Altamonte Springs, Florida — Two teenage girls have been charged with attempted murder after a disturbing plot to kill a classmate at Lake Brantley High School came to light. Isabelle Valdez, 15, and Lois Lippert, 14, are accused of conspiring to commit the crime as part of a “blood ritual” linked to the infamous Sandy Hook shooter, according to recently unsealed court documents.
The arrests occurred on January 23, following an anonymous tip that prompted law enforcement to investigate Valdez, who had reportedly been the subject of prior inquiries related to several hoax calls made to the school. During a meeting with school officials, Valdez disclosed her plans, which involved forcibly taking the intended victim into a bathroom and stabbing him. She spoke of arranging photographs of the classmate on his body as part of the ritual meant to symbolize her allegiance to the deceased shooter Adam Lanza.
According to the reports, Valdez had been experiencing auditory hallucinations, claiming voices urged her to harm others. Among those voices, she cited Lanza, the perpetrator of the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. Although she stated she no longer heard his voice, other voices suggested that carrying out an attack would bring her closer to him.
Valdez’s fixation on the classmate reportedly began in September. For several months, she had been monitoring him, clandestinely photographing him around the school. Court documents suggest that Lippert, described as Valdez’s close friend, was complicit in the plan, assisting Valdez by testing the knife’s sharpness and procuring various items such as gloves, cigarettes, and flowers that were intended for the ritual.
On the day of the arrest, officers discovered a knife in Valdez’s backpack along with other suspicious items, including a black camera and used work gloves. Valdez had mentioned a yellow towel that she intended to use to muffle her target.
Both girls are currently being held at the Seminole County Jail and appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday. The case has raised alarm within the community and has sparked discussions about mental health, the influence of violent acts, and the responsibilities of peers in recognizing troubling behavior.
As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with further information about the case to come forward. The community remains shaken as it grapples with the implications of such a severe threat to safety within its schools.