Backyard Blood

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fear Thy Neighbor – "Backyard Blood" (May 25, 2026)

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Episode Overview

"Backyard Blood" explores how a seemingly minor neighborly dispute in suburban Pennsylvania spiraled over decades into paranoia, rage, and ultimately fatal violence. The episode centers on Scott Robbins, who returns to his childhood home with his new family and finds himself reliving—and escalating—a long-standing feud with his backyard neighbor James Delavecchia. Through interviews with family, neighbors, and survivors, the story unravels the deep roots and devastating outcome of this "neighbor from hell" case.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Returning Home (01:30–06:46)

• Scott Robbins, a master mechanic, moves back into his family home in Ridley Township after nearly 20 years, accompanied by his new wife Teresa and her two teenagers, Michael and Kristen Snow.
• The Robbins are warmly welcomed by all neighbors except for James Delavecchia, who gives Scott a notably cold reception.
  • Quote [02:51] Virginia Robbins: "We could run up and down the streets, ride our bikes all over... Anybody knew everybody."
• Scott's proactive, helpful approach to neighbors only seems to deepen the divide with James.
  • Quote [06:11] Michael Snow: "He was always looking to help, no matter who it was."

2. The Grudge and Early Tensions (06:46–14:23)

• Delavecchia is described as a meticulous, confrontational man with a decades-old grudge against Scott—stemming from an incident where he accused Scott of stealing his son's bicycle.
  • Quote [10:49] Jim Robbins: "He had a problem with my son. Evidently, he must have had some kind of a problem with me, but it never came to the surface."
• The Robbins’ family events—such as Michael’s graduation party—trigger James, evoking memories of youthful Robbins boys' noisy parties and pranks.
  • Quote [13:08] Scott Robbins: "I just want to say how proud I am my stepson."
  • Police are called multiple times due to noise complaints.
• Delavecchia openly accuses Scott of bullying, and threatens, "I’m not gonna take it anymore. You hear me?" [14:03]

3. Escalations: The Boat and the Shed (15:10–26:38)

• Scott receives a fishing boat, which becomes a new flashpoint.
  • James leaves nails under the tires ([16:39]) and repeatedly complains, leading to the authorities asking Scott to move the boat.
    • Quote [16:32] Jim Robbins (on Delavecchia): "He's just like a bulldog. He bites onto it and he won’t let go."
• James repeatedly tries (and fails) to rally other neighbors against Scott. When that doesn't work, he attempts to sabotage the boat, including lighting paper on fire atop it ([18:45–19:13]).
  • Quote [19:01] James Delavecchia: "You should be supporting me."
• Increasing surveillance and tension prompts Scott to build a shed for privacy, which Delavecchia objects to, alleging it blocks his view and increases noise.
  • James escalates to calling police nightly at 7:01pm to enforce a construction curfew, to no avail.
  • Quote [24:35] Virginia Robbins: "Everything he tried failed getting Scott to stop building the shed. He didn’t have that power over Scott to get him to stop."

4. Warning Signs and Climax (25:01–29:07)

• Violence edges closer: James nearly runs Scott over with his car ([25:29]).
  • Quote [25:38] Jim Robbins: "He tried to kill him."
• Scott refuses to escalate the conflict via law enforcement, determined to finish his work and live peacefully despite neighbor’s provocations.
  • Quote [26:05] Michael Snow: "I remember Scott saying, 'I have the right to build this shed.' He can’t tell me that I can’t have this shed."
• Listeners hear the process by which neighbors and police begin to realize James might represent a serious threat.
  • Quote [25:01] John Hoffman: "I'm starting to think he's actually dangerous."

5. Deadly Outcome (29:07–36:42)

• October 10, 2011: Predawn, several gunshots echo. Neighbor Francis Freeman is first to find Scott and stepdaughter Kristen, both critically wounded.
  • Quote [29:41] Francis Freeman: "I got on the phone, called 911, 'Hey, hey, there’s shooting outside my house.'"
• Police swiftly arrest James Delavecchia at his home, where he's found cleaning his gun ([31:00]).
• Scott dies during surgery; Kristen survives, but with devastating injuries.
• At trial, James claims self-defense, alleging Scott attacked him first. Eyewitnesses and ballistics disprove this: James ambushed Scott as he left for work.
  • Quote [34:28] Jim Robbins: "Scott opened the door and De Vecchio had been hiding in some shrubbery... came out with his gun. And shot Scott five times in the back."
  • Kristen recounts Delavecchia shooting her, putting the gun to her head, and only stopping when his gun jammed ([36:04]).
  • Quote [36:10] Kristen Snow: "I just looked at him like I couldn’t do anything. I was already paralyzed from the waist down..."

6. Aftermath and Lasting Impact (37:01–39:16)

• James Delavecchia is convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder, receiving life without parole. He dies five years into his sentence ([36:42]).
• The Robbins family is devastated. Kristen endures years of pain and further health complications, ultimately succumbing to her injuries eight years after the shooting.
• The emotional devastation for the survivors, particularly Scott’s widow and father, is palpable.
  • Quote [38:14] Kristen Snow: "He took away my health at 23. I never got my 20s. I won’t have my 30s."
  • Quote [39:16] Jim Robbins: "Scott to me was a son like everybody should have... one time, he says, ‘You’re the best daddy in the world. I love you.’"

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Virginia Robbins [34:55]: "[Scott’s apprentice Rick] rolled under the van... saw white sneakers walking toward the front of the van. So he rolled out and ran."
• Kristen Snow [36:00]: "Even after I was shot, it almost felt like a paintball... But then it traveled through my body. I knew it was bad."
• Michael Snow [38:14]: "He was just a great person. Everyone that... met him outside of Vecchio loved him."

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Timestamps: Important Segments

• 01:30–06:46 – Scott moves home; community background
• 10:39–14:23 – Delavecchia’s grudge history is revealed
• 16:36–19:06 – The "boat incident" and acts of sabotage escalate
• 22:10–24:44 – Shed construction becomes new battleground
• 25:29–25:46 – Near vehicular attack: warning signals rise
• 29:07–31:27 – The shooting and chaos aftermath
• 32:04–36:42 – Courtroom revelations; dispute over self-defense
• 37:01–39:16 – Long-term impact, deaths, and family grief

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Tone and Language

The episode’s tone is deeply empathetic, with interviewees alternating between fond reminiscence, disbelief, and sorrow. The narration maintains suspense and pathos, returning always to the central tragedy: how ordinary disputes—left to fester—can explode into irreversible horror.

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Summary Takeaway

"Backyard Blood" is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of unresolved grudges and neighborly hostility, demonstrating how an obsession with control and longstanding resentment can turn the familiar into fatal territory. The Robbins family’s tragic loss reverberates as a warning and a memorial to the devastating consequences when "petty disagreements pass the point of no return."

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Most violent crimes that capture the public's imagination are about serial killers, mass shooters, or crimes of passion. Yet some of the most shocking conflicts we encounter are between everyday neighbors in ordinary neighborhoods. 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. It's the good life in the Keystone State, in an idyllic suburb where families take root and never leave. Today, it's welcoming back. A man gone many years now returned with his new wife and stepkids to live in the home he grew up in. All of his old friends and neighbors are thrilled to see him back on the block. Well, all but one. Old wounds are reopened and the resulting conflict is fiery, fierce and unrelenting. This is fear thy neighbor. Backyard Blood Ridley Township is a suburb of Philadelphia filled with friendly, active residents. The community is so appealing that families often settle here for generations.

[Virginia Robbins]

We could run up and down the streets, ride our bikes all over, you know, just a lot of close relationships. Everybody knew everybody.

[Jim Robbins]

It was basically a quiet neighborhood. The houses Were single houses, very little traffic in the immediate neighborhood. There was a schoolyard close by and a playground. So that had a lot of things going for the kids.

[Narrator]

That was Virginia and Jim Robbins, sister and father of Scott Robbins, the central figure in this story. After almost 20 years away, Scott is moving back home. Specifically, he's moving back into his family home.

[Jim Robbins]

Scott met Theresa and married her and eventually ended up that they bought our house when we moved out.

[Virginia Robbins]

He was super excited about being able to buy the house and living in the house that he grew up in.

[Narrator]

Scott is a master mechanic, and his wife, Teresa, is a courthouse clerk. Scott's two stepchildren, Michael and Kristen Snow, are just finishing high school.

[Virginia Robbins]

Kristen had a personality a lot like Scott. Just really easygoing, laid back, and just funny. She was a good kid.

[Narrator]

And here's Michael Snow in his own words. As he explains, Scott takes great pride in his family and home.

[Michael Snow]

My mom and Scott, they were happy that, you know, they were going to own their own house after recently getting married. We were all pretty happy about that.

[Narrator]

The move brings back memories of the fun Scott used to have growing up. He came from a big family and spent most days playing with his older brothers.

[Jim Robbins]

Altogether, we had five children. There was three sons and two daughters. My boys used to hang around together, play a lot, you know, play around in the backyard.

[Virginia Robbins]

A lot of the backyards butted up to each other. You pretty much knew what was going on at your neighbor's house.

[Narrator]

James Delavecchia and his wife Diane have lived behind the Robbins family for over 30 years, all while raising two sons of their.

[Jim Robbins]

My house and their house was a good distance. He was around the corner and our backyards adjoined. The one son was named James. The other one was Kenny. They both got to know my two

[Narrator]

boys upon moving in. Scott can't help but notice James. Rather cool reception. But thankfully, other neighbors are ecstatic to see Scott return to the street. Neighbors like John Hoffman.

[John Hoffman]

Now look who's back, Mom. I get so good to see you, Budd.

[Francis Freeman]

Oh, it was great to have him back. I always liked Scott when he came back.

[Jim Robbins]

Yeah, there was Franny Freeman and John Hoffman next door. Everybody you know that he had grown up with was there. Franny.

[Michael Snow]

Hey, buddy.

[Narrator]

It's like old times. Scott is ecstatic to be back, and even more so, he's proud to introduce the people he grew up with to his new wife and stepchildren.

[Michael Snow]

My wife.

[Narrator]

Hi, Lisa.

[Jim Robbins]

Hi, Krista.

[Narrator]

Hi. Once settled in with his family, Scott gets to work on making a positive Impression on the neighborhood. He makes a point of helping neighbors with their lawns, cutting and raking them, sometimes with his stepchildren in tow.

[Scott Robbins]

Oh, hey, Ms. Sanders. I'll meet Christy, my stepdaughter.

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[Jim Robbins]

That's just the kind of guy he was. He just like, if he needed a hand at anything and he knew it, he'd be right there.

[Michael Snow]

He was always looking to help, no matter who it was.

[Narrator]

Scott's neighbors on the street are more than happy to repay the yard work favor, Especially friends John Hoffman and Francis Freeman.

[Francis Freeman]

I would always drop my a case of beer. He would have did it without gifts for sure.

It was something that everyone appreciated and it's very nice of him to do. Didn't have to do it.

[Narrator]

Scott and his kids quickly work their way into their neighbors hearts. With one notable exception. James Dellavecchia still appears to maintain a chilly demeanor with Scott and his family.

[Francis Freeman]

Delvecchio was real fussy with his lawn. See, he didn't like anybody stepping foot on his grass. It was always immaculate.

[Narrator]

I'm sorry.

[Michael Snow]

I think fairly quickly he realized that, you know, he should just, you know, just stay away.

[Narrator]

While James may be cold, his wife Diane is anything but. As neighbor John Hoffman explains, Diane plays the role of peacemaker in her family and tries to make amends for her husband. Come on, don't get started. Thank you for thinking of us. Really, thank you both.

[Francis Freeman]

Oh, she was a great, great woman. Very nice, very sweet woman. I'm sure she felt a little taken back by, you know, his demeanor. He thought he owned the whole neighborhood. I'm sure it was a little frustrating for Scott, but he never wanted to start trouble.

[Michael Snow]

Sorry.

[John Hoffman]

James kind of thinks he owns this street. He just doesn't want you taking over.

[Scott Robbins]

Thanks for the tip.

[Narrator]

James is so hostile towards the family that even Scott's stepchildren seek answers for his behavior.

[Paige from Giggly Squad]

Hey, what's your old neighbor's problem?

[Scott Robbins]

James, don't worry. Just avoid him.

[Virginia Robbins]

Why?

[Scott Robbins]

For some reason, he just never liked him.

[Narrator]

It's true. Backyard neighbor James delavecchia harbors ill will towards Scott Robbins and always has. And as the neighborhood is about to find out, James is not one to let bygones be bygones. Okay, class, let's begin.

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[Francis Freeman]

I think Del Vecchio had it in for Scott since he was a kid and then, especially when he moved back, he had tunnel vision on Scott.

[Jim Robbins]

He had a problem with my son. Evidently he must have had some kind of a problem with me, but it never came to the surface. It was never discussed.

[Narrator]

It's believed the animosity James feels towards Scott goes back decades to when he accused him of stealing his son's bicycle.

[James Delavecchia]

I found my son's bike in the school. We were At. You took it, you little punk.

[Narrator]

I didn't.

[Virginia Robbins]

He decided that Scott had stole it and nobody was going to change his mind. So apparently, because of that, he's probably held a grudge all these years against Scott.

[Narrator]

Even though decades have passed, James sentiments still haven't shifted. To James, the return of the man he believes tormented his children all those years ago is too much to bear. And to make matters worse, the young family can occasionally be noisy.

[Jim Robbins]

They had a graduation party for Michael out behind the house in the backyard.

[Michael Snow]

My friends were invited. My extended family. Scott's cooking on the grill.

[Virginia Robbins]

Just a normal graduation party. Just music and noise of people talking.

[Michael Snow]

Apparently, Del Vecchio had a problem with, you know, the something with the party going on.

[Virginia Robbins]

What's wrong?

[James Delavecchia]

You know what's wrong.

[Michael Snow]

Starting again.

[Narrator]

To James, the sound of a backyard celebration is rather triggering. Back in the day, the Robbins brothers were known for their parties.

[Virginia Robbins]

My older brothers would have some people over and have some parties in the backyard, and of course, you know, music, Laughing.

[Jim Robbins]

They always like to crank up the stereo.

[James Delavecchia]

It's late. Can you turn it down?

[Michael Snow]

They were, you know, doing little things here and there to get in trouble in the neighborhood, but not really anything really bad or dangerous.

[Narrator]

But as Jim Robbins explains, there was one party in their youth where Scott and his older brothers took things a little too far.

[Jim Robbins]

My older boys ended up throwing eggs at his house, and I'm not too proud of that.

[Narrator]

And it would seem James, horrible memories of the Robbins brothers remain fresh to this day.

[Virginia Robbins]

Scott comes back, and they're out in the yard making noise. So it's kind of like he's reliving all of that from years ago. Of course, he's a lot older now, so it's even worse.

[Scott Robbins]

I just want to say how proud I am my stepson.

[Michael Snow]

As the party progressed, Delvecchio started making complaints through the police.

[Narrator]

Following James complaints, the police soon arrive on site.

[Michael Snow]

I'm just gonna have to ask you

[Narrator]

to turn the music down.

[Scott Robbins]

Is it even loud?

[Michael Snow]

I know, sir, but we've gotten three calls from your neighbor already today.

[Narrator]

Our neighbo.

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He's just.

[Stamps.com Announcer]

He's crazy.

[Michael Snow]

Sorry, guys. It's just really weird. Like, what's this guy's deal? Why is he picking Scott? Why is he picking, you know, our family?

[Narrator]

Frustrated, Scott decides to give James a piece of his mind.

[Scott Robbins]

You know something? You're still a jerk.

[James Delavecchia]

Well, you're still a bully. You and your brothers have always been bullies.

[Francis Freeman]

My brothers, evidently, they must have ruffled Del Vecchio's. Feathers because he seemed to have held onto a grudge for those guys. So I'm sure he wasn't happ when Scott moved back.

[James Delavecchia]

I'm not gonna take it anymore. You hear me?

[Francis Freeman]

He just never let go. He couldn't see past the fact that, you know, Scott's a grown man now. He's not a young kid like he

[Virginia Robbins]

was because Scott was the one that brought the noise to the neighborhood. Del Vecchio probably saw Scott as an annoyance. If he could intimidate people and scare people, then he could get rid of the noise.

[Narrator]

But Scott has matured considerably since the days of his youth. He's eager to be a respectful neighbor, and so he shuts down his stepson's graduation party.

[Francis Freeman]

I wouldn't have reacted like Scott did. I mean, I wouldn't have shut it down. That's the way he was. He didn't want any trouble.

[Scott Robbins]

I am really sorry.

[Narrator]

That's okay.

[Jim Robbins]

I'm taking off for the night.

[Scott Robbins]

Okay, go have fun tonight.

[Narrator]

Luckily, Scott has the perfect escape from the tension with his neighbor. As his stepson Michael and sister Virginia

[Michael Snow]

tell us, Scott was a huge fisherman. He fished all the time. Every striper season, he was down fishing off the jetty.

[Virginia Robbins]

It was just relaxing for him, I think, just, you know, in the thrill of the catch. He loved it.

[Narrator]

Naturally, Scott is thrilled when his brother gifts him an old fishing boat. Neighbor John Hoffman recalls his admiration with the boat.

[Francis Freeman]

Oh, he loved it. As soon as he got home from work, he went to work.

[Narrator]

But James Dellavecchia is upset about the boat, even though, as Mike explains, he lives the next street over and the boat is rarely in his sight line.

[Michael Snow]

He would walk around the block, but it was almost as he was purposely coming by our house. Del Vecchio wasn't on our block. He was around the corner.

[Jim Robbins]

Just look at that thing.

[Narrator]

Even neighbor John Hoffman recalls James frustration at the boat.

[Francis Freeman]

I'd see him walking around the corner and always complaining, just chronic complaining to anybody that would listen.

[John Hoffman]

Could use a fresh coat of paint, I guess.

[James Delavecchia]

Fresh coat of paint. You'd take your family out in that wreck.

[Francis Freeman]

It was no bother at all. It was a small boat. He kept it on the street, had a cover on it.

[John Hoffman]

Oh, come on, he's my next door neighbor.

[James Delavecchia]

I don't care.

[John Hoffman]

I've known him for years. You knew him when he was a kid. I think things have changed in 20 years.

[Michael Snow]

No, he would just reach out and try to get other people against Scott.

[Francis Freeman]

He would get all huffy and just leave and then be over another neighbor's complaining.

[Narrator]

When he can't get the other neighbors on board, James takes matters into his own hands.

[Michael Snow]

Del Vecchio did not like the fact that Scott put that boat in the street.

[Jim Robbins]

He's just like a bulldog. He bites onto it and he won't let go.

[Narrator]

One morning, Scott discovers a trap under the vessel.

[Francis Freeman]

Scott came out, and there was nails underneath his tires. Was Del Vecchio. I mean, no one else would do that.

[Narrator]

So Scott decides to confront his backyard neighbor.

[Scott Robbins]

Would you put these under my boat?

[James Delavecchia]

Hey, your boat's parked illegally.

[Scott Robbins]

I'm fixing it up. We're done by the weekend.

[James Delavecchia]

You think I trust you? You are a liar. You always have been.

[Jim Robbins]

The whole time that I lived there, I had no problems with De Vecchio. But now, all of a sudden, here's this guy that hates my son.

[Francis Freeman]

Move the boat.

[Scott Robbins]

No, the boat stays. You stay away from it.

[Narrator]

The next day, James returns, livid to see the boat still there.

[Scott Robbins]

You don't even live on my street.

[James Delavecchia]

Beat it. You're breaking the law.

[Scott Robbins]

I said leave.

[James Delavecchia]

I'm calling the police.

[Scott Robbins]

Go ahead.

[Narrator]

James makes good on his threat. When police arrive, Scott plays it cool.

[Scott Robbins]

Sir.

[Kristen Snow]

Hey.

[Narrator]

I'm gonna have to ask you to move your boat.

[Jim Robbins]

Oh, yeah, sure.

[Scott Robbins]

Sorry about the trouble.

[Virginia Robbins]

He was very respect and courteous to the police.

[Narrator]

To adhere to the bylaw, Scott simply has to move the boat completely onto his property.

[Michael Snow]

Scott, you know, was quick to comply with moving the boat, and when he did, I think it almost made Lavakia more angry because Scott kept the boat.

[Francis Freeman]

I think it amped him up. Delvecchio wasn't getting his way, and I'm sure that fired him up even more.

[Narrator]

Scott may have won this round, but James has no plans to surrender.

[Michael Snow]

Being labeled the mayor of the neighborhood, everyone kind of just appeased him. He acted like it was his place, and you had to do what you know, what he wanted.

[Virginia Robbins]

Scott was just trying to be complacent and smooth it over and not try to cause any more waves and give D'Vecchio any more fuel for his fire yet.

[Narrator]

James has already come up with a new plan of attack. John Hoffman catches him trying to pull it off.

[Scott Robbins]

James.

[Francis Freeman]

It was Saturday morning, and I saw Del Vecchio trying to light a piece of paper on fire, and then he threw it on top of the boat. So I went out, I said, yo, what are you doing? He said, I'm tired of all this junk out here.

[Michael Snow]

What the hell are you doing out of your mind?

[James Delavecchia]

You should be supporting me.

[Michael Snow]

Who does that? Who tries to set someone's boat on fire?

[Narrator]

Scott hears the commotion and comes over to join the conflict.

[Scott Robbins]

Touch my boat again, you're asking for it.

[Francis Freeman]

You know, I thought he should contact the police about it because who knows what's going to be next.

[Narrator]

James behavior is becoming increasingly concerning. Scott's father, Jim tells us his son's family and their neighbors begin to fear for his safety.

[Jim Robbins]

Scott was in a position where he was faced with somebody that wanted to hurt him, and it was getting to be obvious. It just went on, and next thing you know, it ended up being.

[Michael Snow]

It was the first time when the behavior seemed like this guy might not be making good, sane decisions.

[Narrator]

After attempting to set fire to Scott Robin's boat, James delavecchia's anger towards his backyard neighbor continues to fester.

[Francis Freeman]

Everything Scott did was wrong.

[Narrator]

Scott's wife Teresa, reaches out to his father Jim for advice.

[Jim Robbins]

She was very concerned with the fact that he threw something burning in there and tried to, I would assume, tried to set it on fire. I said, yes, definitely. I think you should call the police on that.

[Alltrails Announcer]

Your dad thinks we should report him.

[Narrator]

Grandpa's right.

[Scott Robbins]

I'm not worried about an old crank.

[Narrator]

As Scott's stepson, Michael Snow, explains, his reaction to the conflict isn't unexpected. Scott always tries to rise above the fray.

[Michael Snow]

Scott really wasn't interested in building any type of feud with Delveque.

[Scott Robbins]

It'll sort itself out. Don't worry.

[Michael Snow]

He wouldn't file a report with the police. He would just, you know, shrug it off and, you know, hope that Vecchia found something better to do with his time. Scott, you know, didn't want to escalate things. He was, you know, just wanted to come home, live his life there. You know, he's happy.

[Scott Robbins]

I guarantee you we're going to outlast him. Okay.

[Francis Freeman]

Yeah.

[Scott Robbins]

Come on, let's eat.

[Narrator]

The Robbins family tries to move on and ignore their hostile neighbor. But that's easier said than done, especially now that James is constantly out in his yard, keeping them under close observation.

[Stamps.com Announcer]

What's wrong with that jerk?

[Scott Robbins]

Come on inside. It's okay.

[Narrator]

Neighbor John Hoffman often catches this bizarre behavior.

[Francis Freeman]

I would see him walking by and he'd always be staring up at Scott's. It was a little creepy.

[Narrator]

I feel trapped. Scott comes up with a plan to thwart James's near constant gaze. Not only will the plan grant the family some much needed privacy, but it will also help distract them.

[Michael Snow]

Scott got the idea of building a shed 8 by 16 in the back corner of the to kind of make it like a man cave where he can work on little projects, keep his stuff.

[Virginia Robbins]

The shed was being built in the back corner of the yard, which abutted Dovecchia's property.

[Narrator]

The new construction catches James by surprise, says Scott's sister Virginia.

[Virginia Robbins]

I'm sure the noise was probably amplified to him because it was so close to his house, and I think that's what started his rage.

[James Delavecchia]

Oh, no, no. Stop, stop, stop that. You can't just build there.

[Scott Robbins]

Yeah, I can.

[James Delavecchia]

You're blocking my view.

[Narrator]

Exactly.

[Francis Freeman]

The shed would block Del Vecchio's view of Scott's. So I'm sure that upset Del Vecchio that he couldn't view that anymore. Couldn't keep an eye on them, couldn't complain about anything.

[Virginia Robbins]

The shed was the breaking point. The level of noise that was occurring really agitated him and elevated things.

[Francis Freeman]

I guess he thought he was harmless. Big mistake.

[Narrator]

James delavecchia does everything in his power to stop Scott Robbins from building the structure.

[Francis Freeman]

During the construction of his shed, there were cops out there constantly.

[Michael Snow]

Calls to the police started to increase and a complaint was filed that Scott's working past hours.

[Narrator]

As a result of James complaints, construction on Scott's shed has been ordered to stop by 7pm each night. And as Jim Robbins explains, James takes the 7pm curfew very seriously.

[Jim Robbins]

D'Vecchio must have been standing there looking at his wristwatch. And it's actually on record that 701 that he called that that Scott was still working on that shed.

[Michael Snow]

Obviously the calls up and, you know, make sure that it's up to spec. So code enforcers there checking it out.

[Francis Freeman]

We got all the permits. I'm sure he was meeting code on everything because he wanted to do it right and there wasn't any problem with what he was doing.

[Virginia Robbins]

Vecchio didn't like anything that had to do with noise. It really got under his skin.

[Jim Robbins]

His backyard was his place that he treasured more than anything in the world. Anybody that interfered would pay the price. There was a lot of complaints from D'Vecchio to the police. And it got to the point where I understand the police disregarded his complaints because he kept calling and calling and calling.

[Virginia Robbins]

Everything he tried failed getting Scott to stop building the shed. He didn't have that power over Scott to get him to stop.

[Michael Snow]

And this was probably the first instance where Slovecchio wasn't getting his way completely.

[Narrator]

Instead of giving in to law enforcement's apathy, James's rage spikes Scott was sweeping

[Jim Robbins]

up the driveway and John Hoffman was out talking to him.

[John Hoffman]

I'm starting to think he's actually dangerous.

[Jim Robbins]

Oh, come on.

[HP Announcer]

He's ancient.

[Francis Freeman]

I don't think Scott really looked at him as a threat. I think he looked at him more as just a grumpy old man.

[Narrator]

Scott may not have felt threatened before, but he does now as he looks up and sees James barreling down the street in his car right towards him.

[Jim Robbins]

De Vecchio actually swerved his car and almost ran up on the curb trying to hit Scott.

[Narrator]

Are you okay?

[Jim Robbins]

He tried to kill him.

[James Delavecchia]

What was that?

[Michael Snow]

Scott was always trying to avoid conflict, but he started to get more worried. Things were clearly getting worse.

[Narrator]

While delavecchia's resentment is getting harder and harder to ignore, Scott still won't fuel it by calling law enforcement. And he's determined to finish building his shed.

[Michael Snow]

I remember Scott saying, I have the right to build this shed. He can't tell me that I can't have this shed.

[Francis Freeman]

Everything Scott did bothered him, from cars in the driveway to boats out front, the kids playing ball in his yard, to building a shed.

[Jim Robbins]

Debake could have easily said, look, if you do this or you do that, I won't bother you anymore and we'll be friends and life goes on. But that never happened.

[Narrator]

And no one could have predicted what unfolds next.

[Michael Snow]

I don't think Scott ever really knew that it could come to this. He never really thought it could go to that next level.

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[Jim Robbins]

And there it was, that hologram trading card.

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One of the rarest. The last one I needed for my set.

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[Francis Freeman]

One of a kind.

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[Narrator]

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[Narrator]

The animosity between Neighbors simmers until October 10, 2011, when just before dawn, several gunshots ring out in the neighborhood. Scott's friend and neighbor, Francis Freeman, hears them all from inside his house. Here he is now to explain the chaos that follows the shooting. Had stopped.

[Francis Freeman]

And then I heard a woman's voice calling for help. Just calling for help. I got on the phone, called 911, hey, hey, there's shooting outside my house.

[Narrator]

Francis is first on the scene as he walks around his neighbor's property, he sees Scott bleeding out in his driveway by his work truck. A little further past, he's horrified to see Scott's stepdaughter, Kristen, is also lying injured on the lawn. He checks on Kristen first. Hey, are you okay? Then moves to Scott.

[Scott Robbins]

Scott, Scott.

[Francis Freeman]

Absolute Scotty laying there. His eyes were open. And I told him, you know, it was Franny from across the street. And I held his hand.

[Narrator]

As Francis attends to his injured neighbors, police and ambulance arrive on the scene. Hang in there, buddy. Cops coming. Cops are here. Cops are here.

[Jim Robbins]

Okay,

[James Delavecchia]

let me see your heads.

[Narrator]

Oh, this is Scott Robbins.

[Francis Freeman]

Of course, as a precaution, they had their guns drawn. He came up And I kind of explained the situation. This is Scotty Robbins. You know, this is his house. The officer asked Scotty, you know, who did it?

[Scott Robbins]

Look, you're 1040.

[Michael Snow]

I need an ambulance and multiple officers.

[Scott Robbins]

We have a shooting, two victims down.

[Narrator]

Scott and Kristen are rushed to the hospital while police track down James delavecchio. Jim and Virginia Robbins take us through his arrest.

[Jim Robbins]

The policeman went right around the corner, went to d' Avecchio's house, went in,

[Virginia Robbins]

he was at home. He had run home. And when the police got there, he was upstairs.

[Jim Robbins]

The gun and all his, like, paraphernalia for cleaning it and so forth was sitting out on the bed. My wife said, you might want to come home because Scott's in the hospital and he's been shot. When I got home, for some reason, I just knew it, I felt it, that, you know, that he was going.

[Narrator]

Scott's wounds are too severe. He dies while in surgery. Kristen is critically injured, but she survives.

[Virginia Robbins]

I really just didn't want to believe that it was. That it had actually happened. It's probably one of the other hardest things I've ever done is tell my mom that her son was shot and he was killed and he's not coming back.

[Francis Freeman]

It devastated the neighborhood. I mean, people were just. They couldn't believe it happened.

[Jim Robbins]

All I wanted to do was get my hands on De Vecchio for about five minutes. But of course, that didn't happen. Eventually, the trial began.

[Narrator]

Almost a year after the shootings, James is in court for the first degree murder of Scott Robbins and the attempted murder of Kristen Snow. He claims self defense.

[Virginia Robbins]

James said that he had heard somebody in his backyard. He heard some noise and he said that he heard footsteps, so he grabbed his gun. James said that he followed the footsteps and basically took the long way around the block to my brother's house.

[Narrator]

As James approaches, he says Scott bursts out of his truck and confronts him at the end of the driveway.

[Scott Robbins]

I told you, stop spying on me.

[Virginia Robbins]

He said Scott had come out and started yelling at him and kind of, you know, what are you doing out here and why are you out here? And. And, you know, pushed him around and in the scuffle, he had grabbed his gun and it went off. Kristen ran outside because she heard a noise and didn't know what it was. He said he just saw somebody come out the corner of his eye and I think he just kind of reaction, turned the gun towards her and shot her.

[Narrator]

James admits he fled the scene, leaving Scott and Kristen fighting for their lives, but is adamant it Was Scott who attacked first?

[Virginia Robbins]

I don't think he had remorse for what he did. I don't think it fazed him one bit because he kept saying, I didn't hurt anybody, I didn't do anything wrong. Why did he feel that, you know, murder was the best way to stop somebody from doing something he didn't like? You know, to take another's life is just. Just doesn't make sense.

[Narrator]

When it's the prosecution's turn, they use ballistic evidence to counter James Delavecchia's self defense claim.

[Jim Robbins]

They determined the shooting wasn't done at the end of the driveway. It was done from the bushes where De Vecchio was hiding.

[Francis Freeman]

And he said Scott attacked him, which none of it was true.

[Narrator]

The state also tracks down a key witness who shreds the defendant's account of the deadly incident.

[Jim Robbins]

Scott had a company truck. There was another fella in the truck. It was one of Scott's helpers.

[Narrator]

Scott's apprentice by the name of Rick Wallace was in the vehicle during the shooting. He was getting a ride to work with Scott that morning.

[Virginia Robbins]

His apprentice was sitting in the passenger side. Once they found his apprentice, he told him what had happened.

[Narrator]

According to Rick, Scott was in his driveway just about to climb into the truck.

[Jim Robbins]

Good morning.

[Virginia Robbins]

Took you long enough.

[Jim Robbins]

Scott opened the door and De Vecchio had been hiding in some shrubbery on the side of the house. And he came out with his gun. And shot Scott five times in the back. Two more shots went in, one in each arm.

[Narrator]

Run, Rick, run.

[Jim Robbins]

He told the other kid.

[Francis Freeman]

Run.

[Jim Robbins]

Get out of here.

[Narrator]

Run.

[Virginia Robbins]

Not knowing which way to go, his apprentice rolled under the van. And then he saw white sneakers walking towards the front of the van. So he rolled out and ran the other way. He was just trying to get out of the range of the bullets.

[Narrator]

Neighbor Francis Freeman hears Scott instruct his apprentice.

[Francis Freeman]

I heard, run, Rick, run down. This guy running down the street from Scott's house. It ended up being Rick. And apparently Delvecchi had taken a shot at him, running away too. Thank God he missed him.

[Narrator]

Kristen, who survived the vicious attack, gives a similarly damning testimony. She was alone in the house and explained she came running outside upon hearing the shots. Here she is now to give her account of that brutal day.

[Kristen Snow]

I didn't know they were going to. I really thought it was like kids playing firecrackers.

[Narrator]

James turns to face Scott's stepdaughter and shoots her in the hip.

[Kristen Snow]

Even after I was shot, it almost felt like a paintball like thing. But then it traveled through my body. I knew it was bad.

[Narrator]

And as Mike explains, the attack on his sister doesn't end there.

[Michael Snow]

DelVecchio proceeded over closer to her and put the gun to her head.

[Kristen Snow]

And I just looked at him like I couldn't do anything. I was already paralyzed from the waist down from the.

[Michael Snow]

He pulled the trigger and then when

[Kristen Snow]

he realized his gun was either jammed or out of ammo, he just turned around and walked away. My worst regret is the fact that my dad knew I was hurt and I feel really sad that he had a diagnosis and the last words I heard from my dad was the best he had did it.

[Narrator]

The jury convicts James Della of first degree murder. He gets life without parole and dies just five years into his sentence. Scott's wife Teresa and their children are devastated by their loss. Staying in the house where such a terrible loss occurred is too much for the grieving family.

[Jim Robbins]

Theresa said, I just can't take it anymore because what had happened after Scott was shot as many times as he was, blood just washed, washed down the driveway. And she said, I can't get that out of my mind. She said, I just, I can't take it.

[Michael Snow]

That kind of changed the family forever.

[Narrator]

Michael Snow recounts that for years after the shooting, his sister suffered tremendously from her injuries.

[Michael Snow]

Kristen was in a coma for about six weeks and then she had countless surgeries after she had so much pain

[Virginia Robbins]

and trouble, especially with her one leg. The bullet was still lodged in her hip and they couldn't remove it so she had to walk around with a bullet in her hip. And she just had so many issues with wound healing on her leg and stuff and it just a constant pain.

[Michael Snow]

He used halopoint bullets which are designed to, you know, kick around when it hits flesh. So it completely tore up her intestinal system. Coloscopy bag, you know, the whole deal. They were definitely significant life changing injuries.

[Kristen Snow]

He took away my health at 23. I never got my 20s. I won't have my 30s. I don't have family.

[Narrator]

Eight years after the shooting and during production of this episode, Kristen sadly succumbs to her wounds. Scott and Kristen will be forever mourned by all who knew them.

[Michael Snow]

After trying to work for years, she wasn't able to collect disability despite the obvious injuries. But she, you know, continued on with life, tried to do the best she could and ultimately caught up with her. He was just a great person. Everyone that, you know, met him outside of the Vecchio loved him.

[Jim Robbins]

Well, I can tell you what I lost. Scott to me was a son like everybody should have one time, he says. You're the best daddy in the world. I love you.

[Narrator]

This podcast is produced by Cream Productions in association with Freemantle Media and id. You can check out Fear Thy Neighbor on Max, Discovery plus and id.

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