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Bond denied for teen girls accused of plotting to kill classmate
Two students at Lake Brantley High School will remain in custody after a judge denied them bond during a court hearing in Seminole County, Florida. Prosecutors say the girls, ages 15 and 14, are accused of plotting to kill a fellow student at the school.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Warning: Information in this story may consist of graphic details.
After two high school students were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill a student at their school, officer footage shows the girl joking about wanting to look good for their mugshot.
Isabelle Valdez, 15, and Lois Lippert, 14, were arrested after police were tipped off to Valdez's alleged plan to harm a student who reminded her of Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza.
More: 2 Lake Brantley High School students facing charges in alleged student attack plot
The backstory:
After investigating a tip that allegedly claimed a student was planning to harm another student, police identified a 15-year-old female student who they believed to be involved in the planned attack. Valdez was already being investigated by the FBI in connection to several swatting calls made to Lake Brantley High School on three separate occasions in January.
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2 Lake Brantley High students plot attack for 'blood bond'
Two Lake Brantley High School students, 14 and 15, are facing charges as adults after police say they plotted to hurt another student. A report said the 15-year-old – identified as Isabelle Valdez – was fascinated with school shootings and wanted a connection with Adam Lanza – a now deceased school shooter.
Altamonte Springs Police said the attack was planned to occur on Jan. 23.
In a conversation with the assistant principal, Valdez said she planned to hurt another student using the knife, gloves, trash bags and wipes in her backpack, a police report said. The backpack – which had all the items Valdez described – was taken to the principal's office, the report said. According to the report, Valdez was hearing voices telling her to harm another person and had come up with the idea for the attack three months before.
Valdez made two attempts to sharpen the knife: once at home and once in the girl's bathroom in school with Lippert present, police said.
In a letter to parents, the school previously said a knife and a note were found in one of the student's bags.
Obsession with the planned victim
Text messages between Valdez and Lippert indicated an obsession with the plotted victim, prosecutors said.
In a 20-minute video – recorded shortly after the girls' arrests from inside a squad vehicle and released from the State Attorney's Office in the 18th Judicial Circuit – Valdez could be heard saying, "I think in my dreams he told me to kill him, so I think it's only fair, you know?"
More: 2 Florida teens to be charged as adults in alleged Lake Brantley High School student attack plot
The intended victim allegedly reminded Valdez of Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza. She claimed she heard voices telling her to kill this boy, believing it would create a blood bond between her and Danza, an arrest report said.
Valdez plotted to stab or cut the boy's throat, she told her Assistant Principal, police said.
Valdez said the only person she feels bad for is her mom. Investigators found a letter Valdez wrote to her parents apologizing for what she was going to do.
Prosecutors said 14-year-old Lois Lippert )(right) and 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez (left) were planning to kill another student at Lake Brantley High School.
‘Trying to look good for your mugshot?’
While the girls were being transported in the officer's vehicle, they also discussed their looks.
In the video, Lippert can be heard saying, "I'm glad I don't look too bad today."
"I look horrible," Valdez said. "It's over."
"I was going to do my makeup this morning for the mugshot," Valdez said.
14-year-old Lois Lippert (left) and 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez (right) are accused of planning to kill another student at Lake Brantley High School. (Source: State Attorney's Office 18th Judicial Court).
‘No regard for consequences’
"Honestly, we are probably going to a get a minimum of four years," Valdez told her friend in the car.
"This is such a bonding experience," Lippert responded, laughing.
In court on March 11, prosecutors asserted the girls' behavior, as shown in the video, shows there's no regard for consequences, saying the video demonstrates the importance of truth when you don't think you're being watched.
14-year-old Lois Lippert (left) and 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez (right) are accused of planning to kill another student at Lake Brantley High School. (Source: State Attorney's Office 18th Judicial Court).
What they're saying:
The defense argued that the video shows potential health concerns.
Valdez is currently being housed in solitary confinement, the defense attorney said, claiming solitary can worsen her mental health.
14-year-old Lois Lippert (left) and 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez (right) are accused of planning to kill another student at Lake Brantley High School. (Source: State Attorney's Office 18th Judicial Court).
Denied bond
Valdez is charged with premeditated murder, while Lippert is charged as an accessory to these crimes. The students had their first appearance in Seminole County courts on Feb. 4, in which a judge ordered the case transferred to the court's adult division.
Prosecutors argued both girls are a threat to the community, saying the plot was only caught because of a tip to police.
"It's going to be extremely difficult for the community to be protected," the prosecutor said.
Despite Lippert's parents' assertions that they would provide her daughter with mental health support, both girls were denied bond in court on March 11.
The judge granted the state's motion for the girls to remain in custody.
Their next court date is set for April 29.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the Altamonte Springs Police Department and a March 11 court hearing.