Dave and Mary Neese, parents of 16-year-old Skylar Neese murdered in 2012 by best friends Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, continue advocating for justice in Star City, West Virginia. The couple, married since before Skylar’s 1996 birth, featured in the March 6 Hulu docuseries Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese.
Family Background
Dave worked at Walmart, Mary as a doctor’s receptionist; Skylar was an A-student at University High School with lawyer aspirations and a part-time Wendy’s job. Her July 6 disappearance—after sneaking out for a joyride with Shelia and Rachel—shattered their lives, revealed six months later as a stabbing death over the killers’ motive: “We just didn’t like her.”
Advocacy Efforts
They speak at parole hearings, successfully blocking Rachel’s bids in 2023 and 2024 (next in June 2026); Shelia’s parole isn’t until 2028. Both killers remain at Lakin Correctional Center. Dave and Mary honor Skylar through interviews, petitions, and sharing her story to prevent similar tragedies.
