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 in jail without bail after prosecutors argued that footage of the two laughing in a patrol car after their arrest showed they continued 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 an alleged murder plot.
Both teens were later charged as adults with attempted premeditated murder, attempted felony murder and other crimes.
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According to the police report, the tipster posted on the FortifyFl app on Jan. 22 that Valdez told the tipster about plans to kill “someone we know from school” the next day.
A search of Valdez’s backpack on Jan. 23 turned up a knife that Valdez allegedly admitted he planned to use to slit the victim’s throat or stab her in the abdomen in the school restroom, according to the police report.
The victim reminded Valdez of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza and “believed that if he killed the victim, he would have a blood relationship with Adam Lanza that would bring him back from the dead,” prosecutors said in court filings. Prosecutors said Valdez planned to “leave flowers and smoke at the scene after the murder was completed.”
Lippert allegedly provided gloves, chocolates, flowers and cigarettes to support the murder plot and helped sharpen a knife in the school bathroom, according to prosecutors. He also drew “graphic and disturbing” drawings of the victim for Valdez, according to prosecutors.
State Attorney General’s Office 18th Judicial Circuit – PHOTO: Isabelle Valdez, left, and Lois Lippert are seen in a frame from patrol car footage dated January 23, 2026.
In the patrol vehicle footage dated January 23, published by the 18th Circuit Chief Prosecutor’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, both young people can be heard complaining about the “informant” who made the anonymous tip, talking about sharpening the knife and school attackers. At one point they also mentioned how much “time” it would take and booking photos.
“Man, I was going to do my makeup for the headshot this morning, but I couldn’t find anything,” Valdez says.
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The two laugh throughout the trip, and Lippert says at one point: “It’s a very bonding experience. I love it.”
At one point Valdez says: “I don’t feel guilty about what I did.”
“I feel really bad for my mom. The only person I feel bad for is her. And you. I feel bad for your mom, too,” Valdez says.
State Attorney General’s Office 18th Judicial Circuit – PHOTO: Isabelle Valdez, left, and Lois Lippert are seen in a frame from patrol car footage dated January 23, 2026.
Prosecutors cited patrol car footage during the teens’ bond hearing Wednesday “as evidence of the threat they posed,” the state attorney’s office said.
“This shows them laughing in the restroom as they discussed bringing a knife and other equipment to school to commit the murder, sharpening and testing the knife,” the state attorney’s office said in a statement on Thursday. he said. “They also confirmed their admiration for Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza and Columbine High School shooters Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris.”
The judge ultimately accepted the state’s request for pretrial detention, but rejected the defense’s request to set bond.
Both young people did not accept the accusations.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office – PHOTO: Booking photo of Isabelle Valdez. | Booking photo of Lois Lippert.
The state attorney’s office said they were accused as adults of “giving the justice system more options to incarcerate and control defendants over the long term than are available in the juvenile justice system.”
ABC News reached out to his lawyers but did not receive a response. Parents and attorneys for both suspects declined to comment to ABC Orlando affiliate WFTV after Wednesday’s hearing.
Following their arrest and charges, authorities praised the anonymous tipster.
Following their arrests, Seminole County Public Schools said in a statement, “We are deeply grateful to the individual whose brave tip led to swift action by law enforcement. Thanks to the seamless cooperation between our school and our law enforcement partners, the situation was resolved safely.”
