Did Rachel Shoaf Marry Amy Cobb? Separating Facts from Online Rumors

When you search online for Rachel Shoaf married Amy Cobb, you’ll find countless social media posts, blogs, and message boards discussing the claim. Some allege that Rachel Shoaf, the West Virginia woman convicted of killing her best friend Skylar Neese in 2012, secretly married a woman named Amy Cobb while serving her prison sentence. Others dismiss it as an internet hoax or a case of mistaken identity. But what is actually true? Is there any credible evidence that Rachel Shoaf married Amy Cobb, or is this another example of rumor overtaking reality? Let’s take a closer look at the facts, what is publicly known, and why these kinds of stories continue to spread.

Background on Rachel Shoaf

To understand where the rumor originates, it’s important to revisit who Rachel Shoaf is and why her name remains in public conversation. Rachel Shoaf was born in 1996 and grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. In July 2012, when she was just sixteen, she and her friend Shelia Eddy lured their mutual friend Skylar Neese out of her home under the pretense of going for a drive. Tragically, they ended up stabbing Skylar to death in a rural area near the Pennsylvania border.

The case shocked the nation not only because of the brutal nature of the crime but also because all three girls had been best friends. For months, Shoaf and Eddy pretended Skylar was missing, even appearing on television to plead for her return. The truth came out when Rachel Shoaf eventually confessed to the murder in early 2013, leading investigators to Skylar’s body.

In 2014, Rachel Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. She is currently serving her sentence at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Columbia, West Virginia. Her co-defendant, Shelia Eddy, received a life sentence. Since her imprisonment, Shoaf has largely stayed out of the public eye. No verified interviews, photographs, or statements from her have surfaced in recent years.

The Origins of the “Amy Cobb” Marriage Rumor

The rumor that Rachel Shoaf married Amy Cobb began appearing online several years after her sentencing. It gained traction on true-crime discussion boards, Reddit threads, TikTok videos, and YouTube comment sections dedicated to the Skylar Neese case. Some users claimed that Rachel met and later married a woman named Amy Cobb while incarcerated. However, these claims almost always lacked credible sources or documentation.

Many posts about the supposed marriage use vague phrasing—“It’s been reported that…” or “Some say she married…”—without providing links to any news outlets, court records, or official corrections department statements. In other words, the story spread mostly by repetition, not by evidence. It’s unclear exactly where the name “Amy Cobb” originated, though some speculate that it might have first appeared in an online blog or social media post that has since been deleted.

In the age of viral content, especially surrounding true crime, rumors like this can spread quickly. Once one website or TikTok creator posts about an unverified story, others repeat it without checking the facts, and it becomes accepted as truth by repetition.

What Official Records and Credible Sources Say

Despite the popularity of the rumor, there is no official record or credible evidence indicating that Rachel Shoaf has married anyone, let alone someone named Amy Cobb.

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which maintains records of inmates, has not released any documentation confirming that Rachel Shoaf has undergone a legal name change or marriage while in custody. Under U.S. law, inmate marriages are generally considered public record, as they require official filing through the correctional institution and the state. If Rachel Shoaf had legally married while incarcerated, that information would likely be publicly accessible or reported in local news outlets.

Additionally, major media organizations—including NBC News, ABC, CBS, The Associated Press, and local West Virginia outlets such as The Charleston Gazette-Mail—have not reported anything about a marriage involving Shoaf. Given the high-profile nature of her case, any confirmed update of that kind would almost certainly attract national coverage. The complete absence of such reporting strongly suggests that the claim is false or unverified.

Moreover, searches through public marriage records in West Virginia show no official listing of a marriage between Rachel Shoaf and any individual named Amy Cobb.

Who Is Amy Cobb?

The next logical question is: who exactly is Amy Cobb? Here again, there is no verifiable information linking anyone by that name to Rachel Shoaf. There is no mention of an Amy Cobb in any court filings, official correctional documents, or reliable news coverage connected to Shoaf’s case.

Some internet users have speculated that “Amy Cobb” might be a pseudonym or a name taken from an unrelated person. It’s not uncommon for misinformation in true-crime circles to take on a life of its own—combining real names, fictional characters, and false identities. Without verifiable data, it’s impossible to determine whether Amy Cobb is a real individual, a misidentified person, or an entirely fabricated name.

Why the Rumor Persisted

The story of Rachel Shoaf’s supposed marriage to Amy Cobb continues to circulate for several reasons. First, it fits the pattern of post-sentencing fascination that often surrounds high-profile criminal cases. Many people remain interested in what happens to convicted criminals after their trials end—how they live in prison, whether they express remorse, and if they form new relationships.

Second, social media platforms have made it easy for speculation to spread unchecked. Short-form videos and posts thrive on sensational claims, and the alleged marriage between Rachel Shoaf and Amy Cobb makes for a headline that easily captures attention—even if it’s not based on evidence.

Third, the story feeds into broader public curiosity about redemption, change, and the personal lives of those involved in notorious crimes. However, curiosity can often blur into misinformation when no credible sources are cited.

Finally, because Rachel Shoaf has remained largely silent and out of the public eye, the lack of official updates creates a vacuum that rumors quickly fill. When people can’t access verified information, they often accept the most widely repeated version of events—regardless of its accuracy.

What We Know and What We Don’t

To summarize the verified facts:

• Rachel Shoaf is currently serving a 30-year sentence at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Virginia.

• There are no official court or correctional records confirming a marriage between Rachel Shoaf and Amy Cobb.

• Major, reputable news organizations have not reported such a marriage.

• There is no verified public information about any person named Amy Cobb connected to Shoaf.

What remains unknown is where exactly the rumor began and who first introduced Amy Cobb’s name into the discussion. But given the lack of evidence, it’s reasonable to conclude that the story is unsubstantiated and should not be treated as factual.

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