Appalachian Vendetta

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor: Episode Summary - "Appalachian Vendetta"

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Appalachian Vendetta," hosted by ID, listeners are taken to Clendenin, a serene rural community nestled in the heart of West Virginia. This episode delves into a tragic and escalating feud between two neighboring families—the Woods and the Elmores—which spirals from a petty theft into a deadly confrontation, leaving the entire community scarred.

---

Setting the Scene: Clendenin, West Virginia

Clendenin is portrayed as a tight-knit, picturesque community with multi-generational families living side by side along the winding Laurel Forks Road. The narrator introduces key residents:

• David Elmore Jr.: A lifelong resident who, along with his family, values their deep-rooted connections to the land.
• Randy and Deborah Woods: Longtime neighbors who retired in peace but remain active within the community.

Notable Quote:

• David Elmore Jr. [04:17]: "Really, I can't say anything bad about the area. It's full of good people. It's beautiful in the fall, it's beautiful in the summer."

---

The Spark: A Petty Theft

The tranquility is shattered on a snowy morning in 2007 when Randy Woods discovers an unknown vehicle parked on his property. Upon investigation, Randy realizes his tools have been stolen, leading him to believe he has been robbed.

Notable Quote:

• Randy Woods [07:00]: "There was a car sitting there and I thought, well, who you know, somebody broke down was the first thought."

Randy's attempt to retrieve his tools leads him to the Elmore household, where tensions begin to surface as he confronts the neighbors about the theft.

---

Escalation of Tensions

Despite Randy's initial desire to resolve the issue amicably, the Elmore family perceives his actions as crossing a line. This misunderstanding ignites a simmering hostility between the families.

Notable Quote:

• Deborah Woods [10:21]: "Once you bring the law into their yard, you know the retaliation is going to keep on going. It wouldn't be over."

---

Turning Points: Road Confrontations

The feud intensifies through a series of hostile encounters on the narrow, isolated roads of Laurel Forks Road:

1. First Road Incident [13:34 - 14:36]:

   • David Elmore Jr. aggressively honks and forces Randy off the road, leaving him stranded.
   • Randy Woods [14:22]: "John hits the gas and aims his truck at Randy's."

2. Second Road Incident [16:50 - 17:02]:

   • A repeated standoff where neither family yields, leading to increased animosity.

Notable Quote:

• David Elmore Jr. [17:13]: "They already didn't like each other. And to have to essentially pull off the side of the road and allow the other one to pass by, that presented itself an opportunity for both parties to start trouble with each other."

---

Violent Escalation: Physical Confrontations

The conflict culminates in violent altercations:

1. Chase and Crash [17:46 - 19:03]:

   • Randy chases Joseph Elmore, leading to a high-speed crash. Believing he is under attack, Randy brandishes a gun, escalating the violence.
   • Randy Woods [19:11]: "They was really mad."

2. Mass Assault [24:08 - 25:23]:

   • Surrounded by multiple members of the Elmore family, Randy is brutally assaulted with pipes, leaving him severely injured.
   • Local Resident [25:13]: "They start assaulting him with pipes. They knock out his teeth. I mean, like, his ears are almost severed. It's a really brutal and violent attack."

Notable Quote:

• Randy Woods [24:24]: "Now, I didn't have a gun with me. If I'd have had a gun with me, maybe we'd have stopped and argued, maybe we'd have had words. But it wouldn't have laid out the way it laid out."

---

Final Confrontation and Tragedy

In the spring of 2017, the feud reaches its tragic peak:

• Confrontation [34:08 - 35:48]:

  • While driving his ATV, Randy encounters David Elmore Jr. and his wife Tasha. After a heated verbal exchange involving threats and the use of wasp spray, Randy, in a moment of panic and self-defense, fires a gunshot.
  • Randy Woods [35:16]: "I defended myself. I reached down and got the gun. I brought the gun around."

• 911 Call and Aftermath [36:05 - 37:30]:

  • Randy calls 911, unaware of the full extent of the injuries he has caused. David Elmore Jr. succumbs to his wounds, leading to Randy's arrest and eventual plea deal.

Notable Quote:

• Deborah Woods [37:23]: "He didn't go out there to shoot him on purpose. You know, it was a bad accident. It's just one big nightmare."

---

Community Impact and Reflection

The episode concludes by reflecting on the devastating consequences of the feud:

• Community Shaken [37:43 - 39:37]:
  • The once-peaceful community grapples with the loss of David Elmore Jr. and the lingering animosity that led to the tragedy.
  • Randy Woods [38:16]: "I don't know how many years God left us on this earth, but we're going to enjoy them and they ain't going to put us down for it. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life in misery because I pulled the trigger."

Notable Quote:

• Local Resident [39:20]: "Yes, this was a murder. A tragedy certainly, certainly happened here. But nobody's hands were completely clean. There was no goodwill or good faith between these families."

---

Conclusion

"Appalachian Vendetta" serves as a poignant exploration of how minor disputes can escalate into violent conflicts with fatal outcomes. Through detailed storytelling and firsthand accounts, the episode underscores the importance of communication and the tragic consequences that can arise when tensions between neighbors go unresolved.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Escalation Dynamics: Small disagreements can quickly intensify in tight-knit communities, especially when underlying tensions exist.

• Role of Law Enforcement: The reluctance to involve authorities initially contributed to the feud's escalation, highlighting the delicate balance between community harmony and seeking external help.

• Tragic Consequences: The episode is a stark reminder of the irreversible outcomes that can result from unresolved conflicts and persistent animosity.

---

Final Thoughts

"Appalachian Vendetta" is a compelling case study on the dark side of neighborly relations. It invites listeners to reflect on their own interactions and the potential long-term impacts of seemingly insignificant disputes.

Transcript

[Monday.com Ad]

Dear old work platform. It's not you, it's us. Actually, it is you. Endless onboarding, Constant IT bottlenecks. We've had enough. We need a platform that just gets us and to be honest, we've met someone new. They're called Monday.com and it was love at first onboarding. Their beautiful dashboards, their customizable workflows got us floating on a digital cloud. 9 so no hard feelings, but we're moving on. Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Support for this podcast and the following message is brought to you by E Trade for Morgan Stanley. With E Trade, you can dive into the market with easy to use tools, zero dollar commissions and a wide range of investments. And now there's even more to love. Get access to industry leading research and insights from Morgan Stanley to help guide your decisions. Open an account and get up to $1,000 or more with a qualifying deposit. Get started [e-mail] terms and other fees apply. Investing involves risks. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPIC etrade is a business of Morgan St. Got a new puppy or kitten? Congrats. But also yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps you cover vet costs so that you can focus on what's best for you and your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in as little as three seconds. Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is.

[Narrator]

Most violent crimes that capture the public's imagination are about serial killers, mass shooters, crimes of passion, or clashes among underworld figures. Yet some of the most shocking and deadly conflicts we encounter are between everyday neighbors in ordinary neighborhoods. These stories about people like you and me who just happen to move in beside each other and fall out over often minor and likely resolvable issues, are stranger than fiction. Their seemingly minor quibbles escalate until violence erupts and it impacts an entire community. What makes a good neighbor go bad? We may never truly know, but heed this warning about the terrible things that can happen when even the pettiest disagreements pass the point of no return. And good neighbors become worst enemies. Because how can you sleep at night when the person you fear or hate the most lives right next door? This time we are Going to a rural mountain community in West Virginia where a random petty theft sparks a feud between a retired couple and a whole family clan of neighbors. The feud quickly escalates before culminating in a shocking and violent end. A gruesome and fatal chain of events that will leave the small mountain community forever scarred. This is Appalachian vendetta. Clendenin is a charming rural community in the heart of West Virginia. There are homes and families here which go back generations. It's the kind of place where your closest neighbor could be 10 miles away, but you're still neighborly.

[Local Resident]

The town of Clendenin is more or less a suburb of Charleston, West Virginia. It's a tight knit community. It's right along the river.

[Narrator]

That's Lacey Pearson. She's a reporter with the Huntington Herald Dispatch. She's been covering events in this area for years, which doesn't normally see a lot of violent crimes. In fact, the crime rate is almost 70% lower than the national average. Many from the area are quick to comment on the neighborhood's safety, including Adam Petry, the assistant prosecutor for the region.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Really, I can't say anything bad about the area. It's full of good people. It's beautiful in the fall, it's beautiful in the summer.

[Narrator]

Nestled in the mountainous region is Laurel Forks Road, a winding country trail that's home to many tight knit communities. As is customary for the Appalachians, many of these families live together in multi generational households.

[Local Resident]

In Appalachia, where the mountains are so dense, to get any kind of property where you can build a home is kind of at a premium. So it's very, very common for families to all live sort of along the same hollow. And that's what the Elmore family had done.

[Narrator]

David Elmore Jr. Is a longtime resident of Laurel Forks Road. He built his home on the same large plot of land he shares with his grandfather John, his father David Sr. And his brother Joseph.

[Local Resident]

David Elmore Jr. Grew up in Clinton with his family. And then When David Elmore Jr. Got married, you know, that's where they stayed and that's where he and Tasha had their kids and raised their family.

[Narrator]

David and Tasha have three children together. Inspired by their beautiful surroundings, they're raising them to love the land and their family as much as they do.

[Local Resident]

They were able to grow up and blossom as adults, but still keep their roots really close together.

[Narrator]

In Clendenin, just down the road from the Elmore property, are Randy and Deborah Woods. Though the two households are separated by dense thicket, they're the closest Each family has to next door neighbors. Randy is a veteran and was the local handyman until he retired a few years ago. Now he and Deborah are looking forward to spending their golden years and their little slice of heaven.

[Randy Woods]

Whatever country life's got, we've got it. We moved to North Carolina for a while, but that old hat and come back and where we're at now, we've been there about 30 some years and we live on top of the mountain.

[Narrator]

Randy has everything his heart could desire right here and his wife Deborah couldn't agree more.

[Deborah Woods]

We've got 42 years together and I'd like to have at least 42 more.

[Narrator]

Even though Randy is retired, he likes to keep busy and so he's more than happy to do the odd job for someone in need of help. When his neighbor David has a problem with his stereo equipment, he's ready to step in and lend a hand.

[Randy Woods]

The neighborhood helps each other. You know, it's a close knit neighborhood in a lot of ways.

[Narrator]

The woods and the Elmores have lived in harmony for decades. But then something happens which changes everything. Late one Snowy morning in 2007, Randy woods gets ready to leave for a doctor's appointment in town. As he walks outside to his truck, he sees an unknown vehicle parked on his property.

[Randy Woods]

There was a car sitting there and I thought, well, who you know, somebody broke down was the first thought.

[Narrator]

Randy approaches the car and as he gets closer, he sees a young man in his 20s sitting in the driver's seat. The young man claims he's having engine trouble, but something about the way he behaves arouses Randy's suspicion.

[Randy Woods]

He said his car broke down and he just letting it cool down. And I looked in the back seat and here was my weed eaters, chainsaws, tools he had loaded up out of my garage.

[Narrator]

Coming to the realization that he's just been robbed, Randy does what anyone would do.

[Randy Woods]

I wretched in a car to get the keys and he got it started and got away from me. There he went. I didn't know what the hell's going on. They didn't have the slightest idea who they was. Well, I got in my truck and followed him out the road, but I couldn't find him. I did finally find a set of fresh tracks that went up the hill when they sent his car up to Elmore's house.

[Narrator]

Randy parks his truck and walks over to the car now parked on his neighbor's property. It's definitely the same car he saw outside his house, but the driver is nowhere to be Found. And when he looks in the backseat, neither are his tools. So he knocks on the elmores door. John answers.

[Randy Woods]

He insisted nobody been out of that house. And I told him, I said, john, I said, I know. So I told him, I said, I'm going back out. I'm talking with the law. We're coming back up here. I'm going to find out where my tools are.

[Narrator]

And that's exactly what Randy does. He calls the sheriff's department, and when the deputy arrives, he questions everyone in the house, including David Jr. S friend, who Randy immediately recognizes as the man that drove off with his tools. The jig is up, but Randy doesn't want any trouble with his neighbors. All he wants is his tools. He says he won't press any charges so long as the elmore's friend gives the tools back.

[Local Resident]

Because that's sort of of the neighborly thing to do, right? I mean, this is a sort of dumb mistake. Dumb, young mistake.

[Randy Woods]

And after a little bit of a word around about it, he told us, he said, well, the tools around the hill right there. And he took us around, showed him. He carried them all around there and hid them under a brush pile. So he started carrying it back and putting it in my truck.

[Narrator]

Randy is satisfied, and as far as he's concerned, the matter is over with. But he's wrong.

[Local Resident]

Randy thought all this was settled. It was not settled for David Elmore Jr. By a long shot.

[Narrator]

As far as the elmores are concerned, Randy has crossed a line by doing something that people in these parts almost never do. He called the police on his neighbors.

[Deborah Woods]

They was really mad.

[Narrator]

Sheriff Michael rutherford has served this county for years and has this to say about people's attitude in the community.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

I think it's just human nature that people don't like to have law enforcement called on them for whatever the situation may be. It's something that, especially when you get in the more rural areas, that people have a tendency to not really want to have law enforcement unless it's something that's in their lives. Very important.

[Deborah Woods]

Once you bring the law into their yard, you know the retaliation is going to keep on going. It wouldn't be over.

[Narrator]

And since Randy crossed the line with one of the elmores, he's unknowingly incurred the wrath of the entire clan.

[Monday.com Ad]

Dear old work platform. It's not you, it's us. Actually, it is you. Endless onboarding, constant it bottlenecks. We've had enough. We need a platform that just gets us. And to be honest, we've met someone new they're called Monday.com and it was love at first onboarding. Their beautiful dashboards, their customizable workflows got us floating on a digital cloud nine so no hard feelings, but we're moving on Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Got a new puppy or kitten? Congrats. But also yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps you cover vet costs so that you can focus on what's best for you and your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in as little as three seconds. Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is.

[E Trade Ad]

Support for this podcast and the following message is brought to you by E Trade from Morgan Stanley. With E Trade you can dive into the market with easy to use tools, $0 commissions and a wide range of investments. And now there's even more to love. Get access to industry leading research and insights from Morgan Stanley to help guide your decisions. Open an account and get up to $1,000 or more with a qualifying deposit. Get started [e-mail] terms and other fees apply. Investing involves risks. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPIC E Trade is a business of Morgan Stanley.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities, so do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].

[Randy Woods]

If you had trouble with one of them, you had trouble with all of them.

[Narrator]

They run in a pack, blissfully unaware of the grudge they just ignited. Randy and Deborah put the incident behind them and settle back into their peaceful life. A few days later, David Elmore Jr. Sees an opportunity. One that is sure to send his opponent into a literal tailspin. The country road that winds through the Appalachians is virtually deserted, save for the people that live there. So Deserted that you can spot your neighbor's truck from far away. So when David Jr. Sees Randy driving up ahead of him, he gets an idea. He hits the accelerator.

[Local Resident]

He sees Randy woods on their road. He just wants to make his message clear, I suppose.

[Randy Woods]

David come up behind me, blowing the horn, and just right on my bumper.

[Local Resident]

He runs Randy off of the road.

[Narrator]

David Jr. Drives off, honking his horn in victory. And now Randy is in a bind.

[Randy Woods]

And then the truck quit. And I was having a little trouble out of the wiring on the truck or gas in the water. I'm not exactly sure what it was.

[Narrator]

Either way, Randy is stranded on the side of the isolated country road, alone on a bitterly cold day. Time passes, and Randy finally sees another pickup truck driving down the road. Randy thinks he's in luck, but once again, he's mistaken.

[Randy Woods]

Well, here come the old man, John Elmore off the hill.

[Narrator]

Randy thinks his neighbor will slow down and give him a hand. Instead, according to him, John hits the gas and aims his truck at Randy's.

[Randy Woods]

He rammed the front of my truck and started just ramming my bumper. When I finally got out of the truck, I got up and I went to my neighbor's house. I went in and called the law again.

[Local Resident]

The Kanawha county sheriff's department responds to the scene. They get statements from each side. And this is where also in the feud, that it becomes apparent that there certainly are two sides to this story.

[Narrator]

While Randy woods claims he was attacked, John Elmore provides a different version of the events. Sheriff Michael Rutherford explains what John told the deputy.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

John Elmore indicated that he felt that Mr. Wood was going to try to hit his vehicle. The ramming Mr. Wood would speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down. And he was blowing the horn, trying to get him to move, you know, out of the way, at which point he struck Mr. Wood's vehicle.

[Narrator]

With two angry neighbors telling completely different stories, it's hard to determine who's telling the truth.

[Randy Woods]

They made me out to be some nuts on the hill. They would take a story and reverse it. To me supposed to been doing what they done, and they were the poor, defenseless people on the mountain.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

We did everything we can. There's not much more we can do. But it was difficult for our deputies on many occasions to get the information that we needed.

[Narrator]

Even though the neighbors houses are a few miles apart, the tension and hostility in this isolated country community is inescapable. Distance brings no peace of mind. The woods and the Elmores are always keenly aware of one another. And the Narrow road each of them must use on a daily basis turns even a simple weekend errand into a potential standoff. Sergeant Michael Knapp is with the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.

[David Elmore Jr.]

The roads in that area, they are narrow with small shoulders also. So a lot of places on that road, if you do meet oncoming traffic, one or the other will have to pull over and let the other one pass by.

[Narrator]

And it's not long before Randy and David Jr find themselves in a heated game of chicken with neither one giving way to the other.

[Randy Woods]

What are you doing?

[David Elmore Jr.]

Move aside, old man.

[Narrator]

Ah, come on.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Get out of the way.

[Local Resident]

There was no goodwill. They couldn't even pass each other on the road without stopping and at least arguing.

[Narrator]

Adam Petry is the assistant prosecutor for the county. As he explains, the shared winding road quickly proves to be an arena for countless disputes between the neighbors.

[David Elmore Jr.]

They already didn't like each other. And to have to essentially pull off the side of the road and allow the other one to pass, that presented itself an opportunity for both parties to start trouble with each other. Get out of the way.

[Narrator]

And it's not just the constant standoffs that are infuriating Randy. He's convinced someone is stealing gas from his property. When he comes out of the house one morning, he sees David Jr. S brother, Joseph Elmore, on his property and can only assume the worst. You thief. You won't get away with it this time.

[Local Resident]

You know, that's just again, something that Randy can't abide by. These people are proud again. They're proud of their property. They're proud of the homes they've made, the homesteads that they have. So this would have just been really offensive for Randy at least.

[Narrator]

Randy gets into his pickup truck and chases after Joseph as he drives away. It's a high speed chase down icy country roads. And according to Randy, Joseph loses control of his vehicle and crashes.

[Randy Woods]

He hit a tree and it throwed him off a four wheeler. I think it broke his collarbone, broke his arm.

[Narrator]

Randy stops his truck and gets out to check on his neighbor. And that's when David Elmore and his wife Tasha drive by. They look in horror to see Joseph on the ground, bloodied and injured, with Randy standing over him. He's afraid the younger man is going to attack him. With nothing to do and nowhere to run, he resolves to stand his ground. So he reaches into his jacket and pulls out his gun. He aims at David Jr and it.

[Local Resident]

Ends with Randy woods threatening their family that if anyone in their family messes with Randy Woods, Again, Randy's gonna kill somebody. Somebody's gonna die.

[Randy Woods]

It was like Moses parted the water. Everybody got in their car and went home.

[Narrator]

The Elmores leave, but they aren't finished with Randy yet. They're determined to break even. This time, they are the ones who call the police. But without any impartial witnesses or evidence, it leads to another case of one neighbor's word against the others.

[Randy Woods]

Well, a little bit later, he'll come along and they want to know what went on and why I rammed him.

[Local Resident]

Into the tree every time. Kanawh sheriff's office respond. There's been some kind of big incident and there's two sides to the story and it's hard for them to find the truth.

[David Elmore Jr.]

The Elmore side of the story was that Randy had actually struck him and that that's what caused him to lose control and was later injured.

[Deborah Woods]

Randy wasn't even near him. He was going so fast that he ran in and hit a tree.

[Narrator]

But just as the officer turns to leave, David Elmore Jr. Joseph's brother, makes a shocking statement.

[E Trade Ad]

You want proof? We've got proof. We saw the whole thing.

[Narrator]

That's impossible.

[Randy Woods]

David Elmore told the law he seen it happen. There was no way he'd seen it happen. He'd had to be in two places at the same time and it wasn't possible. I didn't ram him into the tree.

[Narrator]

But David's testimony is enough for the police and they moved to apprehend Randy. Come on.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Randy was arrested and eventually did spend some time in jail because he was the one that produced a firearm and threatened Mr. Elmore. He was charged with wanting endangerment. He was allowed to plead guilty to brandishing at that time.

[Narrator]

Randy woods has to spend the next 10 days in jail. When he's released, the whole incident has only added fuel to the fire.

[Local Resident]

By this time, the Elmores and the woods saw this relationship they had as a war.

[Narrator]

And if their feud is an all out war, the two opposing households are about to engage in their bloodiest battle. The feud between Randy and Deborah woods and the Elmore clan seems to have no end in sight.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

There's nothing worse, I don't think, than having a constant feud with your neighbors.

[Narrator]

It begins to impede everyday life for both families. It's a difficult situation for sheriff Michael Rutherford to recall.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

It kept getting more serious and more serious.

[Narrator]

It seems the two families can't go more than a day without some kind of incident. And both sides continue making accusations about the other. Word of the feud quickly spreads in the small community and the local authorities have their hands full keeping the peace. But what can they do when there's no proof to what either side is saying?

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

The Elmores would make certain allegations and Mr. Wood would have his own version of it, a different version of it, one person's word basically against another. We kept trying to get people to calm down. You know, you try to help people, you give them the best advice you can, and quite often they don't take your advice. And it just keeps escalating and escalating. And unfortunately, that happened in this case.

[Narrator]

According to Randy, a few weeks after he's released from prison, another member of the Elmore clan gets involved in the feud. The weather has turned warmer and everyone seems to be enjoying more time outside, including Randy and Deborah, who are enjoying quality time with their grandchildren playing in the front yard.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Hey, there you go.

[Narrator]

According to reporter Lacey Pearson, this is typical of country life. Even when the kids spill out onto.

[Local Resident]

The road, something that's kind of common along these kinds of where there's not a ton of traffic, the kids tend to get out into the roads and kids will be kids.

[Narrator]

And that's when David Jr. S Aunt Cora May comes driving down the road. Just as she's turning a corner, one of Randy and Deborah's grandchildren runs out onto the road. Thankfully, Cora May slams on the brakes fast enough, but the close call still leaves her rattled. And according to Randy, she lets them know all about it.

[Randy Woods]

May or more come out the road. Get them little emmerfers out of the damn road. If you don't get them out of the road, I'm gonna run over top of them.

[Narrator]

That's my grandchild.

[Randy Woods]

Leave my family out of it. If you want me, come at me. But you go mess with my family, you're messing with something that's gonna get you hurt. I don't care.

[Narrator]

Whatever Cora initially said, the dispute quickly escalates and soon Cora May and Randy are in a full fledged shouting match. Fed up, Cora speeds off. But R.A. andy isn't finished giving her a piece of his mind. He gets in his truck and takes off after her, all the way to David Elmore's house. And that's when he comes face to face with the whole clan.

[Local Resident]

And this is where the numbers of the Elmore family really take effect or work against Randy. They block Randy in.

[Narrator]

Randy gets out of his truck and one by one, David Jr. David Sr. And John Elmore surround him on all sides.

[Randy Woods]

Now, I didn't have a gun with me. If I'd have had a gun with me, maybe we'd have stopped and argued, maybe we'd have had words. But it wouldn't have laid out the way it laid out. I didn't know what was going to happen was going to happen.

[Narrator]

Oh, come on. It's a tense standoff until, according to Randy, David Elmore Jr. Makes the first move. And according to Randy, he's armed with a serious weapon.

[Randy Woods]

David Jr. Had a steel pipe.

[Narrator]

What's this all about?

[Randy Woods]

Well, he took a swing and hit me with the pipe. I think the first hit, he hit me, hit me in the head, and that knocked me backwards, hit me in the side of the head, knocked my dendrils out, knocked my hearing aid out.

[Narrator]

The blow is enough to temporarily stun Randy, and soon the rest of the men get involved. Here's Laci Pearson describing the brawl.

[Local Resident]

They start assaulting him with pipes. They knock out his teeth. I mean, like, his ears are almost severed. It's a really brutal and violent attack.

[Narrator]

Feeling they've succeeded in teaching Randy a lesson, the Elmores leave his badly beaten body lying in a heap on their driveway. Through sheer force of will, Randy is able to crawl back inside his vehicle and drive home. When he walks into the house, his wife Deborah is horrible, horrified by the bloody sight.

[Deborah Woods]

When I looked at him, he was barely walking. I don't know how the man even drove home his clothes. He was drenched in blood. I've never seen anybody look as bad as him.

[Randy Woods]

They beat me and left me for dead. My wife called the law, told him what happened.

[Local Resident]

Then again, the Kanawha Sheriff's office responds. They talk to Randy Woods. They talked to the Elmores, and they're again two different sides of the same story.

[Narrator]

Once again, the Elmores claim it was Randy woods who started the whole thing, and they only acted in self defense. Here's Lacy Pearson and assistant prosecutor Adam Petry describing the side of the story the Elmores presented to law enforcement.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Cora Elmore was driving on the road, and Randy then got into a vehicle and chased Cora.

[Local Resident]

So Randy goes to the Elmore property and then the Elmores sort of rally.

[E Trade Ad]

Look around, buddy.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

You're outnumbered.

[David Elmore Jr.]

And Randy goes and grabs a large rock, throws it at David Elmore. It hits him, bruises him, and then a brawl ensues. David Elmore had obtained a pipe and started to hit Randy with it.

[Narrator]

This time, it's not a case of one neighbor's word against another's. It's Randy's word against the entire Elmore clan, who band together.

[Monday.com Ad]

Work management platforms. Ugh. Endless onboarding. It bottlenecks admin requests but what if things were different?

[Narrator]

We found love and in an open space.

[Monday.com Ad]

Monday.com is different. No lengthy onboarding, beautiful reports in minutes, custom workflows you can build on your own, easy to use prompt, free AI. Huh. Turns out you can love a work management platform. Monday.com the first work platform you'll love to use.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Got a new puppy or kitten? Congrats. But also yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemon Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps you cover vet costs so that you can focus on what's best for you and your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in as little as three seconds. Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is.

[E Trade Ad]

Support for this podcast and the following message is brought to you by E Trade from Morgan Stanley. With E Trade you can dive into the market with easy to use tools, $0 commissions and a wide range of investments. And now there's even more to love. Get access to industry leading research and insights from Morgan Stanley to help guide your decisions. Open an account and get up to $1,000 or more with a qualifying deposit. Get started [e-mail] terms and other fees apply. Investing involves risks. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPIC etrade is a business of Morgan Stanley.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].

[Narrator]

Unfortunately, it's impossible for Randy to successfully argue his case when he's so outnumbered yet again, he's arrested. Still riddled with injuries from the beating, Randy is carted away to jail. But he's not the only one facing consequences. One of the Elmores is also headed to the slammer for the brutal injuries inflicted on Randy by throwing that Rock.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Randy took a verbal situation and turned it into a physical situation, which is why he was criminally charged in that. But due to the amount of injuries that Randy sustained in that, David Elmore was also charged.

[Narrator]

David Jr. Is released on bond while Randy faces another 10 days in jail. It doesn't seem fair to Randy and Deborah who insist they're being victimized by the tight knit family. Down the road, the couple struggles to make sense of Randy's repeated incarceration while the Elmores seem to get off scot free.

[Local Resident]

And again he's called the police on the Elmores and again he was arrested. He starts to get really frustrated because he just wants the police to help him, not have to deal with the Elmores basically and just stop the trouble.

[Deborah Woods]

For him to have went to jail is what made me the maddest because he shouldn't have went to jail for something they did. I couldn't get him out of jail for 10 days. He laid there with his head busted. I was scared death he was going to get infection and die on me.

[Narrator]

When he's finally released, Randy is frustrated beyond belief. Not sure what else to do, he prepares to take matters into his own hands.

[Randy Woods]

The law wasn't going to do nothing. We just always wind up being the bad people. They just beat the hell out of me. Something's going to happen this time. This they went too far.

[Narrator]

In the spring of 2017, as tensions between the woods and the Elmores rage in this rural community of West Virginia, tragedy strikes. The Elmores, the patriarch of the family, dies. Here's reporter Lacey Pearson.

[Local Resident]

Around this time, David Elmore Jr's father, David Sr. Passes away pretty unexpectedly. Having your father pass away so unexpectedly would be hard for anyone and it certainly is difficult for David Jr. To deal with. And it seems like the way that David Jr. S grief manifests is not an internal process for him by any means. It seems to play out against Randy woods.

[Narrator]

David Elmore Jr. Is a bundle of grief and rage. And according to Randy and Deborah woods, the next time they encounter David Jr. And his wife Tasha, it all boils over.

[Randy Woods]

We stood there and argued. His wife Tasha jumped on my back. She took her fingernail and scratched the shit outside my head trying to get in my eyeball. My wife jumped and grabbed her by the back of the head and jerked her backwards.

[Deborah Woods]

Honey. I took my keys and slammed it into her and got her by the hair of the head, got her off of his back. She knocked me to the ground and kicked me.

[Narrator]

Deborah succeeds in getting Tasha off. Randy but she suffers greatly and takes several hits herself. When David Jr. And Tasha take off, Randy rushes to where his wife lay bleeding on the ground, her face bloodied and bruised.

[Deborah Woods]

She blocked my face pretty good, and that's the first time I ever been in the middle of a fight. But nobody's going to do that to him. I mean, if I have to, I'll do it again.

[Narrator]

The woods call the police. But once again, with no proof of who started the fight, no charges are laid. The lack of action infuriates Randy.

[Randy Woods]

There was nothing ever done about it. They was allowed to kick my wife in the face and nothing ever done about it. That. That burns you.

[Narrator]

The once peaceful community is now a powder keg ready to blow.

[Local Resident]

Whether they knew it or not, it seemed like the only way this was going to end was for somebody to die, because neither side was willing to back down.

[Narrator]

And in the spring of 2017, this premonition comes true. It's a sunny day, and Randy woods decides to take advantage of it by going for a joyride. He's barreling down the road on his atv, enjoying the fresh spring air. As he turns a corner in the long, winding road, he spots David Elmore Jr. And his wife Tasha, driving home in the opposite direction. Once again, they come head to head on the narrow road, and the scene is set for the final confrontation.

[Local Resident]

Instead of letting each other pass, they just can't let anything pass between them, even air. So they stop.

[Narrator]

What do you want?

[Local Resident]

There's a verbal altercation again with threats against each other's lives, against their families, and nobody thinks they're wrong.

[Narrator]

You don't belong here.

[Randy Woods]

Get that ATV off the road.

[Narrator]

And then Randy takes the argument one step too far for David Jr. Who's still grieving his father. You keep talking like that, you're gonna see your daddy real soon. It's the final straw. David Jr. Has had enough.

[Local Resident]

David Elmore. His resolution to this conflict is to grab the flag, first thing that he can find in his car.

[David Elmore Jr.]

At that point, David pulls out a can of wasp Killer.

[Randy Woods]

I knew what was coming. He sprayed me in the eyes of the bug spray.

[Narrator]

Randy is temporarily blinded. He fumbles around for something to defend himself with, and his shaky hands wrap around the weapon he's carrying.

[Randy Woods]

I said, oh, hell no. To myself or to them too. And I defended myself. I reached down and got the gun. I brought the gun around.

[Narrator]

Randy aims it blindly in the direction of David Jr. S car. David Jr. Strikes again with the wasp spray. Once again, Randy is temporarily blinded. He decides he has to take action.

[Randy Woods]

When he sprayed me the second time I pulled the trigger, I heard screaming, and I figured I got. This is in my brain thinking, I got somebody. I just hit somebody. I didn't know how, what, when, where. I didn't know what was coming. My thought was, get the hell out of there.

[Narrator]

Randy hits the gas on his ATV and speeds home as fast as he can with his vision dangerously blurred. Once he walks through the front door of his house, he immediately calls 911. What you're about to hear is the actual recording of the call he made.

[Sheriff Michael Rutherford]

911.

[Randy Woods]

I believe I just shot somebody. Okay, you just shot somebody. Well, they attacked me. I had a pistol and I pulled the trigger. And they were screaming when I left. So I don't know what I done to who, but I'm not staying out there and getting the hell beat out of me.

[Narrator]

Randy doesn't know who he shot or if they've survived. Sergeant Michael Knapp tells us what the police discovered during their investigation.

[David Elmore Jr.]

According to Randy, he can't see, but as he fires a shot, it goes through Cora's left forearm and then enters and exits. Her forearm travels through and then also strikes Mr. Elmore in the chest. After the shooting occurred, Tasha tries to put pressure on David Elmore's wounds.

[Narrator]

Tasha desperately tries to keep David Jr alive, but it's no use. David Elmore Jr succumbs to his injuries and passes away in his wife Tasha's arms. Randy woods is arrested for murder. Two years after the shooting, he goes on trial, where he's finally able to argue his case.

[David Elmore Jr.]

Randy woods eventually pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and that is an intentional killing. But it didn't. It doesn't have the malice or the premeditation.

[Deborah Woods]

He didn't go out there to shoot him on purpose. You know, it was a bad accident. It's just one big nightmare.

[Narrator]

In the end, Randy woods takes a plea deal and is sentenced to five years in prison. The whole ordeal leaves the rural community shaken to its core, as Sheriff Rutherford can attest to.

[David Elmore Jr.]

If either one of them wouldn't have stopped in the road and kept going, if the Elmores wouldn't have stopped, or if Randy wouldn't have stopped and they would have just kept going their ways, going back to their homes, and this would never occurred.

[Narrator]

Still, years later, the Elmore family is left devastated by the loss of David Jr.

[Randy Woods]

I wish it was different. I feel sorry for his kids because they grow up without a daddy, no matter what he was or who he was that was Daddy. I hate that'll happen, but I didn't do it. They done it.

[Narrator]

While incarcerated, Randy's health quickly deteriorates. He is released from prison after two and a half years and returns to his property on Laurel Forks Road, where he and Deborah still live today.

[Local Resident]

By the time Randy woods reached a plea deal and was sentenced, he'd spent enough time in jail that he got credit for time served, and he only ended up spending one more year in the state's custody before he was released.

[Narrator]

Over time, normalcy has returned to the winding mountain trail. While Randy is still haunted by the events of that day, he does his best to exist in the present and tries each day to put the events of the past behind him.

[Randy Woods]

I don't know how many years God left us on this earth, but we're going to enjoy them and they ain't going to put us down for it. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life in misery because I pulled the trigger.

[Narrator]

But things aren't always that cut and dry. The fatal showdown that took place that spring day serves as a brutal reminder of the tragic consequence that can come from an unresolved feud.

[Local Resident]

Yes, this was a murder. A tragedy certainly, certainly happened here. But nobody's hands were completely clean. There was no goodwill or good faith between these families.

[Narrator]

Fear Thy Neighbor is produced by Cream Productions in association with Fremantle Media for id. Subscribe and take a moment to leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts and watch Fear Thy Neighbor on ID and max.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

Support for this podcast and the following message is brought to you by E Trade from Morgan Stanley. With E Trade you can dive into the market with easy to use tools, $0 commissions and a wide range of investments. And now there's even more to love. Get access to industry leading research and insights from Morgan Stanley to help guide your decisions. Open an account and get up to $1,000 or more with a qualifying deposit. Get started [e-mail] terms and other fees apply. Investing involves Risks Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPIC E Trade is a business of Morgan Stanley hey, it's Marc.

[Randy Woods]

Maron from WTF here to let you know that this podcast is brought to.

[E Trade Ad]

You by Progressive Insurance and I'm sure.

[Randy Woods]

The reason you're listening to this podcast.

[E Trade Ad]

Right now is because you chose it well.

[Narrator]

Choose Progressive's Name your price tool and.

[E Trade Ad]

And you could find insurance options that fit your budget so you can pick the best one for your situation.

[Randy Woods]

Who doesn't like choice?

[E Trade Ad]

Try [e-mail] and now some legal info progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law not available in all states.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad]

This podcast is brought to you by Aura. By the time you hear about a data breach, your information has already been exposed for months. On average, companies take 277 days to report a breach. That's nine months where hackers have access to your personal data. That's why we're thrilled to partner with Aura. Aura is an all in one digital safety solution that monitors the dark web for your phone number, email and Social Security number, sending real time alerts if your info is found. It also includes a vpn, password manager and data broker removal. To help keep you safe for a limited time, Aura is offering a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for [e-mail] safety that's aura.com safety to sign up and protect your loved ones. That's a u r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.

[Narrator]

Acast Powers the World's Best Podcasts Here's a show that we recommend hey guys, we have an exciting announcement about our podcast. For the past seven years, the Holderness Family Podcast has been the most favorite thing we do.

[David Elmore Jr.]

We love getting to talk to experts.

[Narrator]

We love having meaningful conversations just the two of us. And we also love hearing from you. But the thing we love most is being a place where you can laugh.

[Monday.com Ad]

A lot has changed in the last.

[Narrator]

Seven years and we feel very lucky that our audience is growing older with us. So in the spirit of that, we are relaunching our podcast. We are excited to introduce Laugh Lines with Kim and Penn Holderness.

[David Elmore Jr.]

The Laugh Lines podcast will be all about aging together better and also being able to laugh about getting older.

[Narrator]

We hope you'll join us. Search Laugh Lines with Kim and Pen Holderness New episodes every Tuesday. ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.