Schoolgirls Filmed Laughing in Police Car After Alleged Murder Plot
Two teenage girls were captured on video laughing together in the back of a police car shortly after their arrest for allegedly plotting to murder a fellow student and drink his blood. The chilling footage, released by prosecutors, shows the pair joking about their alleged crime and discussing how to look good in their mugshots, with a complete lack of remorse evident throughout the ride.
Details of the Alleged Plot
Isabelle Valdez, aged 15, and Lois Lippert, aged 14, were arrested in late January after police investigated an anonymous tip reporting the alleged murder plot. The tipster informed authorities on January 22 that Valdez had revealed plans to kill "somebody we know from school" the following day. A subsequent search of Valdez's backpack on January 23 uncovered a knife, leading to their detention.
Prosecutors state that the girls were planning to slit the throat of a fellow student or stab him in the stomach in a school bathroom, with the intent to drink his blood. Valdez allegedly admitted to this plan after police found the knife during the search, according to official reports. The pair allegedly chose their would-be victim because he reminded Valdez of Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza. Valdez apparently believed that if they killed him, "she would have a blood bond with Adam Lanza, which would resurrect him from the dead."
Evidence and Court Proceedings
In the patrol car footage from January 23, released by the Office of State Attorney for the 18th Circuit, both teens can be heard complaining about the "snitch" who submitted the anonymous tip, discussing sharpening the knife, and mentioning school shooters. They also talked about how much "time" they will receive and their booking photos. "Dude, I was going to do my makeup this morning, for the mug shot, but I couldn't find anything," Valdez says in the video.
The two can be seen laughing throughout the ride, with Lippert at one point saying, "This is such a bonding experience. I love this." Valdez added, "I don't feel guilty for my actions. I thought I was gonna get sent to the psych ward. That's why I was so excited about everything." She later expressed remorse only for their mothers, saying, "I do feel bad for my mama. That's the one person I feel bad for. And you. I feel bad for your mama too."
Prosecutors showed the patrol car footage during the teens' bond hearing on Wednesday as evidence of the threat they pose. "It shows them laughing while discussing bringing a knife and other supplies to school to carry out the murder in a restroom where they sharpened and tested the knife," the state attorney's office said in a statement.
Charges and Current Status
Lippert allegedly supplied gloves, chocolate, flowers, and cigarettes and helped sharpen the knife in a school bathroom in support of the murder plot, according to prosecutors. She also reportedly drew "graphic and disturbing" sketches of the victim for Valdez. The teen planned to "leave flowers at the scene and smoke a cigarette after the homicide was completed," prosecutors stated.
Both girls, who are students at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida, have been charged as adults with attempted premeditated murder, attempted felony murder, and other counts. They have pleaded not guilty to their charges and are being held in jail without bond until their trial, where they will remain behind bars while awaiting proceedings.
