila.

Social Media Activity After the Murder

Disturbingly, Rachel still posted a birthday message to Skylar, while Sheila made insensitive tweets about food on what would have been Skylar's 17th birthday. Sheila also maintained contact with the Neese family after the disappearance.

Investigation and Case-Building Process

While allowing Rachel to take a trip after her plea deal, authorities covertly built their case against Sheila over months. Sheila made veiled references on Twitter that seemed to allude to Skylar's murder amid this process.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The authorities allowed Rachel to take a trip after her plea deal to gather more evidence against Sheila. During this time, they covertly built their case against Sheila over several months. Sheila made veiled comments on Twitter that seemed to hint at Skylar's murder, which was noted by investigators. This strategic approach helped strengthen the case against Sheila.
  • Sheila's actions and statements on social media were significant because they provided insight into her behavior and mindset after Skylar's murder. Her insensitive tweets and continued contact with Skylar's family raised suspicions about her involvement and lack of remorse. Additionally, her veiled references on Twitter hinted at potential guilt or knowledge of the crime, contributing to the ongoing investigation against her.
  • Rachel's confession and plea deal in Skylar's murder case mean that she admitted to her involvement in the crime and accepted responsibility for it. By pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Rachel avoided a potentially harsher sentence that could have come with a trial. Additionally, her cooperation with authorities, including providing information about her friend Sheila's involvement, could have influenced the plea deal she received. This legal strategy is common in criminal cases and can lead to reduced charges or sentencing in exchange for cooperation with law enforcement.

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Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

Confirmation of Skylar's murder, arrest of Sheila and Rachel

The tragic case of Skylar's disappearance culminated in the confirmation of her murder and the arrest of her friends, Sheila and Rachel, as the perpetrators.

Discovery of Skylar's remains and DNA confirmation

The remains found were confirmed to be Skylar's through DNA testing by the FBI lab. Tessa Cooper, an advocate for the FBI, relayed the information to Dave Neese, Skylar's father, that they believed they had located Skylar's remains. The family was informed of the heartbreaking revelation that Skylar had been missing for eight months when the headline "Skyler's remains ID'd" was published on March 14. Notably, Skylar's skull was found nearly three months after discovering her body, approximately 80 yards from the primary location.

Rachel's confession and plea deal in exchange for her cooperation and testimony against Sheila

Rachel turning herself in and pleading guilty to lesser charge of second-degree murder

Rachel Shoaf, accompanied by her mother, confessed to the crime and, according to her plea deal, plead guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Shortly after Rachel's confession, the authorities proceeded to arrest Sheila, indicating a direct connection between Rachel's decision to turn herself in and Sheila's subsequent apprehension. Rachel expressed feeling happier and on a new p ...

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Confirmation of Skylar's murder, arrest of Sheila and Rachel

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The timeline of events surrounding the discovery of Skylar's remains can be summarized as follows: Skylar's remains were found, and her identity was confirmed through DNA testing by the FBI lab. The family was informed of Skylar's death after her remains were identified. Notably, Skylar's skull was discovered nearly three months after her body was found, about 80 yards away from the initial location.
  • Rachel Shoaf entered into a plea deal where she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for cooperating with the authorities and testifying against Sheila Eddy. This cooperation i ...

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Silent Snow, Secret Snow | Chapter 6

Police investigation into Skylar's disappearance and interactions with Sheila and Rachel

The disappearance of Skylar Neese led to a disturbing investigation involving her friends Sheila and Rachel, who maintained a deceptive social media presence while authorities built their case.

Rachel and Sheila's continuing posts on social media and interaction with Skylar's parents after her murder

After Skylar Neese's remains were discovered, both Rachel and Sheila continued to interact on social media as if nothing had happened. Despite having already confessed to her part in Skylar's murder, Rachel tweeted a birthday message to Skylar. Sheila, however, tweeted insensitively about enjoying curly fries and wings on what would have been Skylar's 17th birthday, the same day. Sheila also stayed in touch with Skylar's parents post-disappearance, and Mary Neese, Skylar's mother, notably informed a mutual friend about the discovery of the body. At Skylar's 17th birthday vigil, attended by plainclothes policemen on the lookout for Rachel and Sheila, Mary and Dave Neese faced the crowd, continuing to support the search narrative even though they were aware of the tragic reality.

Authorities building case against Sheila while allowing Rachel plea deal and trip to Virginia Beach

The authorities, while surreptitiously building a case against Sheila, struck a plea deal with Rachel, who had already confessed. Noteworthily, they permitted Rachel a trip to Virginia ...

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Police investigation into Skylar's disappearance and interactions with Sheila and Rachel

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Skylar Neese was a teenager who went missing in 2012 from West Virginia. Her friends, Sheila and Rachel, were involved in her murder. The case gained attention due to the deceptive behavior of the friends on social media after Skylar's disappearance. Sheila and Rachel's actions, including their posts and interactions, raised suspicions during the investigation.
  • Rachel and Sheila were friends of Skylar Neese. They were involved in Skylar's life before her disappearance and were later implicated in her murder. Rachel and Sheila's actions after Skylar's disappearance, including their social media posts and interactions with Skylar's family, raised suspicions and played a significant role in the investigation.
  • The investigation into Skylar Neese's disappearance involved her friends Sheila and Rachel, who were found to have maintained a deceptive social media presence after Skylar went missing. Authorities built a case against the friends, with Rachel eventually confessing to her involvement in Skylar's murder. Sheila's social media activity raised suspicions, with some interpreting her posts as veiled references to the crime. Authorities allowed Rachel a plea deal and a trip to Virginia Beach during the investigation.
  • Rachel was offered a plea deal by the authorities, which typically involves a defendant agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge or fewer charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence. In this case, the specifics of the plea deal, such as the reduced charges or sentencing agreement, are not explicitly menti ...

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