Criminally Obsessed, March 18, 2026
Episode: "Cold" 16-Year-Old Killers — Skylar Neese Lead Detective Reveals Dark Case Details

Episode Overview

Host Anne Emerson sits down with West Virginia State Police First Sergeant Ronnie Gaskins, lead investigator of the infamous Skylar Neese murder case. The conversation dives deep into the investigation, the unique challenges of solving a case involving teenagers, shocking discoveries, and the unresolved questions that remain to this day. With the new Hulu documentary "Friends Like These" reigniting public interest, the episode offers never-before-heard details from inside the investigation and firsthand reflections on the aftermath for Skylar’s family, alongside chilling new revelations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Case and Early Investigation

• Case in focus: The 2012 murder of Skylar Neese by her best friends, Rachel Shoaf and Sheila Eddy—a crime both callous and meticulously planned.
• Initial involvement: Sgt. Gaskins became involved around August/September 2012 when names from a bank robbery investigation began appearing in tips about Skylar’s disappearance.

  "It was around that time I decided, well, let's meet with Star City Police... and try to figure out if there's any type of connection to this case." (01:19, Gaskins)

2. Small-Town Challenges & Rumor Mills

• Rumor overload: The case was complicated by the close-knit nature of Morgantown and neighboring towns, where rumors and unsubstantiated tips flooded investigators.

  “It was just constant tips... but we could never give us, like, the actual source of that material.” (03:20, Gaskins)

• Teen witness dilemmas: Many involved were juveniles, making parental and legal barriers a major hurdle.

  “It’s not every day they get state trooper, an FBI agent... at the house, wanting to talk to their child.” (04:51, Gaskins)

3. Working with the Neese Family and Evidence Gathering

• Building trust with parents: Early visits to the Neese home to review Skylar’s room and journals.

  “I wanted to get them comfortable with me. I wanted to get comfortable with them.” (05:51, Gaskins)

• Comparisons to typical cases: This was not a “runaway”—it was unprecedented in both scale and horror.

4. Digital Clues & Surveillance

• Surveillance video: Early evidence showed Skylar willingly entering a car (later determined to be Sheila’s) after sneaking out, effectively shifting the direction of the investigation.

  "She didn't seem to be like she was threatened. She didn't seem to be scared. She obviously knew somebody in that car." (11:09, Gaskins)

• Difficulty identifying the car: Poor video quality hampered efforts to confirm whose vehicle Skylar entered.

  "Attempts were made to clean it up... but they were unsuccessful." (13:08, Gaskins)

• Cell phone data: Discrepancies between the girls’ statements and their actual movements started to surface.

  "The cell phone records and then the cell towers... Why are the girls out in Blacksville 4:00 in the morning?" (09:48, Gaskins)

• Social media as a clue: A haunting last tweet from Skylar:

  “You doing like that is why I will never completely trust you.” (17:24, Skylar’s tweet)

5. Break in the Case: Rachel Shoaf's Confession

• Rachel’s breakdown: The pivotal moment came after Rachel had a mental breakdown, prompting her mother’s 911 call.

  “That shelf girl that you’re investigating... had like a mental breakdown...” (18:51, Gaskins)

• The confession: Rachel eventually confessed to the police, with chilling details of planning, execution, and lack of emotion.

  “She just said, ‘We stabbed her.’ Obviously that wasn’t what we were expecting to hear.” (20:53, Gaskins)

• Premeditation and planning: The murder was orchestrated for nearly a year, with research on how to kill, what to bring, and where to do it.

  “They would research what parts of the body you should hit with a knife that would cause a quick death...” (20:57, Gaskins)
  “We really did go on three.” (22:02, Sheila’s tweet, quoted by Emerson)

6. Motive and Unanswered Questions

• Motivation remains murky: Both host and detective agree that the real "why" is unknown. Theories about jealousy, fear of being exposed, or personal animosity remain unproven.

  “I personally feel that we don't have the real answer why they did it.” (30:18, Gaskins) “To prove murder... we don’t need a motive. We just...they did it and this is how.” (30:38, Gaskins)

7. Aftermath, Trauma, and Survivors’ Grief

• Skylar’s parents’ agony: Dave Neese’s near-meltdown and thoughts of revenge, revealed in a candid segment and his own words.

  “By the time you get here, the problem will be taken care of... [Ronnie said] ‘Dave, what's Mary gonna do without you?’... That stopped me dead in my tracks.” (33:18, Dave Neese)

• Gaskins's intervention: His call likely prevented Dave from seeking vigilante justice or self-harm.
• Sheila and Rachel as remorseless:

  “There’s just nothing there. It was just a blank stare. It was just like looking into a soulless human being.” (34:38, Gaskins)

8. Chilling After-Effects and Parole Fears

• Return to the scene: Evidence that Sheila Eddy returned to the scene to look for Skylar's phone—another sign of cold calculation.

  “We know this because Eddie’s phone hit the same cell tower in Blacksville later on in the afternoon...” (36:46, Gaskins)

• No activity on Skylar’s phone: A sign she trusted her friends despite possible interpersonal conflict.
• Unsettling token: The revelation (new in this interview) that Sheila kept Skylar’s necklace, only returning it later via her mother, left family and investigators deeply disturbed.

  “That’s almost a slap in the face to Dave and Mary... just an evil hearted individual.” (40:37, Gaskins)

• Future parole: Both perpetrators will be eligible for parole within the decade, causing the Neese family ongoing pain.

9. Investigator’s Reflection & Emotional Toll

• Personal impact: Gaskins shares how having his own daughter later changed his perspective on the case, wishing he’d been able to show more compassion to Skylar’s parents.

  “Now that this has all happened and I have my own daughter... it really put things in perspective for me.” (42:35, Gaskins)

• Promise to family:

  “I will promise you this. I won’t stop trying to find out the truth for you guys and what happened to Skylar.” (45:41, Gaskins)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We stabbed her.” (20:53, Rachel Shoaf confession recounted by Gaskins)
• “We really did go on three.” (22:02, Sheila Eddy tweet)
• “By the time you get here, the problem will be taken care of...” (33:18, Dave Neese recounting his thoughts of revenge)
• “There’s just nothing there... just like looking into a soulless human being.” (34:38, Gaskins on Sheila Eddy)
• “I personally feel that we don’t have the real answer why they did it.” (30:18, Gaskins)
• “That’s almost a slap in the face to Dave and Mary.” (40:37, Gaskins on return of Skylar’s necklace)
• “Now that I have my own daughter... it put things in perspective for me.” (42:35, Gaskins)
• “I will promise you this. I won’t stop trying to find out the truth...” (45:41, Gaskins)

Segment Timestamps

• [00:00-01:19] Introduction and background on Skylar’s case and new documentary.
• [01:19-05:28] Sgt. Gaskins joins; discussion of investigation’s beginnings & rumor challenges.
• [05:28-09:27] Working with Skylar’s family, gathering evidence, difficulties with teen witnesses.
• [09:27-14:31] Identifying the suspects, discrepancies in statements, video and cell evidence.
• [14:31-18:11] Early suspects, misunderstanding the scale of the crime, difficulties with digital evidence.
• [18:11-24:17] Rachel’s breakdown and confession, methodical planning of the crime.
• [24:17-26:41] Corroborating the confession, evidence recovered.
• [26:41-30:38] Locating Skylar’s body, chilling post-crime actions by the perpetrators.
• [30:38-36:40] Motive remains elusive, parental agony, near-fatal aftermath for Dave Neese.
• [36:40-42:02] Revisiting the crime scene, chilling evidence found, handling tokens.
• [42:02-45:41] Impact on Gaskins as a parent and professional reflections.
• [45:41-47:47] Parole concerns, unresolved evil, closing reflections.

Summary & Takeaways

This episode provides a raw, detailed journey through the Skylar Neese case, revealing how a horrific crime was unraveled piece by piece against the odds of small-town rumor mills, immature witnesses, and digital dead-ends. Sgt. Gaskins’s insights lay bare the deep trauma inflicted not just on the Neese family, but also all investigators involved. Unanswered questions linger, especially around motive and the psyche of the killers. The episode closes on a note of empathy and ongoing vigilance, with looming parole hearings ensuring the pain of this case is far from over.

Recommended for listeners interested in:
True crime, investigative process, digital forensics, the psychology of adolescent offenders, victim advocacy, and those following the Skylar Neese murder via news or documentaries.