Altamonte Springs, Florida — Authorities have charged two teenage girls with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly plotting to kill a classmate at Lake Brantley High School. The case has drawn attention due to disturbing details about the girls’ motivations, which include notions of a “blood ritual” and a desire to connect with the deceased Sandy Hook mass shooter.
According to court documents filed Tuesday, 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez and 14-year-old Lois Lippert are being prosecuted as adults, reflecting the seriousness attributed to their actions. The duo was arrested on January 23 after a knife was discovered at the school, although police did not release many details surrounding the incident at that time.
Valdez reportedly claimed to have been influenced by voices, including that of Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in 2012. In a chilling revelation, she stated that these voices urged her to kill a fellow student who resembled Lanza. Law enforcement records reveal that she had been stalking this classmate for several months as part of her plot.
Documents show that Valdez communicated her intentions in a note to her parents, expressing a perceivable bond with Lanza. In the note, she referred to her actions as acts of “devotion” and articulated a desire to be “reunited” with him through violence.
Just one day before their arrest, police received an anonymous tip alerting them to Valdez’s intentions. Authorities had already been monitoring her as part of an investigation involving recent swatting incidents at the school. This led officers to confiscate her phone, which may have provided additional context for her actions.
Valdez discussed her plan during a meeting with school officials and law enforcement, explaining her intention to attack the classmate in a bathroom after the second period, and to display photographs of him on his body as part of the alleged ritual. Reports indicate that she also discussed writing a manifesto but was interrupted before she could complete it.
Lippert’s alleged involvement included assisting Valdez in gathering various items to execute their plan, including gloves and cigarettes. Authorities noted that the girls’ conversations indicated a secondary layer of complicity, with Lippert reportedly testing the knife’s sharpness for Valdez.
After investigating further, police found the knife in Valdez’s backpack along with other items such as a lighter, used work gloves, and a camera. Additionally, drawings depicting Valdez, Lanza, and their intended victim were discovered, underscoring the depth of Valdez’s fixation.
A representative from the local State Attorney’s Office stated the decision to charge both girls as adults arose from extensive discussions within the prosecution team. The seriousness of the case warranted a more rigorous legal approach than what the juvenile justice system could provide.
Both Valdez and Lippert are currently being held at the Seminole County Jail. They made their initial court appearances on Wednesday, as authorities continue to grapple with the implications of this disturbing case.