Two Lake Brantley High students stopped from killing classmate in January

Two students at Lake Brantley High School planned to kill a classmate in January. The motive was linked to the Sandy Hook shooter.
By Newsroom | Crime, Education |

Altamonte Springs police removed two girls from Lake Brantley High School classrooms in late January after uncovering a plan to kill a male student. Isabelle Aurelia Valdez, 15, and Lois Olivios Lippert, 14, were stopped while Valdez was allegedly composing a final note to her parents.

"Valdez stated she had flowers for him and would leave them for his funeral," the police report says. She also kept cigarettes in her pocket, intended for the moments following her arrest.

NameRoleCharges
Isabelle Valdez (15)Primary plannerAttempted murder, weapon on school property
Lois Lippert (14)AssistantAccessory to attempted murder

The target was a boy chosen because he looked like the dead Sandy Hook shooter.

The Mechanics of the Plan

The logistics were jagged and specific. Valdez carried a knife and a yellow towel meant to muffle the boy's screams. Lippert is accused of testing the blade's sharpness and gathering supplies at Valdez’s request.

Mom speaks out after teens arrested in alleged plot to kill son at Lake Brantley High - 1

  • Valdez told police she was obsessed with Adam Lanza.

  • She claimed auditory hallucinations told her she could hear Lanza's voice again if she killed a student who resembled him.

  • The 15-year-old was writing a manifesto and a farewell note when an assistant principal called for her.

Discovery and Arrest

The sequence began around 7:30 a.m. when school staff noticed Valdez lacked her backpack. When the bag was brought to the office, the contents triggered a police response. Valdez had previously been a subject of interest to law enforcement in a separate, prior investigation.

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Under questioning, Valdez admitted to sharing the plan with Lippert. The younger girl reportedly helped prepare the tools for the event.

Shadowed Context

Valdez told investigators the voices had gone quiet but promised to return upon the completion of the act. The boy—the intended victim—remains unnamed, a bystander caught in the aesthetic of a dead killer’s face. The school system, alerted by the girl's history and a missing backpack, interrupted the loop before the towel and the blade were used.

The two teens are now moving through the legal machinery of Seminole County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened at Lake Brantley High School in late January?
Police arrested two students, Isabelle Valdez (15) and Lois Lippert (14), in late January. They were found with a knife and a towel, planning to kill a male student.
Q: Why did Isabelle Valdez and Lois Lippert plan to kill a student?
Valdez told police she was obsessed with Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook shooter. She believed she heard Lanza's voice and planned to kill a student who looked like him.
Q: How was the murder plot discovered at Lake Brantley High School?
School staff noticed Valdez did not have her backpack. When the bag was checked, its contents, including a knife and towel, led to a police response and the discovery of the plan.
Q: What charges do the students face?
Isabelle Valdez faces charges for attempted murder and having a weapon on school property. Lois Lippert is charged as an accessory to attempted murder.
Q: What happens next for the students involved in the Lake Brantley High plot?
The two teenagers are currently going through the Seminole County legal system. The school system was alerted and intervened before the planned attack could happen.