Murder in the Outback

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Murder in the Outback" – Fear Thy Neighbor

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Murder in the Outback," Fear Thy Neighbor delves into the tragic transformation of a peaceful Australian farming community into a scene of lethal conflict. Hosted by ID, this episode recounts the harrowing true story of how minor disputes between neighbors escalated into deadly violence, profoundly affecting families and the entire town of Tonkillo, South Australia.

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Background of the Community and Main Characters

Tonkillo, a serene town nestled in the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills, is portrayed as a close-knit community where everyone knows each other and mutual support is the norm. Nick Scahill describes the area:

"It's nice, lush, green, really nice scenic area. I've been told it looks a lot like sort of Napa Valley and things like that." ([03:31])

At the heart of this story are the Scahill family, particularly Kevin Scahill, a sociable and generous sheep farmer who moved to Tonkillo after separating from his wife. Kevin is remembered fondly by his family and friends:

"He was a great dad. He took a lot of interest in Nick and Marley. I know he often caught up with both of them and went over for tea and read books to the grandchildren." – Jane Rowland ([05:48])

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The Neighborly Arrangement and Onset of Conflict

The tranquility of Tonkillo begins to unravel when Darren Lorkey moves in next door to Kevin. Unlike Kevin, who is outgoing and welcoming, Darren is described as reclusive and prefers solitude:

"Darren Lockie was a bit of a seclusive sort of person. You could tell he was a bit of a homebody, I suppose." – Marley Scahill ([06:49])

The initial interactions between Kevin and Darren are cordial. Kevin extends a warm welcome, hoping to integrate Darren into the community:

"Hey there. Hey, neighbor. How's she going, mate? Hey, neighbor. I'm Kevi. Looks like we, we share a fence there, eh?" – Kevin Scahill ([06:35])

However, tension arises over a shared fence between their properties. Kevin proposes a cost-sharing arrangement to install a privacy fence, but Darren opposes this, suggesting other repairs like drainage should take precedence:

"Who even cares about this fence when your drainage looks like this?" – Darren Lorkey (implied) ([09:07])

This disagreement marks the beginning of escalating tensions between the two neighbors.

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Escalation of Tensions and Confrontations

Environmental factors exacerbate the feud when severe flooding hits Tonkillo in 2017 due to neglected stormwater drains:

"In 2017, we had a fair bit of rain, probably one of the worst years for, like, flooding through our drainage systems." – Nick Scahill ([10:50])

Darren blames the shared fence and inadequate drainage for his property's flooding, pressuring Kevin to address the issue urgently. Frustration mounts as unaddressed problems lead Darren to take unilateral actions, such as digging trenches to divert water:

"Lorchy started arguing about whose responsibility was the fence." – Narrator ([09:13])

Kevin confronts Darren after discovering the trench on his property, retaliating by throwing dirt onto Darren's doorstep:

"So he got all the dirt and flicked it on Lorky's door." – Nick Scahill ([14:36])

This act signifies the breakdown of any remaining civility between the once-friendly neighbors.

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The Crime: The Murder

The ongoing feud reaches a violent climax when Kevin returns home to find his truck stuck in the trench Darren dug:

"His truck gets stuck in the driveway." – Narrator ([13:23])

Curious and frustrated, Kevin investigates and confronts Darren, leading to a heated exchange. The situation spirals out of control during a confrontation one evening:

"Come on, it's on." – Kevin Scahill ([30:28])

Darren, armed with a replica SKS rifle and a knife, stabs Kevin multiple times, resulting in his death:

"Darren Lorkey stabs his neighbor multiple times." – Narrator ([30:39])

Kevin's friend, Philip Rowland, arrives at the scene, attempts to aid him, and contacts emergency services, but tragically, Kevin is pronounced dead at the scene:

"Kevin is pronounced dead at the scene." – Narrator ([32:26])

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Investigation and Trial

In the aftermath, Darren Lorkey claims self-defense, alleging that he was attacked by Kevin and others:

"He was defending himself." – Darren Lorkey (implied) ([29:04])

Initially, Phil Rowland and another witness, Ronnie Burton, support the Scahill family's account, asserting that only Kevin and Philip were present during the altercation. However, procedural delays prevent their critical testimonies from being submitted promptly, allowing Darren to remain free on bail for two years:

"Phil's statement was taken on the night, but courts had no record of it until like March of the next year." – Nick Scahill ([38:37])

During the trial, Ronnie Burton's testimony corroborates Philip’s account, debunking Darren’s claims of multiple assailants. Consequently, on February 4, 2019, Darren Lorkey is found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison:

"On February 4, 2019, Darren Lorkey is found guilty of murder." – Nick Scahill ([40:56])

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Aftermath and Impact on the Families

The murder leaves the Scahill family and Philip Rowland grappling with profound grief and trauma. Nick Scahill moves into his father's house, attempting to cope with the loss while dealing with the haunting proximity of the crime scene:

"I've put up big fences so I don't have to look at Lorkie's house." – Nick Scahill ([41:16])

Philip Rowland endures nightmares and emotional distress, struggling to recover from the traumatic event:

"I still struggle with it. It's just always there." – Phil Rowland ([42:30])

The family honors Kevin's memory through regular gatherings and continues to navigate the lingering pain of his untimely death:

"Since everything, it's been a big, long road out of grief and trying to mend." – Nick Scahill ([43:29])

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Conclusion

"Murder in the Outback" serves as a poignant exploration of how ordinary, neighborly disputes can escalate into extreme violence with devastating consequences. The episode highlights the fragility of community bonds and the profound impact that unresolved conflicts can have on individuals and their families. Through the tragic story of Kevin Scahill and Darren Lorkey, Fear Thy Neighbor underscores the importance of addressing conflicts early and the potentially lethal outcomes of neglecting such issues.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamp Attribution

• "It's a really small country town. You sort of blink and you miss it." – Nick Scahill ([03:31])

• "He was a great dad. He took a lot of interest in Nick and Marley." – Jane Rowland ([05:48])

• "Darren was a bit of a seclusive sort of person." – Marley Scahill ([06:49])

• "Who even cares about this fence when your drainage looks like this?" – Nick Scahill ([09:07])

• "So he got all the dirt and flicked it on Lorchy's door." – Nick Scahill ([14:36])

• "Darren Lorkey stabs his neighbor multiple times." – Narrator ([30:39])

• "He's a replica one, and I only shot bloody bbs." – Nick Scahill ([23:33])

• "Phil attempted to ring me, but I didn't hear the call." – Jane Rowland ([31:34])

• "Ronnie was walking from his house to his mum's house." – Nick Scahill ([40:29])

• "It still affects us to this day." – Nick Scahill ([41:33])

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Final Thoughts

"Murder in the Outback" is a sobering testament to how quickly and disastrously neighborly relations can deteriorate. Through detailed narratives, personal testimonies, and emotional recollections, Fear Thy Neighbor effectively captures the essence of this tragic event, offering listeners a deep and engaging account of the fragility of peace within communities.

Transcript

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[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, 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? Today's story takes us to the opposite side of the globe. In a small southern Australian town built on hard labor and good friendships, a sociable sheep farmer gets a new neighbor, and initially it seems like the newcomer will be shepherded into the flock of friends. But the camaraderie soon sours when an arrangement leaves one neighbor feeling like they've been fleeced by the other. And when it rains, it pours. Mudslinging and hurled insults soon turn to fistfights and threats with deadly Weapons. Culminating in a blood soaked night of terror, leaving the once peaceful community shattered. This is fear thy neighbor. Murder in the outback. With its rolling hills and groves of gum trees, the small farming community of Tonkillo, South Australia, is an oasis perched on the edge of the vast Australian outback. Here's residents Nick Scahill and Phil Rowland to explain.

[Nick Scahill]

It's a really small country town. You sort of blink and you miss it. But it's surrounded by the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills. It's nice, lush, green, really nice scenic area. I've been told it looks a lot like sort of Napa Valley and things like that. Barossa Valley. Yeah. South Australia's wine region.

[Marley Scahill]

Yeah. Everyone knew everyone and looked out for each other.

[Narrator]

That's Marlee Scahill. She's the sister of Nick. The Scahill family is at the center of this week's story. As Marley explains, her father, Kevin Scahill is enjoying the country life after separating from his wife.

[Marley Scahill]

I remember him being happy that he bought a house and was pretty keen to move. He chose to move to Tunquillo because he just liked the small country community town and they had a good pub there. And the farm he just started working on was in Tunquilo as well.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi was a sheep shearer. He did a fair bit of shearing in his early days.

[Narrator]

That's Phil Rowland again. He's the owner of the farm Kevin Scahill works at in Tongkillo.

[Phil Rowland]

He came to work for me about 17, 18 years prior to this. We were very good friends.

[Marley Scahill]

Yeah. Loved to work on the farm. Work with sheep. Yeah, he just loved to work and socialize.

[Narrator]

And when he's not working on the farm, Kevin loves visits from Marley and doting on his grandchildren.

[Nick Scahill]

Marley, so good to see your love.

[Marley Scahill]

He loved being a grandpa. It's the first time I seen my dad cry was when I brought my daughter home from the hospital.

[Nick Scahill]

Think my grandbaby would like it?

[Narrator]

It's perfect.

[Phil Rowland]

Yeah.

[Nick Scahill]

Put it in the car for you.

[Marley Scahill]

You've outdone yourself, dad.

[Narrator]

Here's Nick Scahill again.

[Nick Scahill]

Really good dad. Just had love for all of his friends and family. Help anyone out with anything they ever needed. Yeah, he just had like a sort of lust for life.

[Narrator]

Another big fan of Cavan Scahill is Phil Rowland's wife, Jane.

[Jane Rowland]

He was a great dad. He took a lot of interest in Nick and Marley. I know he often caught up with both of them and went over for tea and read books to the grandchildren.

[Narrator]

For the doting father and grandfather. Life is paradise.

[Phil Rowland]

He was loving life. He was going very well. He was happy.

[Marley Scahill]

He was a good Aussie bloke.

[Narrator]

And that paradise gets a new addition when Darren Lorkey moves in next door.

[Nick Scahill]

It was approximately two years after dad had bought the house, then he'd moved in.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi's neighbors were fairly close to him, the houses were fairly close together, and.

[Narrator]

He'S quick to welcome Darren to the area.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi knew most of his neighbors and got on well with them.

[Narrator]

But Darren isn't as friendly as Kevin.

[Nick Scahill]

Hey there. Hey, neighbor. How's she going, mate? Hey, neighbor. I'm Kevi. Looks like we, we share a fence there, eh? Hi.

[Marley Scahill]

Darren Lockie was a bit of a seclusive sort of person. You could tell he was a bit of a homebody, I suppose.

[Narrator]

Now all the lone wolf wants is peace and quiet. Darren hopes that his new home in Tonkillo will deliver.

[Nick Scahill]

Let me grab a box for you, eh? I'll grab a big one for you, mate.

[Narrator]

Despite his neighbor's aloof demeanor, Kevin gives him a warm reception there.

[Nick Scahill]

No tip required. Well, this time anyway. You really need to know how much of a larrikin dad was. Always had a big smile on his face, always cracking a joke. Just sort of typical fun loving farm boy really.

[Phil Rowland]

If you did right by him, he'd always do right by you.

[Narrator]

Within the neighborhood, Kevin, known by close friends as Kevi, is known as a social butterfly. Here's Phil's wife Jane to explain.

[Jane Rowland]

He was very kind. He'd often go visit lonely friends just to spend time with them and cheer them up. He would do anything for anyone.

[Narrator]

To Kevin, friendship is everything. And in his neighbor Darren Lorkey, he hopes to find another. Shortly after Darren moves in, Kevin extends an invitation. Not only does he hope to befriend his new neighbor, Kevin even welcomes him onto his property.

[Nick Scahill]

Dad had invited him over for the chat.

[Narrator]

At first, the day passes without a hitch.

[Nick Scahill]

My dad wanted another neighboring friend first glances. Yeah, it all looked like sort of picture perfect.

[Narrator]

But the good times are short lived when Kevin takes the opportunity to bring up a property issue.

[Nick Scahill]

My understanding was the original discussion was just about a fence.

[Phil Rowland]

Just a common rural fence, like just plain wire fence. Kevi was after more of a privacy fence hire fence.

[Narrator]

It's an impressive project, but one that's too expensive for Kevin to cover alone. So he comes up with a solution.

[Nick Scahill]

Well, given that we share the fence, I thought, you know, let's split it. Now is a few grand okay? Is this why? You invited me over. You want how much? Yeah, it's pretty much. Where it escalated was when he said, oh, let's go halves for the fence.

[Phil Rowland]

Lorchy started arguing about whose responsibility was the fence.

[Narrator]

And the squabble escalates when Darren counters Kevin's suggestion with demands that he prioritize other repairs.

[Nick Scahill]

Who even cares about this fence when your drainage looks like this? Darren wanted the pipe work done before the fence. Dad's argument was, I don't want to put pipe work in. If we're then doing holes for fence posts, we might go through the pipework. Look, I hear you, mate, I hear you, but if we did things your way, we. We'd cause a freaking flood. Lorchy just went off saying, nut you need to figure out this water. You need it. During the argument, there would have been a point where dad had reached his threshold and it would have just, oh, fuck you then. That's enough. Get off my property. Gladly.

[Narrator]

This type of blowout is a first for the otherwise popular Kevin Scahill.

[Nick Scahill]

I don't think he had any problems with any other person at all, let alone a neighbor.

[Narrator]

The two have only lived beside each other for a short time, and already peace has come to an end. Following the argument with his neighbor, Kevin Scahill takes no further action to repair the fence splitting their properties.

[Nick Scahill]

He probably wanted his fence up, but this goal was being so difficult that he just thought, no use causing a big deal about it. So then he just sort of let it go.

[Narrator]

It seems that Darren Lorkey doesn't intend to further agitate his neighbor either.

[Nick Scahill]

It was calm for a while, day to day. They didn't really interact at all.

[Narrator]

I don't think for now, there's peace in Tonkillo, but Mother Nature has other plans.

[Nick Scahill]

In 2017, we had a fair bit of rain, probably one of the worst years for, like, flooding through our drainage systems. They hadn't cleaned any of the stormwater drains, so everything backed up and then backed everyone's sewage tanks up. And yeah, it got pretty bad for a few people.

[Narrator]

And one of the houses most affected by the flooding is Darren Lorkes.

[Phil Rowland]

Most of the houses in Tunkkela on that side the hill would have had water issues.

[Nick Scahill]

A lot of people were really stressing out and depressed because heaps of people were having insurance troubles.

[Narrator]

Darren searches for the source of his property's flooding, a search which leads him directly to the fence he shares with his neighbor.

[Phil Rowland]

The water would run down the hill into Kevi's place and then through into Lorchy's place.

[Narrator]

Making things worse is the fact that the drainage between the properties was never updated. The relentless soaking has left everyone in Tonkillo on edge.

[Nick Scahill]

Lor he had approached dad saying, how about you hurry the up and get this drainage done?

[Narrator]

But as far as Kevin is concerned, Darren already had a chance to contribute to repairs.

[Nick Scahill]

Dad had then brought back up about the fence, saying, I'm not doing it until the fence is done because of the recent floods. And that I'm guessing it would have just been eating away at Lorchy. Each bit of water would have been making it harder to hold his anger.

[Narrator]

Darren Lorkey isn't just going to sit back and watch the ruin happen.

[Phil Rowland]

Lorchy would have known Kevi's movements from day to day. When we were shearing sheep, he would leave his place at sort of 6:30 in the morning, wouldn't get home till sometime 7, 8 o' clock at night.

[Narrator]

Darren uses his neighbor's work schedule to his advantage.

[Phil Rowland]

Darren was going across and digging trenches to divert the water and that was done while Kevi was at work. There was no way of diverting the water out of Kevi's place. The problem was a lot further up the hill.

[Narrator]

By digging the trench along Kevin's driveway, Darren believes he has finally diverted the floodwaters path away from his property.

[Nick Scahill]

I'm guessing he wanted at least a a conclusion and he was fucking trying to finish it for him.

[Narrator]

Though Kevin Scahill is friendly by nature, he isn't one to be pushed around.

[Marley Scahill]

My dad wasn't scared of many things. It was quite a tough sort of guy.

[Narrator]

One day, as Kevin returns home from a long day of work, his truck gets stuck in the driveway.

[Nick Scahill]

His tires fallen in the trench. He said he came in and his car was on the side and he was going on here already.

[Narrator]

Dealing with a lingering hip injury from his motorcycle in 2005, the last thing the sheep shearer needs is to slip and hurt himself again. He's curious to know what caused his truck to get stuck. So he slowly gets out and looks around and that's when he sees the latest modification to his property.

[Nick Scahill]

He's noticed what Lorch he's done. There's a big trench going upside his driveway. He's gone from bottom all the way to the top.

[Phil Rowland]

It would be terrible for Kevi to come home and see something going on in your yard while you've been at work.

[Narrator]

Kevin is quick to confront his rival. The normally calm Kevin Scahill has been pushed to his limit. At first he was willing to make peace with his neighbor. Now he's out for revenge.

[Marley Scahill]

Yeah, dad did retaliate.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi was getting quite frustrated with Darren.

[Jane Rowland]

I guess he wanted revenge.

[Nick Scahill]

It must have just been eating him away. He just must have bursted.

[Narrator]

His weapon of choice comes in the form of a shovel.

[Marley Scahill]

Was retaliation sort of thing. You dug a hole in my property, I'm gonna dig a hole in yours.

[Nick Scahill]

So he got all the dirt and flicked it on Lorki's door.

[Narrator]

For the two neighbors in Tongkilo, Australia, life is about to become an all out war.

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[Narrator]

As Nick explains, the Latest infraction has pushed his father to the brink.

[Nick Scahill]

Normally he would have found that funny. And the whole thing, he would have been like, oh, he's a bit of a dickhead and had a smile about it. This was just different.

[Marley Scahill]

My brother actually sent me a few photos of the hole that was in Darren's lawn. And we were both laughing about it.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, we had a bit of a laugh about the dirt on the door, thinking it was funny.

[Marley Scahill]

But it's not funny now, I guess, now that you think about it.

[Narrator]

But Kevin Scahill's victory is short lived. Soon after, he's on the phone with his son Nick when Darren Lorkey confronts him about the new damage to his property.

[Nick Scahill]

Hey, my yard is a wreck. Quiet, man. I'm talking to me son. You could hear commotion going on, but it was unintelligible sort of stuff. I couldn't hear what was being said, but there was someone ranting and raving in the background. You could tell he wasn't right. This guy's freaking me out.

[Phil Rowland]

Darren just seemed very strange. Strange sort of person to pick a fight. Just senseless.

[Narrator]

And as the unseasonable rain persists in Tonkillo, Darren's property continues to flood unabated.

[Jane Rowland]

I can imagine Darren Lorkey was quite angry and upset.

[Narrator]

Soon, Kevin returns home to discover even more upheaval.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi told us that he went home and the trench had got deeper while he was at work.

[Narrator]

Once again, Kevin blames his neighbor.

[Nick Scahill]

Now, is this what you do when I'm out making an honest living, eh?

[Narrator]

But Darren denies the accusation.

[Phil Rowland]

I think Kevi was just frustrated with the neighbor. He wanted Lara arguing over. I believe that Lorchy was just out to agitate Kevy.

[Narrator]

If Kevin wants to protect his property, he needs to step up his game. But before he can get the chance, his problems go from bad to worse. Now each night when he returns home, there's more damage to his land.

[Phil Rowland]

Quite often to be said that, you know, things have been altered and moved around and for somebody to be going onto the property is isn't right. The only person it could have been would have been Lorki entering into his property.

[Narrator]

For Kevin, this is the last straw and he's prepared to take things to the next level.

[Nick Scahill]

He'd started ordering cameras. He's felt the need to put up multiple cameras.

[Narrator]

Darren takes this development as an invasion of privacy. But all Kevin believes he's doing is standing his ground.

[Nick Scahill]

Dad was definitely fearing for his safety. He just knew this guy's off.

[Narrator]

He hopes his cameras will deter his neighbor from tampering with his property.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevin, he would talk about it all the time at work, about the neighbor, about Lorchy. He was concerned. He was worried. That's why he had cameras of Kevi being Kevin. He would not take any time off work and he would, you know, wouldn't let us down in the.

[Narrator]

With the shearing and tensions with the man next door only continue to grow.

[Phil Rowland]

I think it was just a build up from Darren. He just wanted to get Kevy.

[Narrator]

Despite his new cameras, Kevin still feels like his property is under attack.

[Marley Scahill]

He would have been pretty pissed off about that, I think.

[Narrator]

But Darren doesn't have time to worry about Kevin's issues.

[Nick Scahill]

Darren was being so difficult that dad just thought too hard. Don't worry about it.

[Narrator]

Even though the drainage remains in disrepair, fixing it won't stop water from flooding onto Darren's land. The geography of the area means Darren's property will always be at risk of flooding.

[Nick Scahill]

Just the way the properties are set up, drainage will be an issue no matter what. There's a hill there. The water's going to come off the hill. Pipes definitely wouldn't have stopped the water coming through. But how can you actually think, I better go talk to my neighbor because too much rain has been landing on my house. I think he expected dad to make the water run uphill.

[Narrator]

The neighbors are in a deadlock and it's not long before something gives.

[Nick Scahill]

Dad had just rocked up home. Lorchy then called dad over to the fence, said, oh, you fuck it, come here.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi told me that he was drinking and he threw his can of beer at Lorchy.

[Narrator]

And it doesn't just end there and then.

[Nick Scahill]

As they got to each other, a few punches were thrown.

[Narrator]

The fight continues until another neighbor, Ronnie Burton, breaks it up.

[Jane Rowland]

Knock it off, you moron.

[Nick Scahill]

Knock it off. Ronnie's is directly across the road. He'd seen them fighting. He'd be able to see that very easily from his face. That's it, I'm phoning the cops. No, no. Dad was a shearer and he was a sort of hardened bloke.

[Jane Rowland]

He didn't want to upset anyone or get anyone else involved.

[Narrator]

Kevin refuses medical help, instead returning to his home following the altercation.

[Nick Scahill]

Looking back on it now, I think, yeah, he probably was really scared.

[Phil Rowland]

There was a gun outside the house at one side.

[Narrator]

It's not just any gun. Kevin believes he's staring at a genuine SKS rifle.

[Nick Scahill]

Those guns are outlawed in Australia.

[Phil Rowland]

That is pretty serious that he could have something like that. This Fellow could flip and do the wrong thing. I think that's when it really ramped up.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, it scares you. Freaks you out a bit that someone went and did that to someone that you love.

[Phil Rowland]

You know, everyone in the shearing shed said to Kevin, you've got to. Got to get hold of the cops. You got to let the police know about this.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, he was definitely. Yeah, he's definitely fearing for his life. He was scared. Dad had been through a lot in his life, and to being that scared, it was a different type of scared. It was like, doesn't matter how tough I am, Someone's gonna kill me.

[Narrator]

Kevin Scahill decides to finally summon the police.

[Marley Scahill]

He was pretty worried about the gun that he had seen. He told some of his friends about it, and they said, take it seriously and call the police.

[Narrator]

But unfortunately, he has no luck securing help.

[Nick Scahill]

No, no, no, don't transfer me. He has a gun. Oh, damn it.

[Phil Rowland]

Several times, Kevi just keep getting diverted from one police station to another. They just didn't seem to care about it.

[Marley Scahill]

He was angry about being on the phone for half an hour and not being able to speak to anyone and didn't bother with the rest of the calls.

[Narrator]

Kevin Scahill has hit a wall, and his problems aren't going away anytime soon.

[Nick Scahill]

He'd come out, lay the gun next to his hot water service, and then just sit there staring at dad. Turns out it was an sks, but it was a replica one, and I only shot bloody bbs.

[Phil Rowland]

Relax, mate. It's fake.

[Narrator]

Real or not, Kevin feels the stakes are rising between him and his neighbor, Darren Lorkey.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, so I'm thinking Lorki was using it as obviously a fear tactic sort of thing. In the argument. He sat there while I was loading my ute and he had the gun leaning up against the wall. And then the next thing, the next day, same thing. As soon as dad got home, he walked out, put the gun against the wall, and stared at him.

[Narrator]

With no other options, Kevin Scahill goes on the offensive. One night, he floods his neighbor's property with something other than water. Darren Lorke is ripped awake by light shining into his bedroom.

[Nick Scahill]

The big change is when dad put two big floodlights in the shed at the bottom of his driveway. Two big floodlights with trespassers will be prosecuted in the center of the two floodlights.

[Marley Scahill]

All these signs and stuff directed at his neighbor's house.

[Narrator]

Darren is outraged by his neighbor's intrusion, but Kevin believes he's only protecting himself, allowing more visibility for his Cameras. No matter the time of day, dad.

[Marley Scahill]

Wouldn'T get himself up on a really tall ladder to put a floodlight up for no reason. And it sort of made us realize how worried dad was.

[Jane Rowland]

I think he was genuinely scared deep down.

[Narrator]

He continues to keep a watchful eye on his neighbor, leaving work regularly to check on his property and keeping tabs on the footage captured on his new cameras. The activity doesn't go unnoticed by his friend and employer, Phil Rowland.

[Phil Rowland]

Kevi. A few times while we were shearing, he would duck home at lunchtime because he knew Lorchy was there all day, all the time, because he didn't work, check on his house and check on his cameras and make sure everything was still intact.

[Marley Scahill]

I think he just wanted to get home. He was worried about his house and, yeah, was preoccupied.

[Narrator]

Kevin also keeps a detailed log of his rival's behavior.

[Nick Scahill]

So his colleagues, as soon as they'd heard about it, they'd urged him to start writing a diary. Everything that had been happening and everything Darren had been saying.

[Narrator]

His life has become consumed by this feud. Surprisingly, Darren is the first to take action to reinforce the wire fence.

[Nick Scahill]

I was there a few days later, and Lorkie was putting little strips of corrugated iron on the bottom of the fence. I thought, they're still having arguments. This guy's still a weirdo.

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[Nick Scahill]

I'll go talk to him. Ignore him.

[Narrator]

Kevin won't let others fight his battles.

[Nick Scahill]

I got it all under control, son. I knew something was wrong, but he couldn't really tell what. He's trying to sort of hide it. He was still telling me the story, but wasn't gonna let me know he was scared.

[Jane Rowland]

I know Nick and Marley have seen said that he never really expressed how scared he was.

[Nick Scahill]

I still haven't really forgiven myself for letting it slide.

[Narrator]

There's a storm brewing in Tunkilo, and things are about to get much worse before they get any better.

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[Nick Scahill]

According.

[Narrator]

To Darren Lorke, it's his neighbor who finally brings their ultimate confrontation.

[Nick Scahill]

If I'd gone and told people this tomorrow, I'd expect some of them to think I'm paranoid and say don't worry about your neighbor. That's not going to happen.

[Narrator]

In Lorchey's version of events, he settles in for a quiet evening at home.

[Marley Scahill]

Darren had said that he was sitting on his couch watching tv, eating a packet of chips next to the fire. When they had arrived, he said that a car had rocked up next door and three males had got out walking up his driveway near his front door.

[Nick Scahill]

They were banging on the front door while someone else banging on the back door. Go away, all of you.

[Narrator]

Claiming he's outnumbered three to one, Darren arms himself before confronting the trespassers in.

[Nick Scahill]

His yard, got his knife, which was.

[Marley Scahill]

In a sheath and went out to investigate and took his replica gun and knife with him.

[Narrator]

He searches his property for any sign of the intruders.

[Nick Scahill]

He said he's seen a figure in the darkness in the back, so he crept up to him.

[Narrator]

While scouring the area, Darren walks directly into what he claims is an irate Kevin Scahill.

[Nick Scahill]

He threw the SKS on the ground, unsheathed his knife.

[Narrator]

What are you doing on my land?

[Nick Scahill]

Come on, it's on.

[Marley Scahill]

Darren made it seem like he was.

[Narrator]

Under attack Startled and fearing for his life, Darren acts in what he claims was self defense.

[Nick Scahill]

Come on.

[Narrator]

Darren Lorkey stabs his neighbor multiple times. Kevin's friend Philip Rowland is on the scene and attempts to render aid.

[Phil Rowland]

Lorkey was just standing there holding a knife and I saw Kevi lying there. It was just such a shock to see what had happened. Terrifying. Trying to see what Lorca had done to him. I did feel that Lorki was a danger to me, but I was just concerned of helping Kevy.

[Nick Scahill]

God, just hold on me.

[Narrator]

Phil Roland calls Triple Zero, Australia's emergency services number, hoping paramedics can arrive in time to save his friend.

[Nick Scahill]

Send help right away. My mate, he's been stabbed.

[Narrator]

After calling an ambulance, Philip then races down the road to pick up his wife, Jane, a trained nurse.

[Jane Rowland]

Phil attempted to ring me, but I didn't hear the call. And it was my daughter that woke me up and said, dad's trying to get hold of you. He's on his way home. And Phil burst through the door and just said, kevi's been stabbed. Please, please come and help me. I just thought, this cannot be happening, not in a little town like Tankilo. By the time we got there, a few police were there already. All I could hear was the commotion of the police and ambulance doing what they could to revive Kevi amidst all.

[Narrator]

The questions of the events leading to the stabbing, Paramedics and do their utmost to keep Kevin Scahill alive.

[Phil Rowland]

And then I didn't hear anything. It just went silent.

[Narrator]

Mere moments after the attack, Kevin is pronounced dead at the scene.

[Jane Rowland]

The sergeant who came up to me and Phil and said, I'm sorry your.

[Marley Scahill]

Friend didn't make it.

[Jane Rowland]

And I remember just shaking and went into total shock. Phil was quite angry and upset that it had come to this. And at that point a neighbor's wife drove me home. And I remember obviously not sleeping a wink the rest of the night and getting up the next morning and hoping it was a bad, terrible dream, but it wasn't.

[Narrator]

Kevin Scahill's ex wife is contacted about her former husband's death. She's quick to get in touch with her children, Nick and Marley.

[Nick Scahill]

I got a call from my mum at 5:30 in the morning. I knew instantly. Somehow I just knew. I could tell in her voice, your dad's no longer with us. It's a police investigation and I just fucking dropped.

[Marley Scahill]

Mum had called really early hours of one morning. I think it was probably about 3:30 in the morning. And I sort of sat straight up in bed And I said, what's going on? My mum was bawling her eyes out, saying, your dad has passed away. I'm not sure what's happened, but it's a police investigation. And I was just shocked. Yeah. And I got straight up out of bed and called my brother. I said, what? What's happened? What's happened?

[Nick Scahill]

And I said, it's the neighbor. Then I'm trying to explain it, but I was that upset, I couldn't tell her the story properly.

[Marley Scahill]

Then after I got off the phone to my brother, I drove straight to my mum's house in Mount Pleasant.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, Marley was obviously. Yeah, very distressed. Mum was still had tears and that. Yeah. Then it was a few hours of just fucking melting.

[Narrator]

At the crime scene, the Rolands are irate to hear Darren Lorkey claim he was acting in self defense and that he was the one being attacked. Mr. Locke said he was defending himself.

[Nick Scahill]

That's a lie. I'm telling you, that's a lie.

[Narrator]

Lorkey tells the police three men invaded his property. Kevin Scahill, his friend Phil, and another unidentified man.

[Nick Scahill]

And then later, they'd accused me of being the third person there.

[Phil Rowland]

The police did try to suggest that Kevin and I were attacking Loughee. It was upsetting for the police to suggest that that was the case, but it wasn't at all.

[Narrator]

Philip Rowland tells a different story of how the events unfolded. After returning to Kevin's following a night.

[Phil Rowland]

Out, Kevi wanted to show me the cameras. But as we drove up the driveway, Kevi saw somebody in this yard.

[Nick Scahill]

Look.

[Marley Scahill]

And had said to Phil, that cunt's in my driveway.

[Narrator]

Philip believes that Darren was waiting to ambush Kevin.

[Phil Rowland]

Lorhy wasn't expecting me to be dropping Kevi home because normally Kevi would have just driven home himself.

[Nick Scahill]

Hey, get away from my place. Don't go, mate. He's armed.

[Marley Scahill]

And before Phil could finish what he was saying, dad was out the car going, what are you doing on my property?

[Nick Scahill]

Hey. Dad Jumped straight out the door, over the fence, and met him diagonally in his backyard. Where are you? I know you're in my yard again, mate. Now, come on, what are you up to? He threw the sks on the ground, unsheathed his knife, and then went up and got dad.

[Phil Rowland]

I was a short time behind him, and Kevi had been stabbed.

[Nick Scahill]

Kevin, mate, move.

[Narrator]

Kevin's injuries dismantle his neighbor's claims of self defense.

[Nick Scahill]

The main thing was three stab wounds. One that got to the back of his scalp, one had nearly detached his tricep. From his arm and the third one came in through the side, severed three ribs and then punctured his lung and went into his heart. Eventually we'd find out still made him guilty anyway. Because you're throwing down a non lethal thing to get out the lethal thing. You know what I mean? You could have scared someone if you were scared. You could point a gun at them that's fake and say, get away from me. But if you want to kill someone, you throw the fake gun away and you get the knife out.

[Narrator]

Darren's version of events is further discredited by Kevin's medical history.

[Marley Scahill]

He broke his hip, he used a walking stick for a long time. And then he had meningitis, cryptococcal. And it affected his eyesight. Made it very hard for him to see in the dark. Very unlikely my dad to be able to even see you in the dark, let alone come charging at you or. Yeah.

[Narrator]

Whether or not there was a third man present that night, it becomes clear that it was not Kevin's son. Nick.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, apparently that third person was me and that I was witnessed there. It became pretty obvious in the end though, that I wasn't Nick.

[Phil Rowland]

He was actually home in bed, asleep the other side the river. So he was more than an hour away. So Nick was never there. I spoke to the detectives on site. I told them that Kevi had cameras, had a diary in the. In the house. I told him that this Lorchy had murdered Kevy.

[Narrator]

As a result of Philip Rowland's testimony, Darren Lorkey is taken into custody at the scene.

[Nick Scahill]

Are you serious? I'm innocent. He was charged with murder.

[Marley Scahill]

Yeah, it was pretty. Yeah, freaky and scary. When we first got there, there was still blood on the gravel at Darren Walkey's house where we. 5 meters away where we pulled up.

[Narrator]

It feels like a win. But for some unknown reason, Phillip's statement about the murder of his friend is not submitted for months.

[Nick Scahill]

Phil Rowland's statement was taken on the night, but courts had no record of it until like March of the next year.

[Narrator]

As a result, Darren's bail hearing is based on his self defense statement alone. And he spends the next two years free.

[Nick Scahill]

It was really weird. It was like just instantly made me scared of Lordy. I'm as scared of Lorki as I am as like a Ted Bundy or something. I don't think he should have ever got out on bail for a crime like that.

[Phil Rowland]

And definitely worried for Nick and Marley that this person was still out do what he wanted to do.

[Jane Rowland]

I guess. Our biggest concern was our safety, also whether he was going to come out after Phil or myself and the kids or threaten us, because obviously Phil was going to be able to testify against him. So that was pretty scary time.

[Nick Scahill]

He's already gone to pretty extreme lengths over fucking offence. They're like, what if he just snaps one day and he wants to shut us all up or.

[Marley Scahill]

Yeah, yeah, I was scared because of the self defence. Defence, yeah. I was just worried that he was going to get manslaughter and not get what, the years that he deserved in jail.

[Narrator]

When the case finally goes to trial, a new witness surfaces. Remember Ronnie Burton, the neighbor who saw Kevin and Darren fist fighting? He corroborates Philip Rowland's story that only two men, not the three Lorchey suggested, were present that night.

[Nick Scahill]

Ronnie was walking from his house to his mum's house. On the walk there, he testified that he'd seen Phil and Dad pull up the driveway and on the walk back, Phil was already running down the road on the phone was exactly what Phil.

[Marley Scahill]

Said happened, which went completely against what Darren Lorkey had tried to say.

[Narrator]

On February 4, 2019, Darren Lorkey is found guilty of murder.

[Nick Scahill]

And, yeah, Ronnie's story is what really saved it at the end.

[Narrator]

He is sentenced to 20 years in prison, where he currently remains.

[Marley Scahill]

I think justice was served, but I don't think 19 years was enough for taking someone's life.

[Narrator]

Following the killer's incarceration, Nick Scahill decides to move into his father's old house.

[Nick Scahill]

I moved to Dad's house, started doing renos. I definitely underestimated how easy it would be living in the house. I've put up big fences so I don't have to look at Lorkie's house.

[Narrator]

Though it's been years since Kevin's murder, the pain remains fresh for Kevin's family and friends.

[Nick Scahill]

Yeah, it still affects us to this day, though. Yeah. Since everything. It's been a big, long road out of grief and trying to mend. Everyone's sort of mending at different paces and in different ways.

[Marley Scahill]

Was really hard at first. Even still now, driving up my brother's driveway when I go visit him, it's difficult to look over where it happened. You know, it's only four or five metres away from where we park at our cars to where my dad, you know, took his last breath. So it's pretty haunting.

[Narrator]

The loss of his close friend continues to take a heavy toll on Phil.

[Jane Rowland]

Roland, Phil and Kevi had a very close relationship. Phil was having quite a lot of nightmares. He was yelling out in his sleep, often yelling out Kevi's name.

[Phil Rowland]

I still struggle with it. It's just always there. The hardest thing about all this is losing Kevi.

[Jane Rowland]

He wished he could have done more, but the only reassurance I really had for him was that few. If you weren't there and Kevi had driven up there alone, then there would have been no witnesses. So at least you can be a voice for Ken Heavy. And you've got to look at it that way.

[Narrator]

On the positive, Kevin's children, Marley and Nick, also keep their father's memory alive.

[Marley Scahill]

Once a month, we'd do sort of like a barbecue or a family day or. Yeah, and dad loved that. I just miss watching him around the grandkids, his grandkids.

[Nick Scahill]

I just miss being able to chill with him and I'd just love to be able to show him how much I've accomplished since I talked to him last.

[Narrator]

This podcast is produced by Cream Productions in association with Fremantle Media and id. You can check out Fear Thy Neighbor on Max, Discovery and id. G' Day America.

[Nick Scahill]

It's Tony and Ryan from the Tony.

[Narrator]

And Ryan Podcast from Down Under.

[Marley Scahill]

Today we want to talk to you.

[Phil Rowland]

About Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country.

[Nick Scahill]

These guys are no longer the prepaid.

[Narrator]

Wireless company you might remember.

[Nick Scahill]

They've invested billions into building their own 5G towers across America, transforming the carrier into America's fourth major network alongside the other big dogs.

[Phil Rowland]

Yep, they're challenging the competitors by working harder and smarter, like this amazing new network they've literally built.

[Nick Scahill]

The Boost Mobile network together with their.

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Roaming partners covers 99 of the US population. But 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Phil Rowland]

Yep, they have blazing fast Internet and plans for all the latest devices. Visit your nearest Boost Mobile store or find them [e-mail] whenever I need to.

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Think advertising on TikTok isn't for your business.

[Nick Scahill]

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[Narrator]

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[Nick Scahill]

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