A chilling case out of West Virginia has come to a devastating conclusion, with a mother now facing what could amount to a life behind bars for the brutal killing of her young daughter.
33-year-old Rebakah Weikle has been sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in the 2022 killing of her 4-year-old daughter, Haley. A judge ordered her to serve two consecutive sentences of 15 years to life, meaning she must spend at least 30 years in prison before even becoming eligible for parole.
Prosecutors revealed a disturbing motive behind the crime, saying the killing was driven by jealousy. According to officials, Weikle had grown resentful of the attention her husband gave to their daughter — a motive that stunned even seasoned investigators.
In court, Summers County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Lefler described the horrifying moments leading up to the child’s death. He said Haley had laid down in bed when her mother made the decision to attack, inflicting multiple wounds before ultimately taking her life.
Authorities say the crime took place inside the family’s home in the Forest Hill area in July 2022. Investigators later uncovered evidence that Weikle had researched methods of killing prior to carrying out the attack, adding another layer of premeditation to the already disturbing case.
What happened after the killing only deepened the horror. Prosecutors said Weikle left her daughter’s body in bed overnight, where it was discovered the following morning by the child’s father. She allegedly attempted to cover up the crime by hiding the weapon and the clothes she had been wearing.
When the father found the scene, he reportedly urged Weikle to call 911. She entered the numbers but never completed the call, forcing him to take over and contact emergency services himself.
During the investigation, officials say Weikle tried to shift blame onto her husband, falsely accusing him of killing their daughter to conceal alleged abuse. Prosecutors said those claims were completely fabricated, and she later admitted as much as part of her plea agreement.
Investigators relied heavily on digital evidence, including cellphone data and internet search history, to piece together what happened inside the home.
The child’s father also faced charges, ultimately pleading guilty to child abuse and neglect. He was sentenced to home confinement and probation. Prosecutors emphasized that he was not involved in the killing but failed to act on warning signs before the tragedy.
In an emotional statement in court, the grieving father described the pain of losing his daughter and the shock of the motive behind her death, saying she was killed simply because her mother was jealous of the attention she received.
Officials say the case took years to unravel, involving multiple agencies working through conflicting accounts before the truth came to light.
With her sentence now handed down, Weikle is expected to spend decades behind bars — and the court acknowledged she will likely die in prison.