Skylar Lynnae Neil is the late daughter of Vince Neil. Vince is an American musician famous as the frontman of one of the most iconic heavy metal rock genre bands, Mötley Crüe. Outside of Mötley Crüe, Vince also has three studio albums as a solo artist, with the most recent, “Tattoos & Tequila,” released in 2010.
Over the years, Vince and his band members have made the headlines for their backstage drama that mostly involved drugs and alcohol. However, outside his career and controversies, Vince is a loving father.
The Mötley Crüe frontman welcomed Skylar with his second wife and fashion model, Sharise Ruddell. However, the famous vocalist has had his share of tragedies, including the death of his little girl, Skylar Lynnae Neil.
The celebrity kid’s death is one of the most tragic news to have hit the entertainment world. After several months of pain, Skylar Lynnae Neil died battling cancer, leaving her parents broken. After her death, Vince disclosed that the end of his daughter’s life was the worst thing he’d ever been through.
Here’s a look inside Vince Neil’s daughter’s life and tragic death.
Who Is Skylar Lynnae Neil?
Vince’s daughter, Skylar, was born on March 26, 1991. Although her birthplace remains a mystery, reports suggest she grew up in Chatsworth, California. Skylar Lynnae Neil is of mixed heritage, Mexican and Native American ancestry, thanks to her father.
However, due to her health issues, most details about her early interests elude the media. While Skylar’s father is a renowned vocalist, her mother, Sharise Ruddell, is a former mud wrestler and fashion model. Ruddell married Vince in 1987.
Four years later, the former couple welcomed their first child, Skylar. However, Ruddell and Vince separated almost six years later in 1993. Hence, during Skylar’s final moments, her parents were not together and about to process their divorce.
When Did Skylar Lynnae Neil Start Having Health Issues?
According to reports, Skylar Lynnae Neil’s health took a significant turn in early April 1995 when she came down with flu-like symptoms. Although it wasn’t serious at first, the little girl’s pain became intense later at night. Consequently, her mother rushed her to West Hills Medical Center.
While Skylar was in the hospital, Vince had just participated in a pro/celebrity motor race at the Long Beach Grand Prix. He received a phone call from his then-estranged wife, Ruddell, about his daughter’s hospitalization. Initially, doctors thought Vince Neil’s daughter suffered a burst appendix.
However, it turned out to be a cancerous tumor around her abdomen. In medical terms, the disease is called “Wilms” tumor, a kidney cancer that affects children. After her diagnosis, Skylar had multiple operations, but the doctors found the tumor more dangerous every time.
Hence, the doctors suggested that Vince and Ruddell take Skylar to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles to remove all the tumor fragments. In addition, her CAT scan reportedly showed two tumors on both kidneys.
Unfortunately, the cancer on her right grew, pushing her abdomen against her lungs and making Skylar breathe hard. During her final moments, the tumor had spread to her liver, intestines, and the muscles in the back.
Skylar Lynnae Neil Cause of Death
Skylar Lynnae Neil’s cause of death is cancer. The doctors initially had trouble understanding and detecting the actual cause of Skylar’s cancer. In addition, it was shocking for them, considering her age.
Skylar’s final surgery lasted approximately ten hours, during which the doctors removed a tumor equal to the size of a football. In an essay, Vince revealed that his daughter’s tumor weighed six and a half pounds. Unfortunately, the operation couldn’t save Vince’s daughter, who died on August 15, 1995.
Afterward, her funeral took place on August 18, 1995. Her parents buried her in a tiny pink casket in Forest Lawn, Los Angeles, California. Throughout her short life span, Skylar went through six operations. In addition, she had extensive chemotherapy and radiation for four months.
Consequently, Vince Neil and his then-wife, Sharise Ruddell, spent endless hours beside the little girl’s hospital bed. While the actual cause of Skylar’s cancer remains unknown, Vince investigated the case.
The Mötley Crüe vocalist concluded that his then-home in Chatsworth, California, where Skylar grew up, happened to be near a Boeing factory, and the industry, at the time, was illegally dumping carcinogenic materials such as uranium and plutonium. Hence, he filed a lawsuit. However, after Vince’s attorney failed to provide the demanded documents and evidence, the US District Judge dismissed the case in December 2002.
How Many Siblings Does Vince Neil’s Daughter Have?
Skylar Lynnae Neil has two surviving half-siblings from her father’s other relationships. First is Neil Jason Wharton, Vince’s first child, a son, from his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Tami. Neil was born on October 3, 1978. In addition, Skylar has an older sister, Elizabeth Ashley Wharton. Elizabeth was born in 1983 after Vince married his first wife, Beth Lynn.
Another death that shook the entertainment circle and left many questions on fans’ minds, like Skylar Lynnae Neil’s death, is the death of music star Michael Galeotti.