Skip to main content
Press Release

Teens Charged With Murder Of Skylar Neese

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia


1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-7725 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist

Follow us on Twitter  @NDWVnews

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA - Charges were filed today against two teenagers implicated in the death and disappearance of Star City, West Virginia, teen Skylar Neese.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II and the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office announced that RACHEL SHOAF, 16 years old, of Morgantown, WV, was charged today with the murder of Neese, whose body was found in Pennsylvania on January 16, 2013. During her appearance in the Circuit Court of Monongalia County this morning SHOAF pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder after agreeing to be transferred to adult status. She is in custody awaiting sentencing.

Charges are pending against a second juvenile who is currently in custody in Monongalia County. Due to the nature of the proceedings, no further information is available at the present time.

The charges filed today were the result of a continuing joint state and federal investigation conducted by the Star City Police, the West Virginia State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies. The cases now pending will be prosecuted by Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Ashdown and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Perri Jo DeChristopher.

Updated January 7, 2015