A teen plotted to kill a classmate to 'resurrect' a mass shooter, now she blames the internet.
A 15-year-old girl accused of planning a school murder says her time online led her to commit a dark act.
It is hard to imagine a child wanting to hurt a peer for a reason that makes no sense. We want to believe our kids are safe when they walk through school doors.
Isabelle Valdez, 15, was arrested in January alongside 14-year-old Lois Olivios Lippert. Police say the two girls planned to ambush a male classmate at Lake Brantley High School in Florida.
The plan was to stab the boy in the stomach or cut his throat. They allegedly wanted to leave flowers and smoke a cigarette after the act. They believed killing him would "resurrect" Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza.
What the evidence shows
- The girls were arrested on January 22 after a tipster alerted police to their plan.
- Valdez claimed the victim reminded her of the Sandy Hook shooter.
- After their arrest, the teens joked in a police car about becoming famous for their mugshots.
- Valdez told her friend she wanted to wear makeup for her booking photo.
- The girls joked about becoming a "lesbian couple in jail" while in custody.
The bigger question
We have to ask how a child gets so lost that they find community in the glorification of mass killers. Is the internet a tool for connection, or is it a trap for vulnerable kids?
We also need to look at how schools and parents can spot these signs before a plan turns into a tragedy. When a child feels "seen" by people who praise violence, the danger is already at our doorstep.
The other side
Valdez sent a three-page letter to the judge claiming she is now remorseful and that the internet made her a "horrible person." She says she was bullied and struggled with suicidal thoughts since age seven. This argument attempts to shift blame to online groups, but it does not erase the specific, violent plans she allegedly made.
What happens now
This case will likely force schools to look closer at how students interact with "true crime" groups online. It serves as a grim reminder that digital radicalization is not just an adult problem.
What we still don't know
- How much did the adults in their lives know about their online activity?
- Were there other students involved in these online groups?
- How will the court weigh her age against the severity of the plot?
Transparency notes
Published: May 22, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.
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