Pretty Little Killers

by Berry, Daleen, Fuller, Geoffrey C.

  Having a goal for the first time in his life gave Daniel focus and drive. He vowed he would not give up until Rachel Shoaf came clean.

  By the time Skylar had been gone a month, the rumors were out of control, both in real time and online. Some Morgantown teenagers believed Skylar was off partying and would be back soon. Many adults thought this, too. But the peers who knew her best were highly doubtful—such cavalier behavior wasn’t characteristic of the Skylar they knew. Another theory suggested Skylar had met up with a boy and run off. Again, her inner circle thought that unlikely. Other, darker rumors had begun to circulate as well. Some wondered if Skylar had hooked up with an internet predator or had been abducted by a pedophile. After all, teens heard about these kinds of scenarios in the news all too often.

  Less malevolent but equally disturbing rumors were floated on Facebook and discussion sites: Skylar went to a party and got drunk, fell, hit her head, and died. Skylar overdosed on drugs and died. On some boards the speculation turned lurid: Skylar was using hard drugs and running with the wrong people. Skylar was trading sex for drugs and was then killed when she fell in with a nasty crowd. Of course these rumors wounded Mary and Dave, who could only watch helplessly as the gossip grew. They knew the awful lies were baseless, but they were powerless to stop them. Besides, they had no concrete leads, either.

  However, the teenagers who knew Skylar best had begun to believe one particular rumor. As it turned out, area students believed what Officer Colebank and Special Agent Spurlock suspected: Shelia and Rachel were lying.

  By then Colebank and Spurlock had questioned Shelia and Rachel a number of times. They had their own opinions about each girl. Colebank believed from the very beginning the two teens knew something: “[Rachel] stuck with the story Shelia first gave. Their story was exactly—verbatim—the same. It was word for word.”

  Until it wasn’t, and Rachel’s version veered away from Shelia’s.

  Without access to the results of the psychological tests performed on Shelia, it’s hard to say if her next actions were those of a scheming sociopath playing a game, a psychopath carrying out a devious plan, or simply those of a teenage girl living in denial about her part in a hideous crime. In hindsight they appear dark no matter how they’re construed.

  On August 6, one month to the day after Skylar disappeared, Shelia entered Skylar’s inner circle of family and friends with her first post on the “TeamSkylar<3” page. She posted a photo showing her and Skylar from happier days. The picture showed Shelia smiling, head turned slightly, eyes closed, wearing a red tank top with white print flowers. Skylar is next to her, her right hand on Shelia’s bare shoulder, her face pressed to Shelia’s hair as if she’s about to whisper something, her eyes peeking impishly toward the camera.

  Shelia had been the photographer, taking a “selfie” of the pair. Underneath it she wrote, want my bestfriend back
  Within minutes, eighty-two people signaled their approval by clicking Like. A little later Dave weighed in: Love you Shelia, I want her back too. In spite of his own pain, Dave wanted to be there for his daughter’s friend.

  A small cascade of approval followed with comments from: Skylar your family and friends miss you to So glad to see something like this! That evening, Shelia reciprocated: thanks guys. love you too Dave.

  Her post was a hit.

  TeamSkylar<3 soon became the place to post about all things Skylar. Anyone who wanted to learn more about the missing girl, offer assistance, leave a warm thought, or even discuss the case could do so. All they had to do was join the group, which was designated as open to the public. In short, everything the group did could be seen by the outside world—and it was. In a very big way.

  Skylar’s distant cousin, Hayden Hunt, started the group in July after he learned about her disappearance. Hayden lived with his mother, Jennifer, in Maryland and may have created the group because she asked him to. Jennifer had only met her distant cousin Dave once; Dave doesn’t remember ever meeting Hayden. Nonetheless, the Hunts seemed to want to help. They even added links to their Facebook page so people could click, download, and print MISSING posters of Skylar.

  Over the next few months, the TeamSkylar<3 group would evolve into a nasty source for gossip and innuendo—and a considerable source of stress for Mary and Dave. However, when it first began, neither of Skylar’s parents knew much about social media or how to use it. TeamSkylar<3 soon became the easiest place for the Neeses to find an outpouring of support and sympathy. The page was also the first online group where their friends and the general public could show how much they cared about Skylar and her distraught parents.

  One teen after another joined the group to leave messages for Skylar, hoping she would see them. The kids tried to get her attention. They urged her to let them know she was safe. Some teens reminded her school would resume in a week. Surely she would return to pick up where she’d left off, as a junior. School was what Skylar lived for. One teen’s simple hope was heartbreaking: Skylar, please come home, we miss you and just want you home safely. Your parents . . . just want to know your alright. You can even call me. . . . I won’t tell anyone where your at or what your doing. 304-555-9157 come home Skylar we love you.

  Four days after her first post, Shelia spoke up on the group page again. Her comment was equal parts longing for Skylar’s return and something else entirely, something no other member of the group knew or particularly cared about:

  all i want is for my bestfriend to come home. i wish i knew something to give the police a lead or so she can come home but i don’t know ANYTHING. . . . i wish i knew something like everybody thinks i do. come home skylar, it’s been five weeks too long. i miss and love you.

  With her post, Shelia revealed she clearly knew law enforcement was watching. She also knew exactly who they had their eyes on: her.

  Meanwhile, on August 7, the unthinkable happened, giving police and the public even more to worry about. A local NBC affiliate station, WBOY, ran a brief story about a second missing teenage girl in Star City. The townspeople were horrified, afraid a serial killer was in their midst.

  “The Star City Police Department is looking for another missing teenage girl. Police said Elise Nix, 16, was last seen at her home on Saturday and was reported missing on Monday . . . It was just one month ago that Skylar Neese, 16, was reported missing after she was last seen at her home in Star City. Neese is still missing. If you have any information, call the Star City police at (304) 555-4707.”

  Blind terror swept over Mary and Dave. Friends and residents throughout the region had similar reactions. Their worst fears could be true; Star City might have a predator loose. If so, he was targeting teenage girls.

  Elise Nix was found the next day. She was merely staying with a friend, she told authorities. Her case turned out to be typical of the runaways Colebank searched for: gone a few hours or overnight, later found at a party or staying at a friend’s house.

  Mary and Dave’s reaction to the news of Nix’s disappearance illustrated just one effect losing Skylar had on them. Now Mary and Dave keenly felt the pain of any parents whose child vanished.

  twenty-one

  Social Problems

  When Dave read Shelia’s August 10, 2012, post, he swallowed the lump in his throat, placed his large hands on the keyboard, and began to type: Hang tough babe. Do not let things get you down!

  Despite Mary’s growing suspicion that Shelia was lying, Dave didn’t let it stop him from weighing in with his support. It was, after all, what Skylar herself would have done if the tables were turned and Shelia was missing. Skylar had a big heart, and was always doing things for other people—especially if they didn’t have anyone else to come to their aid. Dave and Mary repeatedly said Shelia was like a daughter to them—before and after Skylar’s death. They joked about it with the girls themselves, when Skylar was still alive. They continued saying it when she no longer was—repeatedly,
online, and in front of the TV cameras.

  After a while, Shelia replied to Dave’s paternal post: it’s hard but im trying, love you!

  Looking back, the Lawrences all agreed: eighth grade was the turning point in Skylar’s life. Morgan said Skylar seemed to change right before high school: “Skylar as a seventh grader, I don’t think I ever could have seen her doing the things she did as a sophomore. She was always very goody, very innocent in everything. Then we got to freshman year, and Shelia showed up and things started changing.”

  Morgan tried to advise her friend against hanging out with the new crowd, but Skylar wouldn’t be dissuaded.

  Shelia wasn’t the only one Morgan worried about, although she admitted Shelia was sneaky. That new crowd was composed of girls who were experimenting with drugs and sex, and who ran around with older boys—even college-age ones. Boys Morgan didn’t know—and didn’t want to know.

  Ever so slowly, Morgan’s friendship with Skylar slipped away. Even though the three girls—Morgan, Skylar, and Shelia—had freshman history together, Skylar was pulling away from Morgan and vice versa.

  “It happened gradually over that year,” Morgan recalled. “I had friends other than just Skylar, and Shelia only had Skylar because Shelia had only been at that school for three months . . . More and more, every time you had to pick a partner, it was them. Every time you had a conversation, it was just them.”

  Still, Morgan wasn’t overly concerned when she first heard Skylar was missing. She thought Skylar was mad at “Miss Mary.” Morgan knew Skylar would be back as soon as she cooled off.

  But when Skylar was still gone a week later, Morgan’s thoughts turned dark. “She’s not coming back,” Morgan told her mother, Cheryl.

  Skylar wasn’t just leaving long-time friends like Morgan Lawrence behind. As with most teenagers, Skylar had begun drawing away from her parents. She still loved Mary and Dave and spoke highly of them—even to her peers. However, independence was coming too quickly and Skylar was forging ahead in her own world.

  When Skylar’s relationship with Shelia intensified, the entire social foundation Skylar had built over the years began to shift. Many of Skylar’s other friends drew away because of how they felt about Shelia. They preferred not to be around her. A few even described Shelia as “bad news” long before the murder.

  Even though Skylar was aware her friends were uneasy about Shelia, it didn’t matter. When Skylar wanted something she couldn’t be denied, and her obsession with Shelia was consuming. By nature Skylar was caring and responsible, but right then, more than anything, she wanted to have fun and be cool, and Skylar equated Shelia with both.

  Even Officer Colebank agreed. “Shelia carries herself well in front of other people. She’s pretty. She has pretty hair.” In short, Shelia’s looks perfectly fit the standard for teenage beauty. Colebank believes Skylar compared herself to Shelia and wanted to do all the things Shelia could do and get away with.

  Skylar also met people through Shelia—Crissy Swanson, Shania Ammons, Eric Finch, Dylan Conaway, and even Rachel Shoaf—people she might never have met on her own. During her freshman year, while hanging out with this edgier crowd and experiencing the world in a new, adventurous way, Skylar began habitually sneaking out of the house at night.

  As teenage mischief goes, Skylar’s was fairly benign at first. She mostly snuck out on weekends during the school year and typically rode around with her friends. They smoked pot sometimes, but that doesn’t seem to be the primary reason Skylar snuck out. Skylar left mostly to socialize. At night, in the dark and in secret, Skylar was becoming her own person.

  Mary believes Skylar’s problems began when Shelia moved to town: “They were always together at school, always together [after school]. That is when Skylar seemed to start getting in trouble. Her attitude changed. She was nastier, more argumentative.”

  One huge regret for Mary and Dave is not paying more attention to the changes in Skylar’s behavior. Even more, they regret not realizing where those changes were coming from—since they now know Skylar’s behavior was tied to her friendship with both girls. Shelia especially seemed to be a bad influence.

  Mary remembers the time she and Skylar got into a screaming fight while Skylar was on the phone with Shelia. As Skylar accused Dave and Mary of trying to control her, she used language her parents rarely heard from her. Looking back, Mary realized Skylar sounded like Shelia’s clone. She called Mary disrespectful names, like the ones Shelia called her mother.

  In hindsight, Mary now believes Skylar was putting on a performance for Shelia to gain her friend’s approval. Skylar wanted Shelia to see that she was cool.

  Mary wishes with all her heart she had recognized what was really happening to her daughter.

  twenty-two

  Roll Call

  Everyone had a message for Skylar. People from around the world posted greetings and other words of comfort on the TeamSkylar<3 page the week before school resumed. Mostly they wrote they hoped the pretty teen was safe. They also wished she could read their messages. And they prayed Skylar would return home so she could start school with the classmates who missed her.

  Shania Ammons’ poignant message told Skylar no problem was too big to prevent her friend’s return: come home babe. that’s all we ask. our junior year starts this week and you need to be here. . . . whatever is bothering you we can work through it. . . . <3

  Long-time friend and fellow Wendy’s employee, Hayden McClead, added a moving message: Skylar, it’s been wayyy to long since we last talked. schools starting in 4 days and I don’t know what I’ll do without you there. I miss having you there when I need advice on something. . . . I hate going everyday and you not being there. . . .

  Even Shelia’s mother, Tara, had a message: Hello Skylar. I hope that you are reading this post. You need to come home. Shelia is really missing you. . . . Your friends need you to be in school Thursday morning. I love you and hope that you come home soon.

  While words of love and encouragement were pouring in, fissures were forming in TeamSkylar<3. Among the more than 3,000 members, sniping and insinuations were becoming the norm. To make matters worse, the Hunts took away Mary and Dave’s administrative rights. While Skylar’s parents wanted to control the sniping by denying access to “haters,” the mother-son administrative team refused to monitor what people said in their posts. Censorship was not part of the group’s plan. Jennifer Hunt claimed the decision to remove the Neeses as administrators was made for “legal reasons.” Without any sort of boundaries, TeamSkylar<3 was rapidly becoming a place to bicker. More and more, it was attracting mean-spirited people.

  Mary and Dave could only watch in growing pain and horror as one person after another made false accusations. They had seen suggestions that they had caused Skylar to run away, that Dave was abusing Skylar, even that Dave had gotten Skylar pregnant. Wild speculation was rampant. The site that began as a tool to help find Skylar slowly turned into one that blamed her own parents of being responsible for her disappearance. Heartbroken and disgusted, Dave and Mary finally turned off their computer.

  Stressed and alone in their Star City apartment, Skylar’s parents couldn’t even look at each other, much less speak. They were afraid the poison spilling over onto the TeamSkylar<3 page would somehow find its way into their home. They vowed not to let that happen. When Skylar walked through their apartment door, they didn’t want her to see them snapping and screaming at each other.

  One day, after having a cigarette on the back deck, Mary went to their bedroom and wept. Dave tapped up the volume on the remote until the TV was so loud he couldn’t hear his own thoughts. Hours later, with a little help from the sleeping pills their doctor had prescribed, Mary and Dave finally found a bit of respite. Exhausted by worry, they slept for hours.

  The next day Mary and Dave took control of the situation: they started their own Facebook group. Weariness with the growing discord had overtaken a number of TeamSkylar<3 members. Skylar’s parents we
ren’t the only ones who were fed up. Another member took the step of deleting herself—but not before trying to reach out to the rest of the group. She asked, in part, for all family members and friends and the good people who are trying to help us find [Skylar] . . . please leave this group and come to the TEAMSKYLAR 2012 group this group has denied administration rights to the parents of skylar. . . . We don’t think this is right.

  With that, the fracture was complete. TEAMSKYLAR 2012, a closed group, was up and running. Now there were two main Facebook groups—plus a dozen smaller groups or tribute pages—but the two main groups were at war.

  Meanwhile, Skylar’s absence left a hole in the hearts of her classmates when school resumed. Many of her good friends thought she might actually show up for the first day back, but on August 16, 2012, Skylar was no less gone than she had been on July 6, when Dave Neese found his daughter’s bedroom empty.

  Everyone who knew Skylar almost expected to see the famous trio stationed in their usual place at one of the four pillars in the UHS cafeteria. Logic told them Skylar had been gone since July, but something in their brains anticipated seeing her there, still hanging out with her two best friends.

  “It was always Skylar, Shelia, and Rachel,” several students recalled.

  But not that day. As other students filed in, Shelia and Rachel stood alone. Their heads bent close, they talked only to each other. Their voices were hushed in the din of arriving students. Seeing the two together only made Skylar’s absence more pronounced and it was jarring for many teens who passed by.