Blood on the Lawn

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor – Episode: "Blood on the Lawn"

Introduction

"Blood on the Lawn," an episode of the true-crime podcast Fear Thy Neighbor, delves into the tragic unraveling of a seemingly harmonious neighborhood relationship in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis. Hosted by ID, the episode explores how minor disputes can devolve into life-altering and fatal confrontations, underscoring the dark potential lurking behind ordinary facades.

Meet the Neighbors: The Browns and Ed Holzinger

The Browns' New Beginning

Five years prior to the events of the episode, Hannah Brown, her husband Bruce Brown, and their daughter Cecilia relocated from Texas to Minneapolis. Settling into a vibrant community known for its eclectic mix of residents, the Browns enjoyed a peaceful and friendly relationship with their neighbor, Ed Holzinger.

Cecilia Brown (04:42): "My mom, Hannah, she was a stay-at-home mom."

Bruce Brown worked at a local steel manufacturing plant, while Cecilia attended the nearby high school. The Browns were lauded by Bruce's niece, Krista Allen, as embodying the "ideal American family," characterized by stability and warmth.

Ed Holzinger: The Community Pillar

Ed Holzinger, a longstanding member of the community, lived next door to the Browns. Known for his vibrant personality and generosity, Ed was a staple in the neighborhood, often seen assisting others with household tasks and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

Christy (05:28): "Ed was definitely a staple in our summer days where we were supposed to go out inside and play."

Ed's household also included his roommate, Helen, who was more reserved compared to Ed's outgoing nature. For fifteen years, Ed and Helen maintained a functional living arrangement, providing Ed with companionship and Helen with additional income.

The Spark: A Harmless Request Turns Sour

A Simple Favor

The tensions began innocently enough when Ed sought help from the Browns for a lighthearted reason—to enhance his image at work by posing as Bruce's girlfriend in a photograph. What appeared to be a harmless request soon ignited underlying issues.

Ed Holzinger (08:08): "Can I take a picture with you and pretend you're my girlfriend?"

Bruce, aiming to maintain neighborly peace, agreed to assist, believing it was a trivial matter. However, this gesture did not sit well with Helen, who viewed the interaction as inappropriate and immature.

Helen's Disapproval

Helen's disapproval marked the beginning of the neighborhood's descent into conflict. She confronted Ed, expressing strong disapproval of his interactions with the Browns, which in turn strained the once cordial relationship between Ed and the family.

Christy (09:39): "And then a few days after that, Helen came to the house again to let me know that I was making a bad reputation for myself in the neighborhood, looking like a slut."

Escalation: From Lawn Mowers to Verbal Confrontations

The Broken Lawnmower Incident

The catalyst for the escalating feud was a seemingly minor incident involving a lawnmower. Bruce borrowed Ed's lawnmower when his own failed to start. Upon returning it, Ed accused Bruce of damaging the mower, asserting that parts were broken, which Bruce denied.

Ed Holzinger (13:05): "You ruined my mower."

Despite Bruce's attempts to mediate and offer to replace the lawnmower to maintain peace, Ed remained unreasonable, refusing to accept the compromise.

Increasing Tensions and Hostilities

Ed's frustration was compounded by personal issues, including being forced into early retirement from his job. His growing despair led to withdrawal from the community and increased irritability, further straining his relationship with the Browns.

Christy (10:49): "He was going through a rough patch, and we thought he'd work himself out of it just fine."

Ed's outbursts became more frequent and intense, with Helen contributing to the animosity by making harsh judgments about the Browns, particularly Hannah.

Hannah Brown (09:39): "Helen seemed to generally just not take a liking to my mom."

Climax: The Tragic Confrontation

The Final Straw

The conflict reached its peak during a family gathering at the Browns' home. Ed's uncontrolled anger culminated in a physical confrontation when Bruce attempted to defuse the situation by offering Ed a burger, a gesture that Ed perceived as a provocation.

Bruce Brown (32:47): "I'm gonna make him a burger."

As Bruce walked towards Ed with the offered peace token, Ed ambushed him with a canoe paddle, striking Bruce multiple times. Cecilia, witnessing the attack, immediately fled to seek help.

Ed Holzinger (33:29): "You brought it upon yourself. I didn't like it."

Aftermath of the Attack

Despite Cecilia's and Vicki Maneeli's frantic efforts to provide aid, Bruce succumbed to his injuries. Ed, further enraged and unhinged, called the police, falsely claiming self-defense and accusing Bruce of unprovoked assault.

Bruce Brown (23:31): "I don't know what happened to him."

The police, influenced by Ed's intoxicated state and conflicting narratives, took Ed into custody without pressing charges, believing his account over Bruce's.

Resolution: Trial and Reflection

Legal Consequences for Ed Holzinger

In the aftermath, Ed Holzinger faced legal repercussions for his actions. In January 2017, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 261 months in prison.

Kelly (38:13): "Ed Holzinger pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Bruce Brown, and he was sentenced to 261 months in prison."

The Browns' Grief and Community Impact

The Browns were left devastated by Bruce's sudden and senseless death. The incident shattered the veneer of neighborhood harmony, leaving lasting scars on the family and the community.

Cecilia Brown (38:48): "My dad was a hard worker, and I'm a union laborer now. I know he'd think that was pretty cool, so it'd just be nice to hear that from him."

Hannah and Cecilia struggled with their loss, grappling with the reality that their trusted neighbor could harbor such destructive anger.

Christy (38:41): "We lost our future. We lost our present. We lost the right to build a life together."

Conclusion: The Hidden Dangers of Neighborly Relations

"Blood on the Lawn" serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human relationships and the catastrophic consequences that can arise from unresolved conflicts and misunderstandings. The episode underscores the importance of communication, empathy, and intervention before minor disputes escalate beyond control.

Christy (37:35): "It's just ridiculous how far Ed took such a small incident. There's absolutely no reason anyone had to die. It's insanity."

Through detailed storytelling and firsthand accounts, Fear Thy Neighbor captures the essence of how easily trust can be shattered, transforming ordinary neighbors into adversaries with deadly outcomes.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Hannah Brown [05:04]: "Everyone was very helpful and welcoming and really made us feel at home."
• Ed Holzinger [08:08]: "Can I take a picture with you and pretend you're my girlfriend?"
• Hannah Brown [09:39]: "Helen seemed to generally just not take a liking to my mom."
• Bruce Brown [32:47]: "I'm gonna make him a burger."
• Krista [33:19]: "It's your funeral."
• Vicki Maneeli [35:07]: "He was threatening to shoot Krista for trying to save Bruce."
• Christy [37:35]: "It's just ridiculous how far Ed took such a small incident. There's absolutely no reason anyone had to die. It's insanity."

Final Thoughts

"Blood on the Lawn" is a compelling exploration of the dark side of human nature and the unforeseen tragedies that can emerge from everyday interactions. It invites listeners to reflect on their own relationships with neighbors and the importance of addressing conflicts proactively to prevent devastating outcomes.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Christy]

Here's a show that we recommend hey it's Christy and I'm Kelly.

[Kelly]

You might remember us as the OG partners in Crime from Dance Moms.

[Christy]

Well, this is Back to the Bar, the podcast where we drag out every insane, chaotic and iconic moment from the show.

[Kelly]

We're spilling the tea, calling out all the BS and sharing stuff you definitely didn't see on tv.

[Christy]

New episodes drop every week, and yes.

[Narrator]

We'Re laughing through the drama for once.

[Kelly]

Follow grab a drink and join us as we go back to the bar.

[Narrator]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com 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. 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. How can you sleep at night when the person you fear or hate the most lives right next door? Some call it the North Star State, others the land of 10,000 lakes. We're in the Twin Cities with a family that's been thriving in their home for several years and enjoying a great relationship with the bachelor next door. From sharing stories and beers on the porch, lending each other a helping hand whenever needed. Things couldn't be better between the two households until a borrowed item returned in disrepair sours friendships and sets off what quickly becomes an intractable conflict. Still, no one could have imagined the sudden, shocking violence to come that will finally end the dispute and Death for one and lingering despair for many. This is fear thy neighbor. Blood on the lawn. Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River, Minneapolis is a big city with a bigger heart. Journalist Rose Semenov explains, It's a mix.

[Kelly]

Of the old and the new. You have a warehouse district, an arts district, and in between all of that, you have all these little residential areas.

[Narrator]

Hannah Brown, a central figure in today's story, speaks to the town's eccentricities.

[Christy]

You find a little bit of everyone. You'll see guys with 3 foot tall blue Mohawks helping little old Polish women across the street. Very much small town in the middle of a big city. Everyone just knew each other and took care of each other and kept an eye out.

[Narrator]

Hannah, her husband Bruce and daughter Cecilia moved here from Texas five years ago and are glad they did.

[Christy]

We did feel very safe. There wasn't crime, there wasn't police cars going by in the middle of the night. We were happy.

[Bruce]

Anybody want a burger?

[Kelly]

Me, yeah.

[Narrator]

Bruce works at a nearby steel manufacturing plant while daughter Cecilia attends the local high school. Hannah is devoted to her daughter and makes sure she's there for Cecilia every day when she returns home. Here's Cecilia now.

[Cecilia]

My mom, Hannah, she was a stay at home mom.

[Narrator]

Bruce's niece, Krista Allen, has nothing but great things to say about the Browns.

[Krista]

It was a good family dynamic, structured, stable and loving. It would be the ideal American family.

[Christy]

We were always out grilling, barbecuing in the summer and just said hi to everyone who walked by.

[Narrator]

Bruce and Hannah have made a good life in Minneapolis and have no plans to ever leave.

[Christy]

Everyone was very helpful and welcoming and really made us feel at home. We had friends in the neighborhood and everyone just kind of lived their little lives.

[Narrator]

Residing next door to the Browns is Ed Holzinger, a colorful character who's been a fixture in this community for decades.

[Ed Holzinger]

Hey, something smells good over there.

[Christy]

We were pretty close with Ed. He was just always very helpful. If there was anyone I was going to borrow a cup of sugar from, it was going to be him. He was a gateman for a cabinetry company. He must have really liked his job because he was willing to drive an hour, hour and a half each way.

[Cecilia]

Everyone who lived on the block knew him for sure. He was definitely a staple in our summer days where we were supposed to go out inside and play. We were at Ed's house.

[Christy]

The kids loved chatting with Ed. He'd sit outside on his front steps and give him popsicles and hear all their silly little stories and watch them play Football. Ed really took a lot of pride in the way he cared for his lawn and in trying to make the neighborhood look nice. Anytime we were working in the yard, Ed was right there to help out. He was very much an older man that was looking out for us the way an older man would look out for his family.

[Narrator]

Ed has more space than he needs, so he rents a room in his house to a woman named Helen. Here's journalist Rose Semenov again to explain the arrangement.

[Kelly]

Ed lived with Helen for about 15 years. While they were not romantic, they were roommates for that time.

[Narrator]

It's a great arrangement that provides Ed a bit of extra income and a little company.

[Christy]

They took very good care of each other. She made sure he ate well, she kept the house clean.

[Narrator]

But according to Hannah's daughter Cecilia, Helen is the opposite of the gregarious Ed. More reserved, Helen prefers to keep to herself.

[Cecilia]

Helen, she didn't reach out to us the way that Ed did. She would spend a lot more time in the yard, but not saying hi to anybody.

[Christy]

She has a strong personality and she could be difficult to deal with from time to time, but she was generally always well meaning, looked out for the neighborhood.

[Narrator]

All the while, the Brown family is becoming increasingly close with Ed. Even though there's a 20 plus year age gap between them. Bruce and Ed have developed a unique kinship of their own.

[Christy]

Bruce and Ed had very early shifts and were home pretty early in the afternoon. They'd have a couple beers.

[Kelly]

They had that casual relationship where, you know, they might meet up, shoot the breeze a little bit and chit chat.

[Krista]

Aunt Hannah was would dress nicely because she took pride in her image. So did Cecilia. They both were not afraid to show how lovely they looked, but they also did it in a classy manner.

[Narrator]

One day, Ed appears in Bruce and Hannah's yard seeking to enlist them in a bizarre plan to impress his colleagues at work.

[Ed Holzinger]

Hey, guys.

[Christy]

Hey, Ed. What's up?

[Ed Holzinger]

I was wondering if he could help me out.

[Christy]

Okay, what is it?

[Ed Holzinger]

Can I take a picture with you and pretend you're my girlfriend?

[Christy]

Ed was telling the guys at work that he had a new girlfriend and he needed some sort of proof. And I said, oh, yeah, sure, why not?

[Narrator]

According to Vicki Maneeli, Bruce's relative and mother to Krista Allen, it all seems like harmless fun. Bruce even helps make the photos happen.

[Vicki Maneeli]

Bruce was like, yeah, honey, go ahead, do that. It'll be funny. I tell you what, I'll hold the phone and I'll take the picture.

[Narrator]

But not everyone is in on the silliness Ed's tenant, Helen, is watching from their yard, and she's not impressed.

[Cecilia]

Apparently it had upset Helen. Probably thought that it was immature. Probably didn't like that she was getting close to Ed.

[Christy]

She had very strong opinions, made judgments about people.

[Cecilia]

She could have been jealous over the fact that he was giving attention to my mom.

[Narrator]

When Ed returns home after the photo session, Helen gives him an earful. What was that? You should stay away from her. That's outrageous. A married woman carrying on like that.

[Cecilia]

Helen seemed to generally just not take a liking to my mom.

[Christy]

She was absolutely blowing it out of proportion. She seemed to think that anyone who wasn't living their life exactly the way she thought they should was definitely beneath her.

[Narrator]

And according to Hannah, Helen wastes no time letting her neighbor know what she thinks about the whole encounter.

[Christy]

And then a few days after that, Helen came to the house again to let me know that I was making a bad reputation for myself in the neighborhood, looking like a slut. And I really can't be going around paying attention to other men when I'm married. I knew that eventually things would go back to normal and everything would be fine. But for now, it was. It was an annoyance.

[Narrator]

The awkward encounter is soon forgotten. But the next one won't be. It begins with Bruce needing to use Ed's lawnmower after his fails to start.

[Cecilia]

My mom had asked my dad to mow the lawn, but had been left in the rain.

[Bruce]

Hey, Ed, my mower's not working. Can I borrow yours?

[Ed Holzinger]

Yeah, sure. Let me go get it.

[Christy]

So Bruce went down to borrow Ed's lawnmower. Bruce mowed the lawn, brought it back.

[Narrator]

Yet by the time Bruce returns the mower. Ed's day has taken a devastating turn.

[Bruce]

Hey, Ed, what's going on?

[Ed Holzinger]

I gave them the best years of my life.

[Christy]

They were trying to push him out at work and force him into early retirement. And he was more than a little upset about it.

[Ed Holzinger]

And now I've got nothing.

[Bruce]

It'll be all right.

[Narrator]

Ed's sudden and harsh new reality sends him spiraling.

[Christy]

I think he saw himself as going from being a hard working bachelor to. To being a lonely old man.

[Cecilia]

Ed's life started to pile up a bit more. It seemed that he just generally started to withdraw from the community around him.

[Christy]

He was going through a rough patch, and we thought he'd work himself out of it just fine.

[Narrator]

But sadly, that's not the case. The Browns are about to find out that their once idyllic neighborly relationship with Ed has soured beyond repair.

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[Christy]

It's not.

[Kelly]

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[Narrator]

Over the next few days, Ed continues to fall deeper into despair. And when his frustration spikes, Ed's neighborly favor blows up in Bruce's face.

[Christy]

It was absolutely nothing that turned into an incredibly life changing event.

[Ed Holzinger]

Hey Ed, you ruined my bower.

[Bruce]

What are you talking about? No, I didn't.

[Ed Holzinger]

You know what you did and you're gonna pay for it.

[Christy]

Ed came down and he told Bruce the Lawnmower blade had 3 inches broken off on each end.

[Cecilia]

There was nothing wrong with it.

[Christy]

When he gave it back, he was pretty upset.

[Bruce]

The mower was fine when I dropped it off. What's your problem?

[Cecilia]

My dad probably generally believed that there might have been something wrong with lawnmower, but he wasn't the one who did it.

[Ed Holzinger]

You need to get me a new mower dude.

[Bruce]

You need to back off. I didn't do anything to your mower. And if there's any damage to it, it probably happened when Helen was using it.

[Narrator]

Hannah Brown explained why it's possible the lawnmower could have been broken under Helen's care.

[Christy]

Between our house and Ed's, there was an empty lot. Helen would take care of it to earn a few extra dollars on the side. And in that lot there was a steel pipe that came up out of the ground and then she found the damage to the lawnmower. So we had assumed that if it had been damaged at all, that's how it got damaged.

[Narrator]

But the Brown suggestion is immediately shot down by an uncharacteristically irate.

[Ed Holzinger]

Ed, that's ridiculous. This is your problem.

[Cecilia]

I don't know why he wouldn't think that Helen was a possibility.

[Bruce]

If it's such a big deal, I'll get you a new mower. You'll give me the broken one to.

[Christy]

Keep the peace, Bruce offered to pay for the lawnmower. There was no reason not to spend a couple hundred dollars on a new lawnmower. He valued his friendship with Ed, and he valued the happiness of the neighborhood.

[Narrator]

And so the Browns put forth a compromise.

[Christy]

But if we broke it and we're buying it, we want the old lawn mower.

[Ed Holzinger]

I'm not falling for a stunt like that. And you're not getting my mower.

[Christy]

I think it was a few things. He was having difficulty at work. He was going through a change of life, making him more upset than he needed to be about something with a simple solution.

[Narrator]

After Ed's outburst, Bruce and Hannah keep their distance, hoping time and space will help him calm down. But their daughter Cecilia believes their neighbor has no intention of moving on.

[Cecilia]

I did notice that he spent a lot more time outside just drinking beers. He did drink beforehand, but he didn't have the whole case sitting next to him.

[Narrator]

For Ed, this feud isn't just about a lawnmower. It's also about respect.

[Christy]

I think he's very angry that he's not getting his way, and I don't think he was used to the younger generation not automatically respecting their elders and doing whatever they're told.

[Narrator]

Bruce and Hannah just want peace on the street. But journalist Rose Semenov claims that wish is now unattainable.

[Kelly]

Bruce, he loves his family, and he wants to make sure that they're safe. But it appears that, you know, the tensions continued to rise. And perhaps he didn't know this neighbor as well as he thought he did.

[Narrator]

Not getting any satisfaction from Bruce, Ed soon picks a new target for his wrath.

[Cecilia]

Since my dad didn't want to go Ed's way with fixing the lawnmower situation, Ed went down to our place and knocked on the door and got my mom out there and tried convincing her to do things his way.

[Christy]

Ed, you startled me.

[Ed Holzinger]

Hannah, I need my mower fixed.

[Christy]

He showed me a lawn mower blade. He was more than a little upset.

[Ed Holzinger]

It's unusable, Ed.

[Christy]

There's nothing that I can do about it. This is between you and Bruce. I was a little annoyed. Dealing with his lawnmower was at the bottom of my to do list, and it was probably Helen who broke the mower. So I Politely let him know. I'd discuss it with Bruce and we'd let him know what we were going to do about it.

[Ed Holzinger]

I'll be back.

[Christy]

This is the sort of thing that he would have wanted to talk about for hours. He didn't have a whole lot going on in his life, and so an incident like this really took precedence. I think he's refusing the solution because he's not thinking clearly. He was looking for a reason to be upset.

[Narrator]

If the broken lawnmower wasn't aggravating enough for Ed, his increasingly tense living situation with tenant Helen is making matters worse. What are you doing over there? What does she have to say?

[Cecilia]

Helen was always just a cranky old lady.

[Ed Holzinger]

Who do you think you are? Stay out of my business.

[Narrator]

Increasingly, the once friendly and copacetic neighborhood is giving way to animosity and resentment. Here's journalist Rose Semenoff to explain.

[Kelly]

There was tension also within the home. Whatever friendship they had is now just a lot of animosity. It's just definitely not making the conflict go away.

[Christy]

I think Ed and Helen may have been a little co. Dependent on each other.

[Krista]

Helen felt the need to be overly opinionated towards my aunt about her behavior, and she also felt comfortable enough to invade her space.

[Narrator]

When you're trying to pick up in that outfit.

[Christy]

Excuse me?

[Narrator]

You heard me. Bruce's relative, Vicki Manelli cites the toll the verbal criticisms took on Bruce and his wife.

[Vicki Maneeli]

I know for Hannah, it was making her very stressed. A lot of anxiety. How dare you? Who are you to judge? And if you are judging, are you that lonely and miserable or jealous that you need to do the sew?

[Krista]

Your home is supposed to be where you're safe. Your home is supposed to be where you feel comfortable. And at this point, you can't even be in your yard.

[Christy]

And it was you who wrecked the mower. Nope.

[Narrator]

It was your fault. I'm not trying to blame it on anybody.

[Christy]

Blame it on Bruce and I is pathetic. Helen. I think she saw it as her against us. I think Helen was trying to instigate something and Bruce took the bait. When he came, he was more than a little upset. You broke the damn mower.

[Bruce]

Hey, stop that. What's going on?

[Christy]

You know what? I don't want to hear it. Get back at your house. The fact that something so small and insignificant was boiling over was absolutely ridiculous and adolescent.

[Narrator]

I don't want to see your face anymore.

[Bruce]

Who the hell does she think she.

[Cecilia]

Is to come home from work and have to hear about the lawnmower once again? He was annoyed.

[Narrator]

Bruce knocks on Ed's door, determined to put the escalating feud behind them once and for all. But his neighbor is having none of it.

[Ed Holzinger]

What the hell are you doing? Get out of here.

[Bruce]

We got a problem here?

[Ed Holzinger]

Yeah, we got a problem. Problem is you owe me a mower. Are you kidding?

[Bruce]

This is more than a mower.

[Christy]

Ed felt entitled to tell anyone in the neighborhood to do anything. He thought he had been there for a very long time, and he felt like he was king of that castle.

[Vicki Maneeli]

Bruce can put up with a lot of stuff, and he has put up with a lot of stuff over the years, but Ed would not let it go.

[Ed Holzinger]

Get off of my property.

[Narrator]

Once again, the two men fail to resolve things. The neighbors, who were once thick as thieves, part with no end to the conflict in sight.

[Kelly]

And after Bruce goes back to his house, Helen hears Ed talk about how he's just been pushed over the line. His buttons have been pushed, and they've been prodded.

[Cecilia]

I think that everything was just building up for him. He just couldn't really deal with it anymore.

[Narrator]

And Ed isn't the only one who's let the altercation fester. Bruce is also falling apart under the weight of the ongoing dispute. Vicki Maneeli explains.

[Vicki Maneeli]

It was probably extremely frustrating. What's gonna happen next? Am I gonna go outside and somebody's gonna come assault me verbally? It had to have been just horrible.

[Bruce]

Am I wrong here? Am I going crazy?

[Vicki Maneeli]

Now they're feeling like a prisoner in their home.

[Christy]

I was worried about how far Ed was going to take things. He wasn't looking for resolution. He was looking for a reason to be angry. And he was going to keep going until he got his idea of justice.

[Narrator]

One day, after some liquid courage, Ed decides he's ready for the next round.

[Cecilia]

Ed had obviously had quite a few beers.

[Ed Holzinger]

Where's my money, you son of a bitch?

[Bruce]

Ed, give it a break.

[Christy]

He was a bit of a drinker, although this was much worse than his usual. Go home.

[Bruce]

You're in no state.

[Christy]

Ed wasn't in his right mind. We were just riding out the storm.

[Narrator]

Bruce manages to send Ed back home, but only moments later, he returns, and he's angrier than ever.

[Ed Holzinger]

I'm not finished with you yet.

[Christy]

Bruce, let it go. Just ignore him.

[Bruce]

Go home and stay home.

[Cecilia]

He's walking him back to the fence. Tell him to go home.

[Narrator]

This time, Bruce has run out of patience.

[Ed Holzinger]

Hey, Bruce, Come out and act like a man, you wimp.

[Vicki Maneeli]

Bruce is only going to take so much before he pushes back let's go.

[Narrator]

In an instant, Bruce grabs a canoe paddle from his porch and threatens to strike his neighbor with it. Instead of backing off, journalist Rose Semenov tells us Ed takes the standoff to a new level.

[Ed Holzinger]

You know, your women really get around.

[Kelly]

He said some unsavory comments about Bruce's wife and also made a sexual comment about their 15 year old daughter.

[Christy]

Ed yelled, your daughter just got done sucking my.

[Narrator]

Bruce is a family man who will go to the ends of the earth to protect his wife and daughter. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows him that Ed's inappropriate comments push Bruce over the edge.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And that's a line that you do not cross with a father or and a husband. That's not a line that you need to even remotely cross.

[Kelly]

Ed pushed Bruce over the line too far this time and I heard a whack.

[Cecilia]

He beat him with a canoe paddle.

[Ed Holzinger]

I'm calling the police.

[Kelly]

Ed then went over to his house. He called 911.

[Narrator]

When authorities arrive, Ed tries to convince them the attack was unprovoked and claims Bruce assaulted him out of nowhere.

[Ed Holzinger]

I was attacked. I'm not the one you should be talking to. It was him. He did it.

[Cecilia]

When the cops came, Ed was too drunk to really even defend himself.

[Narrator]

The way Bruce sees it, Ed deserved it and is likely too inebriated to accurately recall what transpired. So he makes a bold decision. He lies to police to avoid being arrested.

[Bruce]

I don't know what happened to him.

[Christy]

Bruce denied it. He said he didn't know what happened to Ed's arm, that he was drunk as a skunk and had probably tripped.

[Bruce]

But look at him. He's a drunken mess.

[Cecilia]

My dad told cops that he probably fell over and hurt himself.

[Narrator]

Initially, Bruce's risky plan goes off without a hitch.

[Kelly]

They listened to Bruce when he said that he hadn't hit him at all.

[Christy]

And the police left. There were no charges brought.

[Ed Holzinger]

This isn't over.

[Christy]

He felt that he needed vindication and that he had a reason to hate Bruce even more.

[Kelly]

At this point, Ed is starting to think of something and it's not going to end peacefully.

[Narrator]

Bruce has the same feeling, justified in his actions, but fearing what might come next. And no one could predict just how far things are about to go.

[Bruce]

Ed crossed the line. He did that.

[Cecilia]

He probably felt good to be able to hit him. But I have to suspect that by doing that, he knew that things weren't going to get any better.

[Christy]

They told Bruce, for the sake of peace, call it done and hope to move on. Ed was so angry about so many things and he was so far from sober. I don't think Ed would have been receptive to reconciliation at all at this point.

[Narrator]

Days pass in the Minneapolis neighborhood, yet time heals no wounds.

[Kelly]

The situation is not calming down and it continues to build and build and build. Bruce is getting more and more angry about the comments that Ed had made about his family.

[Cecilia]

Everyone's too upset. No one was taking a step back to reason. And that's where things really lose their sense of control.

[Christy]

Ed spent a good three days straight that I don't think he was sober at all.

[Narrator]

The next time the two men encounter each other, it's Bruce who ups the ante.

[Kelly]

He told some neighbors about Ed and to kind of watch out.

[Bruce]

Careful when you go past that guy. That sicko likes kids.

[Cecilia]

Because of what Ed had said about me, my dad called him a pedophile. He hit my dad with some hard words and my dad hit him with a hard word back.

[Ed Holzinger]

Yeah, whatever. That's crap.

[Narrator]

Ed holds out his phone and throws the once playful photographs he took with Hannah in Bruce's face.

[Ed Holzinger]

Plus his wife's a cooler. I got the photos to prove it.

[Christy]

I do know that Ed always enjoyed his interactions with the children in the neighborhood, and he always took special care to make sure that he was above suspicion. His interactions were always on the front step, not even in the screened in porch. He made sure never to invite the the children in the house. They could never use the bathroom. They always had to go home. So for Bruce to call him a pedophile would have been especially insulting to Ed.

[Kelly]

Ed is not happy that Bruce is calling him a pedophile, and Bruce is just upset about the words that he's made about his family. This all could have been avoided if everyone had just kind of paused and maybe just let the tempers settle down.

[Narrator]

Settling down is not in the cards. On the contrary, things are about to reach the point of no return.

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[Kelly]

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[Christy]

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[Kelly]

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[Narrator]

Bruce lost a beloved cousin just a few months earlier. And now Vicky has come bearing mementos.

[Bruce]

Oh, my gosh, you brought the box.

[Vicki Maneeli]

We needed to take things to Bruce that belonged to my husband, Tommy. They were very close. Even though they were cousins, they were raised like brothers.

[Christy]

And it was so nice to have them up and visiting and get them away from their own mourning and grief.

[Vicki Maneeli]

When we first arrived, it was nice, it was fun, it was exciting. Everybody was happy to see everybody.

[Krista]

Uncle Bruce is like, ooh, we're gonna barbecue. Cause that's what this family does.

[Vicki Maneeli]

We're talking about Tommy and good Times and start prepping things for the burgers.

[Narrator]

As the reunion gets underway in the backyard, Hannah and Cecilia leave to take Cecilia to her driver's education class. I gotta go learn how to drive.

[Krista]

The car so I can borrow it.

[Christy]

Yeah. Ten and two, she knows.

[Bruce]

All righty. Who's hungry?

[Narrator]

I am for sure.

[Bruce]

Burgers, corn. Yeah, both. Got it all. Put it here.

[Krista]

It was a very happy, comfortable moment that we were having.

[Bruce]

There is the burger and there is the Bruce burger.

[Narrator]

The small family get together is barely underway before they're paid a surprise visit.

[Krista]

And then Ed comes out.

[Ed Holzinger]

Having yourself a little party. It's nice to see the ladies coming in. Come on.

[Bruce]

Come on, Ed, Give it a break.

[Ed Holzinger]

A break? That's something you know about. Where's my money?

[Narrator]

What's happening.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And he's like, well, my neighbor and I are having some problems. He didn't want to deal with him right then. We had come all the way up from Texas. We were here on a much more important and deeper matter.

[Ed Holzinger]

You're a loser.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And then he informs me that the guy's been saying really nasty things about Cecilia and Hannah.

[Ed Holzinger]

Where are the girls? When are they coming back?

[Bruce]

How dare you pull this bs. Just leave us alone.

[Ed Holzinger]

How can I leave you alone when you're in my face?

[Bruce]

Deal with it.

[Ed Holzinger]

Deal with it. I'll show you how I deal with.

[Narrator]

Furious Ed storms into his house. Bruce assures his guests his belligerent neighbor is all bark, no bite and best ignored.

[Krista]

He's not gonna ruin our time. It's just drama. It's not worth it.

[Vicki Maneeli]

Bruce had already fired up the grill and we were fixing the burgers.

[Christy]

Bruce knew that eventually he just needed time to sober up and cool down. And then everything would be fine.

[Narrator]

Moments later, Ed returns the to his backyard, now brandishing a handgun.

[Ed Holzinger]

Yo, dirtbag, play some better music. Some stripper music.

[Narrator]

Vicky and Krista cower from the weapon, but Bruce considers it just another toothless gesture in their ongoing dispute.

[Bruce]

Don't pay any attention. Hey, Krista, you are about to have the world's best burger.

[Krista]

He was ignoring him. Uncle Bruce thought that he was kidding. He thought it was a joke.

[Vicki Maneeli]

He's not going to do anything. Bruce is laughing.

[Narrator]

Moments later, Ed's tenant Helen appears in the yard and discovers the bizarre scene.

[Christy]

Ed was sitting and Helen asked him what he was doing.

[Narrator]

Ed, what's going on?

[Ed Holzinger]

He's just pushed me too far. It's either him or me.

[Narrator]

Helen has seen this blow hard side of Ed countless times, so she dismisses it and heads to her room.

[Christy]

She knew him as well as anyone was going to, so she went and took a nap.

[Narrator]

Ed resumes his taunting of his neighbor, but Bruce just brushes it off.

[Ed Holzinger]

What are you making?

[Narrator]

Burgers.

[Bruce]

You want one?

[Ed Holzinger]

Why don't you come over and find out?

[Bruce]

Will you take some cheese with it? Better yet, how about a big fat pickle on it?

[Ed Holzinger]

Bring it over then.

[Narrator]

Apparently tiring of this latest squabble, Ed goes back inside his house. As Bruce continues grilling, he makes an ill considered decision. Niece Krista Allen explains.

[Krista]

Bruce looks at me and says, I'm gonna make him a burger. I was like, why? Why would you do that? He's obviously not happy with you.

[Bruce]

It's all good.

[Narrator]

It's all good.

[Krista]

He was trying to make Ed laugh And de escalate the situation.

[Narrator]

Bruce, don't.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And I told Bruce straight up, I said, don't do that. I said, don't even go over there. I said, just leave it alone.

[Bruce]

It's all good. It's all good. This will shut him up.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And he goes, he'll probably calm down because, you know, I'm taking him food.

[Krista]

And so I was like, okay, it's your funeral.

[Narrator]

Bruce doesn't realize it yet, but he's about to walk right into Ed's trap.

[Christy]

And he walked out of the gate towards Ed's house.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And you can hear Bruce go, yo, I brought these to you. Then you hear two shots. Ed was waiting for Bruce to come around that corner. Bruce is walking over mid sentence, and just nothing. You hear nothing except the gunfire.

[Kelly]

Ed pulled out a gun, shot him twice, and Bruce fell to the sidewalk.

[Krista]

At first I felt like I couldn't move, and then I took a breath and I instantly turned around and I looked where Bruce had started walking, and without hesitation, I started to run.

[Vicki Maneeli]

Krista just barreled past me. And she didn't hesitate. She didn't think. She just went straight to where Bruce was laying.

[Narrator]

Bruce's family finds him bleeding out on Ed's sidewalk. Krista tries to render aid. Vicki soon joins her.

[Christy]

I got you.

[Kelly]

Okay?

[Christy]

I got you. It's gonna be okay.

[Krista]

I tried to stop the police bleeding. I tried to apply pressure. Bruce was just staring at me in a. And he. He was still breathing.

[Narrator]

All the while, Ed is standing watch, waving his gun around.

[Ed Holzinger]

He can't help him.

[Christy]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Ed Holzinger]

He had it coming. Why don't you get lost before I have to shoot you next?

[Vicki Maneeli]

And he was calling her names and telling her he was going to shoot her.

[Christy]

What have you done?

[Ed Holzinger]

He brought it upon himself. I didn't like it. You saved him. About me harming kids and that stuff.

[Krista]

He called me a pedophile. Now he's gonna die.

[Christy]

Are you crazy?

[Ed Holzinger]

Yeah, well, watch out or you'll be next.

[Narrator]

The scene is a frenzy of chaos. Krista and Vicky are terrified, but they're desperate to save Bruce. As they explain, it takes everything they have in them to ignore Ed's threats.

[Vicki Maneeli]

He was threatening to shoot Krista for trying to save Bruce. I'm screaming at him, and all I keep thinking is, point the gun at me. God, just don't let him shoot my child.

[Narrator]

The commotion seems to have brought the entire block out of their houses.

[Krista]

I didn't stop screaming. I saw neighbors come out to the street.

[Christy]

Call 911. Someone call 911.

[Narrator]

Multiple neighbors frantically summon police. But Bruce is running out of time.

[Vicki Maneeli]

And all of this commotion and this happening, I'm thinking, oh, my God, Hannah's not here. The last thing I want to do is, is to tell Hannah that Bruce has been shot. And I don't want to do it on a phone call. And I had no choice but to.

[Cecilia]

We were on the way home, we get a phone call from Vicki.

[Christy]

Hello?

[Cecilia]

And Vicki goes and just shot Bruce.

[Christy]

What?

[Cecilia]

And I'm looking at my mom, and I'm like, what does that even mean?

[Krista]

I didn't stop applying pressure. I still kept talking to him, telling him not to give up, that he wasn't allowed to die. But I knew that there was nothing I could do.

[Narrator]

Ed finally puts his gun away and returns inside. Police arrive and arrest him without incident, reports journalist Rose Semenov.

[Christy]

This is the police.

[Bruce]

Come out with your hands up.

[Kelly]

He immediately puts his hands up and they take him away. And he pretty much tells the police right there, he knows he's going to jail.

[Narrator]

Just as Ed is being carted away in a police cruiser, Hannah and Cecilia turn onto their street. They're horrified to see the entire block awash in emergency vehicle lights. Even worse, as they get closer, they see paramedics on their front lawn attending to Bruce.

[Christy]

To just go from running errands to seeing your husband bleeding out on the sidewalk in front of your house.

[Vicki Maneeli]

When the paramedics got there, we both knew Bruce was not gonna make it.

[Narrator]

Bruce Brown dies of his injuries as his wife, daughter, and relatives look on.

[Christy]

No. I saw the light leave his eyes. I knew he was dead. But it didn't feel real until they said it.

[Kelly]

I don't think anyone would have ever expected something so tragic to have stemmed from something as simple as a lawnmower being broken.

[Christy]

It's just ridiculous how far Ed took such a small incident. There's absolutely no reason anyone had to die. It's insanity.

[Narrator]

All are left shocked and devastated by such a sudden and senseless loss.

[Krista]

It was no longer a let's plan a week together to we have to plan a funeral.

[Vicki Maneeli]

You go through the motions. You put one foot in front of the other. You do what you're supposed to do, and you do it until you're able to feel again. Because until then, you're just numb.

[Narrator]

In January 2017, Ed Holzinger stands trial for the murder of Bruce Brown.

[Kelly]

Ed Holzinger pleaded guilty to second degree murder for the death of Bruce Brown, and he was sentenced to 261 months in prison.

[Narrator]

After the incident, Ed's tenant Helen moves away from the neighborhood.

[Christy]

Helen was there. She knew how upset Ed was getting. It should have never happened.

[Narrator]

Bruce's family does their best to carry on and rebuild, but the emptiness of life without him will haunt them forever.

[Christy]

We lost our future. We lost our present. We lost the right to build a life together.

[Cecilia]

My dad was a hard worker, and I'm a union laborer now. I know he'd think that was pretty cool, so it'd just be nice to hear that from him.

[Christy]

You have to let the grief out, and you have to be brave enough to move on, because otherwise you've let them kill you too. They've taken enough. Don't let them take what you have left.

[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 and id. ACAST powers the world's best podcasts.

[Christy]

Here's a show that we recommend.

[Kelly]

Hey, it's Christy and I'm Kelly. You might remember us as the OG Partners in Crime from Dance Moms.

[Christy]

Well, this is Back to the Bar.

[Narrator]

The podcast where we we drag out.

[Christy]

Every insane, chaotic and iconic moment from the show.

[Kelly]

We're spilling the tea, calling out all the BS and sharing stuff you definitely didn't see on tv.

[Christy]

New episodes drop every week and yes.

[Narrator]

We'Re laughing through the drama for once.

[Kelly]

Follow grab a drink and join us as we go back to the bar.

[Narrator]

Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.