A new documentary series revisits the case of Skylar Neese, a 16-year-old girl who was murdered by two friends in 2012. The three-part programme, titled Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese, is released on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu internationally on March 6.
Skylar disappeared from her family's apartment in Star City, West Virginia, after sneaking out just after midnight on July 6, 2012. She was seen on CCTV willingly getting into a car belonging to her best friend. Her body was found in January 2013.
The documentary features interviews with Skylar's parents, school friends and detectives, exploring the investigation and the tangled web of secrets and betrayal. In one emotional scene, her father, Dave Neese, describes how he told police not to pressure one of the killers, Shelia Eddy, because she was 'like family' to them.
Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf later confessed to stabbing Skylar more than 50 times because they no longer liked her. Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 15 years.
The series, produced by Dorothy St. Pictures, takes a deep dive into the frantic search for the straight-A student and the clues that were missed, including social media posts suggesting tension between the trio. It is now streaming on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu internationally.
