We have tried to list everyone who was generous with their time and information, but if we forget anyone, it is no reflection on your contribution to this story, or your efforts to sustain us as we wrote it. Among this group are family and friends who supported us, fellow writers who loaned us their writing ear, the investigating officers who worked this case, and last but certainly not least, the teenagers who knew Skylar, Rachel, and Shelia. They were among the most courageous people to come forward with the knowledge that helped us piece together how this terrible crime happened.
They include Shania Ammons; Courtney Austin; Becky Bailey; Linda Barr; Trooper Chris Berry and Alexis Berry; Ted Bice; Commissioner Tom Bloom; Cathy and Mike Callison; Jordan Carter; Jocelyn Claire; Officer Jessica Colebank; Dylan and Debby Conaway; Jill Damm; Lexi Dean; Dan Demchak; Eric and JoJo Finch; Winston Fuller; Bri and Beth Gardner; Corporal Ronnie Gaskins; Shelley Gilbert; Julie Haught; Dyllan Hines; Kirsten and Tonya Hiser; Alesha Holloway; Becky Hood; Lauren Housman; Daniel Hovatter; Amorette and Penny Hughes; Candace Jordan; Sheriff Al Kisner; Kelsey Konchesky; Cameron Lancaster; David, Cheryl, and Morgan Lawrence; Fantasia Liller; Hayden McClead; Meredith Marsh; Delegate Charlene Marshall; Connie Merandi; Carol, Kyle, and Steve Michaud; Kristen Miller; Phyllis Moore; Cheri Murray; Joanne Nagy; Michael Neese; Cynthia Nelson; Chief Vic Propst; Destinee Pyles; Mary Beth Renner; Ashley Riffle; Sarah Robinson; Rick Stache; Crissy Swanson; Nancy Weber; Kelly Wilkes; Kevin Willard; Ariah Wyatt; Chuck Yocum; and all the people who talked to us, even if only anonymously.
However small or great, your contribution has been immensely important as we raced toward our deadline to finish this book. We cannot, no matter how much we try, thank you enough.
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1 As heard on the episode “Something Wicked,” which aired March 7, 2014.
2 The body was later identified as Christina Nicole Terry, 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia. In July 2013, Kevin Utter, a Morgantown man, was sentenced to forty-three years in prison for strangling her to death.
3 Dated September 20, 2011, the journal entry came from Skylar’s sophomore Honors English portfolio.
4 A handmade gold or silver object that is said to symbolize the Christ child.
5 Tara Eddy-Clendenen declined to be interviewed.
6 Liz is not her real name.
7 Jim Clendenen declined to be interviewed.
8 Lee Barker is not his real name.
9 Not his real name.
10 Slang term for tribadism, or tribbing, which is genital-to-genital stimulation between females.
11 Shania spoke about the incident during a February 24, 2014, taping of Dr. Phil.
12 Mary verified the story during the same February 24 taping.
13 It was a subtweet, the modern version of talking behind someone’s back.
14 The Neeses declined to let the authors see Skylar’s diary.
15 Not her real name.
16 Criminal Minds season four finale; “To Hell . . . And Back,” part 1, aired May 20, 2009; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422241/.
17 Skylar’s murder has been re-created based on the available evidence.
18 There is no evidence to support this, but Officer Jessica Colebank, the first investigator on the case, believes this is what occurred because planning and carrying out Skylar’s murder provided them with excitement like nothing else in their lives could.
19 Personally related by Liz, Patricia Shoaf’s closest friend.
20 The camp has since been renamed Camp Boscoe.
21 “Blowing up” refers to sending a lot of digital messages rapidly, either on Facebook, Twitter, or cell phone text messages.
22 Mikinzy said his comments were in reference to Rachel smoking weed.
23 Darek later pled guilty to one count, and the other four were dismissed. He is now serving out his sentence under home confinement.
24 Jennifer Hunt declined to be interviewed.
25 Not his real name.
26 Dylan has repeatedly stated this in interviews.
27 She wishes to remain anonymous.
28 Not her real name.
29 Greg Eddy otherwise declined to be interviewed.
30 Not her real name.
31 Material in this chapter originally appeared in “If You Talk the Talk, You Should Walk the Walk” by Daleen Berry (http://www.daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=998).
32 Also sometimes referred to as a sociopath.
33 Material in this section originally appeared in “Skylar Neese: The Struggle to Find Closure Almost One Year Later” by Daleen Berry (daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=871).
34 Apparently Mikinzy and Rachel considered themselves a couple at this time.
35 Material on this and the previous page originally appeared in “The Wait Is Over: Shelia Eddy to Be Tried as Adult in Skylar Neese Murder,” by Daleen Berry (daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=929).
36 Material in this section originally appeared in “Shelia Eddy Pleads Not Guilty,” by Daleen Berry (daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=972).
37 Material in the preceding sections originally appeared in “Shelia Eddy Sentenced to Life with Mercy,” by Daleen Berry (daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=1084).
38 Material in this chapter originally appeared in “Rachel Shoaf Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Skylar Neese,” by Geoff Fuller. (http://www.daleenberry.com/daleenberry/?p=1133).
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