Rachel Shoaf Now: 5 Shocking Facts About Her 2025 Parole Status And The Skylar Neese Murder

As of December 2025, Rachel Shoaf remains incarcerated at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Columbia, West Virginia, serving a 30-year sentence for the brutal 2012 murder of her former best friend, Skylar Neese. The case, which shocked the nation due to the perpetrators' young age and the senseless motive, continues to draw intense public interest, particularly as Shoaf approaches her next critical parole hearing. Recent developments confirm that the West Virginia Parole Board has denied her early release for the second time, ensuring she will stay behind bars for the near future. The chilling details of the crime—committed with co-conspirator Shelia Eddy—and the subsequent cover-up have cemented the case as one of the most disturbing examples of teenage betrayal in modern true crime history. This article provides the most current information regarding Rachel Shoaf's status, her path to a potential release, and the enduring questions surrounding the tragic events.

Rachel Shoaf: A Brief Biographical Profile

Rachel Shoaf was a typical American teenager from Morgantown, West Virginia, whose life took a dark turn that culminated in a shocking act of violence. Her background prior to the 2012 murder is a crucial part of the narrative, highlighting the deceptive normalcy that concealed a deadly secret.

• Full Name: Rachel Shoaf
• Date of Birth: June 10, 1996
• Age (as of late 2025): 29 years old
• Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
• Parents: Rusty and Patricia Shoaf
• High School: University High School (where she was a sophomore alongside Skylar Neese and Shelia Eddy)
• Victim: Skylar Neese (16 years old)
• Co-Conspirator: Shelia Eddy
• Crime Committed: Second-Degree Murder (Plea)
• Sentence: 30 years in prison (with credit for time served)
• Current Location: Lakin Correctional Center, West Columbia, West Virginia

The Shocking Motive: "We Didn't Want to be Friends Anymore"

The murder of Skylar Neese on July 6, 2012, was not a crime of passion, self-defense, or robbery; it was an act of calculated, premeditated violence driven by a motive so trivial it remains difficult for the public to comprehend.

The Premeditated Plan

The chilling plan was conceived about a month before the murder while Shoaf and Eddy were allegedly sitting in a science class. The two girls, who had been Skylar's best friends, decided to kill her simply because they "didn't want to be friends with her anymore" and found her "annoying." This incredibly shallow and cold-blooded reason was officially confirmed during Shoaf's parole hearing, a detail that provided a horrifying closure for the Neese family and a shocking revelation for the public.

The Night of the Crime

On the night of the murder, Shoaf and Eddy convinced Skylar to sneak out of her family's apartment in Star City, Monongalia County, West Virginia, under the pretense of smoking marijuana. The three girls drove across the state line into a remote area of Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Once there, at a pre-arranged signal, Shoaf and Eddy brutally stabbed Skylar to death with kitchen knives they had concealed. Following the murder, the two girls attempted to bury Skylar’s body in a shallow grave, which they covered with rocks and debris. Skylar was initially reported as a missing person, and it was Rachel Shoaf's eventual confession to authorities in January 2013, six months after the crime, that led to the discovery of Skylar's remains and the truth about her disappearance.

Rachel Shoaf's Current Status and 2025 Parole Hearing

The most significant and current information regarding Rachel Shoaf revolves around her incarceration and her attempts to gain an early release. The judicial process has been closely scrutinized by the media and the true crime community, especially in light of the victim's family's powerful testimony.

Second Parole Denial and Future Eligibility

Rachel Shoaf, now 29 years old, was sentenced to 30 years in 2014 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. She became eligible for parole in 2023, but her request was denied. In the latest hearing, which occurred prior to June 2025, the West Virginia Parole Board denied her parole for the second time. This decision was a major relief for Skylar Neese's father, Dave Neese, who has consistently pressed the board to keep both convicted murderers in prison. The board's decision means that Shoaf's next opportunity to petition for parole will be in June 2025, and annually thereafter.

Projected Release Date

Despite the annual parole eligibility, Rachel Shoaf's current, non-parole-dependent release date remains fixed. According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDOC), her current projected release date is April 30, 2028. This date is a critical piece of information, as it represents the earliest she would be released if she continues to be denied parole.

Shelia Eddy's Status

Rachel Shoaf’s co-conspirator, Shelia Eddy, received a life sentence with mercy for first-degree murder. While Eddy’s sentence is harsher, she also has a chance for parole, with her first parole hearing projected to be in 2028, the same year as Shoaf's maximum release date. The two killers are currently incarcerated at separate facilities: Shoaf at Lakin Correctional Center and Eddy at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.

The Long-Term Impact and Topical Authority

The murder of Skylar Neese, and the subsequent trials of Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, have had a significant cultural and legal impact. The case is a cornerstone of modern true crime, particularly concerning adolescent psychopathy and social media's role in the investigation.

Media and True Crime Legacy

The case has been extensively covered in books and documentaries, enhancing its topical authority in the true crime genre.

• Book: The definitive account, Pretty Little Killers: The Truth Behind the Savage Murder of Skylar Neese, by journalist Daleen Berry and investigator Geoffrey Fuller, details the little-known facts of the case.
• Documentaries and Shows: The story has been featured on numerous television programs, including episodes of Dateline NBC and 20/20, and was the subject of an episode of the Investigation Discovery series Pretty Little Killers.

The "Friends" Factor

The most enduring and shocking element of the case remains the "friends" factor. Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy were not strangers or distant acquaintances; they were Skylar Neese's closest friends, part of a self-proclaimed "trio" or "three musketeers." The betrayal, committed by two people Skylar trusted implicitly, is what resonates most deeply with the public and ensures the case—and the names Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy—will continue to be studied in the context of criminal psychology and juvenile justice.

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