A new three-part true crime documentary, Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese, examines the 2012 killing of 16-year-old Skylar Neese, a straight-A student from Star City, West Virginia. The series highlights the frantic search for the teen and the shocking betrayal by her closest friends.
The Disappearance
On July 6, 2012, Skylar sneaks out of her family’s apartment around midnight. Surveillance footage captures her voluntarily entering a car driven by one of her best friends. She vanishes without a trace, sparking a desperate search by her parents, schoolmates, and law enforcement.
The Investigation Unravels Secrets
Produced by Dorothy St. Pictures, the documentary features accounts from Skylar’s grieving parents, former classmates, and detectives. It uncovers a web of hidden tensions, including social media clues signaling conflicts among the trio in the months prior. By January 2013, searchers discover Skylar’s remains.
The Shocking Confessions
Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, Skylar’s supposed best friends, confess to the crime. They admit stabbing her more than 50 times simply because they had grown tired of her company. The pair resumes normal activities afterward, delaying justice.
Family’s Anguish
Skylar’s father, Dave Neese, shares his pain in the series. He recalls urging detectives to ease pressure on Eddy, whom he viewed as “like family.” In court, he delivers an emotional address to the perpetrators, expressing profound helplessness during the search.
Legal Consequences
Rachel Shoaf pleads guilty to second-degree murder and receives a 30-year sentence. Shelia Eddy pleads guilty to first-degree murder, earning life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 15 years.
Questions on the Probe
The series raises points about the investigation’s pace. Detectives review nearby garage CCTV months later, identifying Eddy’s vehicle. Despite shifting stories from the suspects and online hints of strife, authorities face challenges in the early social media era.
Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese streams on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu internationally starting March 6.
