Florida teens charged in alleged murder plot seen laughing in patrol vehicle following arrest
Two Florida teenagers accused of plotting to kill a classmate in a "blood ritual" will remain held in jail without bond, after prosecutors argued that footage of the two laughing in a patrol vehicle following their arrest showed they continue to pose a threat.
Isabelle Valdez, 15, and Lois Lippert, 14 -- both students at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs -- were arrested in late January after police investigated an anonymous tip reporting the alleged murder plot.
Both teens were subsequently charged as adults with attempted premeditated murder, attempted felony murder and other counts.
The tipster reported to the app FortifyFl on Jan. 22 that Valdez told the tipster about plans to kill "somebody we know from school" the following day, according to the police report.
A search of Valdez's backpack on Jan. 23 turned up a knife, which Valdez allegedly admitted to planning to use to cut the victim's throat or stab him in his stomach while in a school bathroom, according to the police report.
The victim reportedly reminded Valdez of Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter, and "she believed if she killed the victim, she would have a blood bond with Adam Lanza, which would resurrect him from the dead," prosecutors stated in court filings. Valdez planned to "leave flowers at the scene and smoke a cigarette after the homicide was completed," prosecutors stated.
Lippert allegedly supplied gloves, chocolate, flowers and cigarettes and helped sharpen the knife in a school bathroom in support of the murder plot, according to prosecutors. She also drew "graphic and disturbing" sketches of the victim for Valdez, according to prosecutors.
In the patrol vehicle footage from Jan. 23 released by the Office of State Attorney for the 18th Circuit, which is prosecuting the case, both teens can be heard complaining about the "snitch" who submitted the anonymous tip, discussing sharpening the knife and mentioning school shooters. At one point they also talked about how much "time" they will receive and their booking photos.
"Dude, I was going to do my makeup this morning, for the mug shot, but I couldn't find anything," Valdez says.
The two laugh throughout the ride, with Lippert at one point saying, "This is such a bonding experience. I love this."
At one point Valdez says, "I don't feel guilty for my actions."
"I do feel bad for my mama. That's the only person I feel bad for. And you. I feel bad for your mama, too," Valdez says.
Prosecutors showed the patrol car footage during the teens' bond hearing on Wednesday "as evidence of the threat they pose," the state attorney's office said.
"It shows them laughing while discussing bringing a knife and other supplies to school to carry out the murder in a restroom where they sharpened and tested the knife," the state attorney's office said in a statement on Thursday. "It also confirmed their fascination with Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza and Columbine High School shooters Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris."
The judge ultimately granted the state's motion for pre-trial detention while denying the defense motion to set bond.
Both teens have pleaded not guilty to their charges.
They are being charged as adults "to give the justice system more options to incarcerate and control the defendants long-term than are available in the juvenile justice system," the state attorney's office said.
Valdez's attorney, Edward Lopez, said in a statement to ABC News on Friday that he will not discuss specific allegations or evidence because it is an "active case involving a minor" and "because we are committed to protecting her and safeguarding her constitutional rights."
"As with any individual accused of a crime, our client is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to a fair, thorough, and unbiased legal process," Lopez said. "Our focus at this time is to ensure that the case is handled properly and that this young lady is afforded all of the rights and protections guaranteed under the law."
ABC News reached out to Lippert's attorney but has not received a response. Both suspects' parents declined to comment to ABC Orlando affiliate WFTV following Wednesday's hearing.
In the wake of their arrest and charges, officials have commended the person who made the anonymous tip.
Following their arrest, Seminole County Public Schools said in a statement, "We are deeply grateful to the individual whose courageous tip allowed law enforcement to take swift action. The situation was resolved safely thanks to the seamless collaboration between our school and law enforcement partners."
