To the family, friends, and supporters of Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy,

We have all done things we are not proud of, especially in the height of our teenage years, and Shelia and Rachel are no different. They made a terrible mistake at the age of 16, one that we would all like to have back. Teens often base their decisions on emotion rather than moral reasoning, and that is because their brains are not fully developed at this age. Although they did an abnormal thing that most teens do not do, it still happened, and they are handling it like mature adults by taking the proper responsibility.

Rachel and Shelia have both used her time at Lakin wisely and have taken advantage of every opportunity to improve their life. They have participated in multiple classes and programs and Rachel recently achieved the honorable feat of earning her cosmetology license and Shelia achieved another honorable feat of a Culinary Arts Apprenticeship. The girls have used their time wisely to rehabilitate their minds- emotionally and spiritually- and have done everything they can to assess what went wrong and have cultivated a better future from what they have learned at Lakin. Also, both girls concluded a 4-year college degree with Ashland University, and both have their bachelors in communications.

The media has made these girls out to be two bad seeds, when in reality they were just two dumb teens who made a mistake. The world only sees a distorted picture of the girls and their personalities from the way the media has portrayed them to be. But if you knew either one of them personally, you would know that what the media says about them is just not true. They are remorseful. They carry the weight of their actions with them every day. It is something that they know they will never be able to make up for, and that their prison time will never be enough to justify what they did.

This is a difficult time for the victim’s family, and they acknowledge the rights that they have to combat their eventual release. This is not an attempt to justify their actions.

Shelia and Rachel are ready to take what they have learned at Lakin, the growth they both have achieved spiritually and emotionally, and give themselves a chance at a better future. Put yourself in their shoes, wouldn’t you want a second chance too?

Please sign this petition to show Rachel and Shelia support.