Rachel Whitelaw was a Shadowhunter and the adoptive child of Adam and Marian Whitelaw, who adopted her and her brother after the death of her parents. Since Marian and Adam did not have children of their own, Rachel and her brother were very well taken care of, and they became very attached to one another. In 1989, Rachel, Adam, and Marian were defending a werewolf pack being held hostage by the Circle in Chinatown, New York City. When Rachel attempted to attack Maryse Lightwood, Robert Lightwood killed her, along with her adoptive family.