MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — National audiences have been introduced to the tragic story of Skylar Neese over the last several days with NBC’s Dateline and The Dr. Phil Show profiling the brutal murder of the 16-year-old girl from Monongalia County.
Skylar’s father Dave Neese has been pleased with the way national media outlets of portrayed his daughter’s story so far.
“Dateline’s producers were with us for a long time,” said Neese during an interview on WAJR-AM’s Morgantown AM with Kay Murray and Jim Stallings. “They did phenomenal and also Dr. Phil. Everything was phenomenal, it was a treat to go out there and meet him.”
Prosecutors have said both Shoaf and Eddy picked up Neese on the night of July 6, 2012 and drove their University High School classmate to Greene County, Pa. At an agreed upon time, they stabbed Neese at least ten times with kitchen knives, tackling her when she tried to escape.
After being unable to bury Neese’s body, the two left it covered with branches in a ditch. Shoaf lead investigators to the site in early 2013.
Neese says Dr. Phil, who is famous for his brand of tough love and can often be gruff with guests, seemed to be a bit more sensitive to him and his wife Mary during their appearance on the show.
“He told me to grieve as much as I want to grieve and that is what me and Mary do,” said Neese.
Since Skylar’s disappearance Neese has conducted numerous interviews with local and national media answering many of the same questions countless times but he insists media have never been intrusive or been a disruption for he and Mary.
“Not at all. I want Skylar’s story to be out there. As tragic as it is, if we can save another teen, it’s worth it. I mean, it’s not worth Skylar being gone but it is worth the trouble or whatever else they say we’re going through.”
Both Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf are serving prison sentences for Skylar’s death. Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with mercy. Shoaf pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 30-year prison sentence.