Renovation Rage

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor: Episode Summary - "Renovation Rage"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Fear Thy Neighbor
• Host/Author: ID
• Episode: Renovation Rage
• Release Date: July 14, 2025

---

Introduction and Setting

"Fear Thy Neighbor" delves into the unsettling transformation of a peaceful neighborhood in Cedar Hill, Texas, where a simple home renovation spirals into a tragic conflict. The episode "Renovation Rage" narrates the downfall of neighborly relations, culminating in a violent confrontation that forever alters the lives of those involved.

---

Profiles of the Neighbors

The story centers around two families living on Halifax Court:

1. The Edwards Family:

   • Jerry Edwards: A strong-willed woman with a decade-long career as a driver manager.
   • David Edwards: Jerry's quiet fiancé, a truck driver.
   • Nick Edwards: Jerry's son, who temporarily moves in to support his parents.

2. The Silvers Family:

   • Danny Silver: A recently retired truck driver, known for his friendly demeanor and community involvement.
   • Teresa Silver: Danny's wife, employed at a transit agency.

Notable Quote:

Thomas Cox: "Cedar Hill is actually a fairly small town that's nestled into Dallas county. It was a traditional neighborhood where everybody knew everybody." [03:58]

---

The Beginning of Tensions

Initially, the Edwards and Silvers bond over their mutual love for the tranquil cul-de-sac. Jerry and David purchase Jerry's former house next door, planning to renovate it extensively. While the move brings proximity, it also tightens their bond with the Silvers.

Notable Quotes:

Nick Edwards: "They actually hung out together, you know, and sit around, drink beers and stuff together." [07:13]

Thomas Cox: "There was a normal, healthy, friendly neighbor relationship." [07:08]

---

Renovation Sparks Conflict

As renovations commence, the inevitable noise, dust, and debris become a strain. Danny Silver, appreciating order and tranquility, grows increasingly irritated by the controlled chaos next door. This frustration is exacerbated when construction materials begin to encroach onto his property.

Notable Quotes:

Danny Silvers: "They're stripping out this house, rehabbing it. They're making noise. They're leaving trash sitting around." [10:23]

Nick Edwards: "Danny knew that they were going to fix the place up. I think he was surprised and thrown off, I guess, by how much actually goes into renovating a house. And I think that pissed him off." [10:35]

---

Escalation of the Conflict

Danny's dissatisfaction turns into antagonism. He begins to monitor the renovations closely, enforcing property boundaries aggressively. Attempts by Jerry to maintain peace only heighten Danny's suspicions, especially towards new neighbor Quiness Durham.

Notable Quotes:

Thomas Cox: "Danny's personality type was obeying the law and also expecting other people in the neighborhood to do the same." [09:29]

Quiness Durham: "When we first moved into the neighborhood, it was from that time period on, he's just been keeping an eye on me." [09:15]

Nick Edwards: "He'd be outside all the time in the neighborhood, just sitting out on the bench drinking Beer in the shade." [08:52]

---

The Breaking Point

The situation deteriorates further when Jerry inadvertently waters her lawn, causing water to spill onto Danny's prized pickup truck. The confrontation becomes heated, with Danny accusing Jerry of disrespecting his property. Attempts to de-escalate fail, leading to increased hostility.

Notable Quotes:

Nick Edwards: "He made it seem like he was Mr. Tough Guy. That's the kind of feeling it was." [09:27]

Thomas Cox: "Danny was frustrated by the police response. Basically, they didn't address the issue." [34:24]

---

The Tragic Confrontation

On October 23, 2017, tensions culminate in a violent encounter. As Danny confronts Jerry over the sprinkler incident, emotions flare uncontrollably. In the ensuing chaos, Danny pulls out his gun, leading to a tragic shooting where Nick is critically injured, and Jerry is killed on the spot.

Notable Quotes:

Danny Silvers: "I started shooting at him. I didn't think something like this would ever, ever, ever happen, man." [35:55]

Nick Edwards: "I was telling mom, just go in the house, go in the house." [35:19]

---

Aftermath and Legal Proceedings

Danny Silvers is arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. During his trial, he claims self-defense, asserting that his neighbors were encroaching upon his property and threatening him. However, evidence and witness testimonies contradict his account, leading to his conviction and a 35-year sentence.

Notable Quotes:

Thomas Cox: "Danny believes that his actions, he was in the right, and so he waived his rights and told the police he did it in self-defense." [40:06]

Nick Edwards: "I'm glad that he's facing a punishment. I'm glad that he's got to sit there." [41:08]

---

Personal Impact and Continuing Tragedy

The Edwards family struggles to cope with the loss and trauma. Nick battles physical injuries and profound emotional scars, while David, surviving the initial shooting, later falls victim to another violent incident involving a roommate, leading to his untimely death.

Notable Quotes:

Nick Edwards: "That day relives in my head every day. I'd like to tell you that there's a day that I don't think about it. That would be such a great feeling to have that peace for a moment that it's not there in my eyes." [44:53]

Danny Silvers: "I didn't want that to happen. I never thought in my life that I would shoot somebody like that man, if I could take it back." [43:57]

---

Conclusion

"Renovation Rage" serves as a poignant exploration of how minor disputes can escalate into catastrophic violence. The episode underscores the fragility of neighborly relations and the devastating consequences that can arise when misunderstandings and frustrations go unchecked.

---

Notable Transformations:

• From Friendship to Feud: The Edwards and Silvers families transition from close friends to bitter enemies due to renovation-induced stress.
• Escalation Mechanism: What begins as complaints about noise and property encroachment evolves into dangerous confrontations fueled by distrust and anger.
• Tragic Outcomes: The narrative culminates in life-altering violence, leaving lasting scars on all parties involved.

---

Final Reflections:

The episode highlights the importance of communication and conflict resolution in maintaining harmony within communities. It serves as a cautionary tale about how quickly peaceful circumstances can unravel when empathy is replaced by suspicion and resentment.

---

Notable Quotes Compilation

• Thomas Cox [03:58]: "Cedar Hill is actually a fairly small town that's nestled into Dallas county. It was a traditional neighborhood where everybody knew everybody."

• Nick Edwards [07:13]: "They actually hung out together, you know, and sit around, drink beers and stuff together."

• Danny Silvers [35:55]: "I started shooting at him. I didn't think something like this would ever, ever, ever happen, man."

• Nick Edwards [44:53]: "That day relives in my head every day. I'd like to tell you that there's a day that I don't think about it. That would be such a great feeling to have that peace for a moment that it's not there in my eyes."

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key events, emotional dynamics, and profound impacts of the "Renovation Rage" episode, offering listeners a thorough understanding of this harrowing true story.

Transcript

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[Nick Edwards]

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[Quiness Durham]

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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? This episode takes us to a quiet cul de sac in small town Texas, where two friendly couples living close by soon live directly next to each other. At first, the move not Only brings them physically closer together, but tightens their bond. But when one house undergoes an extensive home renovation, the noise, dust and debris puts a strain on the neighbors. And it's not long before a once amicable relationship is demolished like a sledgehammer through drywall. This is fear thy neighbor renovation rage. Cedar Hill is a little hamlet in Texas located only 16 miles from downtown Dallas. Attorney Thomas Cox explains the town.

[Thomas Cox]

Cedar Hill is actually a fairly small town that's nestled into Dallas county. It was a traditional neighborhood where everybody knew everybody.

[Narrator]

And within this peaceful town sits a quiet cul de sac. A place residents find to be a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle surrounding it.

[Nick Edwards]

The street was Halifax Court. Fairly quiet. It's just like a little oasis, you know, from what you normally see coming down the highway, which is only three streets away. You get in that cul de sac and it's like a completely different part of the world.

[Narrator]

That's Nick Edwards. Nick's mother, Jerry and her fiance David have been living in a home on Halifax court for about a year. They love the area and have made a number of friends. But recent events mean they are moving out of their current house. David works as a truck driver and Jerry has a similar history.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom used to drive truck back in the day, 18 wheelers. And she could no longer do that. She got a job working with a company as like a driver, manager and stuff like that. And that's where she met David.

[Narrator]

Jerry's strong personality has served her well in the male dominated industry.

[Nick Edwards]

She was strong, very, very strong. I think was almost 10 years as a driver manager. There a determined person. You couldn't keep her down for nothing. Her fiance David was a quiet person for the most part.

[Narrator]

Jerry and David have been together seven years, recently getting engaged. The couple is moving out of this house to start a new chapter in their lives. But they aren't going far. In fact, they've found the perfect place right next door.

[Nick Edwards]

David's daughter and her husband between them and my parents had figured out that the neighbor lady was behind on her mortgage, was probably going to lose her house. So they ended up making some kind of an arrangement to where they ended up purchasing the house. And it had to be completely gutted.

[Narrator]

Since David's daughter owns the house, it gives him and Jerry the freedom to renovate it any way they like.

[Nick Edwards]

It was going to end up needing a complete restoration on the inside.

[Narrator]

While the renovations needed are extensive, there is a bonus to moving next door. It brings them one house closer to their neighbors.

[Nick Edwards]

The Silvers, Danny and Teresa Silver were friends with my mother and David.

[Narrator]

Danny and Teresa Silver have lived in this neighborhood longer than most on the street. Danny has just retired from his job as a truck driver and Teresa works for a transit agency.

[Quiness Durham]

Mr. Silvers was a character. He is a very big character.

[Narrator]

The voice you just heard belongs to Quiness Durham, a new neighbor to the tight knit community.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny Silvers is the kind of person that you could invite into your home and you could trust.

[Narrator]

Moving closer together strengthens the bond between Jerry, David and the Silvers.

[Thomas Cox]

There was a normal, healthy, friendly neighbor relationship.

[Nick Edwards]

They actually hung out together, you know, and sit around, drink beers and stuff together.

[Quiness Durham]

I was thinking that the relationship was unbreakable, you know. So as far as David and Denny hanging out, I just figured they were the best of friends. The more and more they hung out, it seemed like the closer they got.

[Nick Edwards]

Can't tell you how many times he'd been over and hang out.

[Narrator]

You know, I was thinking of digging up all along here and planting rose bushes. Oh, that'll be nice.

[Nick Edwards]

Mom.

[Thomas Cox]

The front door was unlocked.

[Narrator]

Hey, there you are.

[Nick Edwards]

Hello.

[Narrator]

This is my son Nick. He's gonna be living with us for a bit.

[Nick Edwards]

I moved back down to Texas and was staying with my mom and David just trying to start life over re establishing. My mom wasn't able to help me in the way that she wanted to help me, you know, with my life. She got preoccupied with her own. When I first moved back down here, I didn't have a job, of course that I was looking for work.

[Narrator]

Luckily for Nick, neighbors Danny and Teresa can throw a bit of cash his way. In exchange for some help around their.

[Nick Edwards]

Property, Danny had given me an offer of doing some yard work. I can. Okay, great. I need some money right now. While I'm looking for a job and everything getting settled in. I'm grown up. It's not my mom's responsibility to support me. I'll do whatever I can to try and support myself. So anything that I could get helped, I was grateful for the money.

[Narrator]

Since retiring from his job of 49 years as a truck driver, Danny Silver spends a lot more time in the neighborhood. He's naturally observant and now has more time than ever to watch out over his neighborhood. But unfortunately he's starting to not like what he sees, you know.

[Quiness Durham]

Yeah. Him being home alone while his wife and she always leaves the house and she be gone throughout the whole day. He'd be outside all the time in the neighborhood, just sitting out on the bench drinking Beer in the shade.

[Narrator]

As we mentioned earlier, Quiness Durham is a recent addition to the Halifax Court neighborhood. Being an unfamiliar face, Danny wastes no time grilling the young man.

[Quiness Durham]

When we first moved into the neighborhood, it was from that time period on, he's just been keeping an eye on me.

[Nick Edwards]

He made it seem like he was Mr. Tough Guy. That's the kind of feeling it was.

[Narrator]

Attorney Thomas Cox explains.

[Thomas Cox]

So Danny's personality type was obeying the law and also expecting other people in the neighborhood to do the same.

[Narrator]

By this point in time, Jerry and David's renovations next door are well underway. And though Danny likes things to be orderly, we all know that renovations require a certain controlled mess while they're happening. It's not uncommon to see dumpsters in the driveway, stacks of building materials, tools, and equipment out in the open, and easily accessible. Though the mess stays contained to his neighbor's property, the retired homebody, Danny finds the growing construction sites and sounds from next door to be a constant nuisance.

[Nick Edwards]

The redoing of all the house and stuff and the yard and, you know, there was a lot of hours, you know, put into the property.

[Danny Silvers]

Hello.

[Thomas Cox]

Hey. Hey. Do you have to be so loud?

[Narrator]

It's a reno. I mean, noise happens.

[Thomas Cox]

They're stripping out this house, rehabbing it. They're making noise. They're leaving trash sitting around.

[Nick Edwards]

Danny knew that they were going to fix the place up. I think he was surprised and thrown off, I guess, by how much actually goes into renovating a house. And I think that pissed him off.

[Thomas Cox]

Can you try just to keep it.

[Narrator]

Down a little bit? I don't think that's going to be a possibility. Don't worry. It's not forever.

[Nick Edwards]

Yeah, I think that's kind of where the real beginning of the separation of my mother from him started was she was just flabbergasted of how irate he seemed.

[Narrator]

And it's not just the hammering. Material deliveries and the sound of power tools are also a constant bother for Danny. To make matters worse, he claims the construction mess next door is slowly encroaching onto his yard.

[Thomas Cox]

And so that's where the communication turns from friendship, how you doing? To more of, hey, could you do. Could you please do this? Could you please do that? And then when that's not working, it transitioning into, hey, your stuff's on my yard again. Come on. We've talked about this before, and you could see how it went from really good to really bad just over that.

[Narrator]

It's obvious at this point that the neighbors will not see Eye to eye on how to manage these home renos. In an attempt to keep the peace and not escalate the situation, Nick's mother, Jerry, tries her best to just break contact with her neighbor completely.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom had started to pull away from him, and it got to the point where she just didn't even want to associate with him.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny always has struck me as a good old boy, as it were. Friendly, easygoing. But like anybody who's easygoing, if you wear out your welcome a little bit or you start kind of taking things for granted, that's when it transitions. And so this whole construction project that they were doing begins the deterioration of what started out as a good relationship.

[Narrator]

It's not long before the relationship and financial agreement between Nick and Danny changes as well.

[Nick Edwards]

Once I was able to, you know, find a job, it was very difficult for me to be able to help as far as any kind of yard work and stuff like that anymore. So I couldn't do it. I had to turn him down. I already was starting to see his true colors.

[Narrator]

As with many home renovations, the work on David and Jerry's house is taking longer than expected. Most neighbors on Halifax Court just go with the flow.

[Nick Edwards]

Everybody seemed to understand what was going on. You know, they know it's construction, simple as that.

[Narrator]

But that doesn't seem to matter for.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny Silverstone, and he's a guy who has strong opinions. And Danny felt like basically they didn't care about his opinion and they didn't care about how the neighborhood looked.

[Narrator]

Not only that, but as demos and remodeling continue, particulates like sawdust and drywall dust are settling in the area.

[Nick Edwards]

It was so bad. I mean, between just, you know, sheetrock and carpet and, oh, the dust amounts.

[Narrator]

And Danny sees it landing on his prized possession, his pickup truck.

[Thomas Cox]

He has a nice pickup truck. It's Texas. Hey.

[Nick Edwards]

Hey.

[Narrator]

What are you doing? What about my truck? Do you want a tarp?

[Nick Edwards]

This is demolition. You know, there's gonna be debris.

[Narrator]

No, I don't want a tarp. What I want for you to do is stop doing what you're doing. That's not going to happen. So you're just going to have to deal with it, Danny.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom being a truck driver, she was tough. Danny did not like that.

[Narrator]

Talk to me like that, you.

[Thomas Cox]

They got along just fine, the Baileys, the Silvers, when they were separated. But these two didn't mix out real well as next door neighbors.

[Narrator]

With no end in sight to what Danny perceives as mismanaged renovations. Next door his frustration at his once good friends rises every passing day.

[Thomas Cox]

Once the Baileys started this construction project next door, they weren't keeping it orderly, so Danny was frustrated.

[Narrator]

But it seems Danny can't just leave the construction site well enough alone, and his seeming obsession with the renovations has no end in sight.

[Nick Edwards]

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[Narrator]

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[Nick Edwards]

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[Narrator]

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[Quiness Durham]

Everything you have you know you can.

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[Narrator]

Danny has lived on Halifax Court for decades and according to Nick, expects everyone to step in line with his way of thinking.

[Nick Edwards]

The way he would discuss issues that bother him was, we don't need to talk about it. Just do what I said, you know, like that real strict parent, do it because I said so.

[Narrator]

But Jerry Edwards isn't the kind to be pushed around.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom wouldn't do what he wanted her to do. He would let that push him into another level. I mean, come on, let it go.

[Narrator]

Danny doesn't feel he's getting the respect he deserves.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny had kind of felt like he was part of the backbone of the neighborhood. The fact that he had been there the longest was doing his best to maintain the neighborhood in the way that it was when he moved in.

[Narrator]

David Bailey, Jerry Edwards and her son Nick feel like they're constantly being scrutinized by Danny. There seems to be a growing sentiment among neighbors that Danny is the self appointed neighborhood watchdog now.

[Nick Edwards]

We're his new focus. It's a little unnerving to wonder if somebody's watching you. You know, the hair on your neck stands up. I mean, how can you live? We can't exist. So did we make a mistake? No matter what we do, it's not right.

[Narrator]

Danny continues his neighborhood watch, increasingly irritated at the state of the community. But his focus isn't solely on the renovations next door. He begins to grow suspicious of his new neighbor, Quiness Durham.

[Quiness Durham]

Quiness explains, so Danny was just watching me from across the street. I could never even understand why he would do that.

[Narrator]

Danny's suspicions arise from the fact that he witnesses numerous people come and go from Quinessa's home throughout the day.

[Nick Edwards]

He believed there was something going on over there. You'd watch the cars come up and they'd park somebody go in there. About five minutes later, a car would start and it would leave and another car would pull up. Five minutes later, car would leave. I think Danny just immediately thought the worst of everybody. I was always raised, you know, with the phrase of respect is earned, not given. But with Danny, it seemed the other way around. It was, you're going to respect me or we're going to have a problem.

[Narrator]

At this point, the once tight friendship between the Baileys and the Silvers has truly come to an end. According to the neighbors, Danny is now convinced he needs to keep an even closer eye on things. And he does so with a strange new tactic. Jerry, working in her yard, becomes the first to appear in his sights.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom Had a green thumb. She had all sorts of plants and flowers and, you know, she got down and got her hands dirty.

[Narrator]

But a familiar voice interrupts her gardening.

[Thomas Cox]

Far enough?

[Narrator]

I said that's far enough. Stay on your side. Jerry can hear Danny talking to her and enforcing property, property lines. But she can't see him.

[Nick Edwards]

It's weird. It seemed like he was staking out. And when I say staking out, I mean like, hiding in back corner of his front yard where you couldn't see him. And you wouldn't even know he was there until he said something. It's like, what are you doing back there, creep?

[Quiness Durham]

So his little hideout in the tree. And you wouldn't have even noticed it. You wouldn't even see him.

[Narrator]

Shut up or come out here, you creep. Don't be talking to me that way. What are doing you. Are you spying on us? On me? I'm just having my sandwich. But. But I can see you just fine.

[Thomas Cox]

They had claimed that he would watch them, but Danny said he just liked to sit out front, relax in the shade.

[Narrator]

Are you almost finished with this renovation.

[Thomas Cox]

Or do you even know what you're doing?

[Nick Edwards]

Oh, man.

[Narrator]

Don't turn your back on me.

[Thomas Cox]

Hey, hey.

[Nick Edwards]

If you didn't pay attention to him and coddle him like a child, he would throw a temper tantrum about it.

[Narrator]

I said, don't turn your back on me. Hey, look at me when I'm speaking to you. Danny's aggression towards Jerry gets so loud that David can hear it from inside. Concerned with his neighbor's increasingly controlling behavior, he comes running out to see what the matter is. Danny, Danny, Danny, you need to back off.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny said that David pulled a knife on him.

[Nick Edwards]

I have no idea of what that is even coming from. David was the most passive, calm person I can honestly say I've ever seen. David mad. If he was upset, he kind of got quiet.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny had stepped back from the encounter, didn't call the police or anything, but withdrew. And by all accounts, they were able to put that behind him.

[Danny Silvers]

And.

[Thomas Cox]

It wasn't a problem at the time, but it was an event that certainly was on Danny's mind as time passes.

[Narrator]

While David and his family vehemently deny Danny's claim that a knife was pulled on him, it doesn't stop Danny from growing increasingly territorial. And in true Texas fashion, he has the means to protect his property.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny was a guy that had a handgun in his home. Texas, anybody can possess a gun. There's not any kind of a registration requirement or anything like that. There was this Previous accusation against Danny by these neighbors. They had claimed that he had pointed a gun at him, but Danny said that just flat out wasn't true. They offer you probation, you take the safer route, and that is you plead guilty to it. And that's what Danny did. He took two years of probation, lived it out just fine. But Danny maintains his innocence.

[Nick Edwards]

That.

[Thomas Cox]

That did not happen.

[Narrator]

As the feud escalates, a noticeable tension and fear hang over the neighborhood. And little do they know, it's just the beginning of what's to come.

[Quiness Durham]

Within the next month or so, it just escalated. It was very gruesome.

[Nick Edwards]

Things had started to progress down that slope, and it just. That snowball kept picking up speed.

[Narrator]

It's only been two months since Jerry Edwards and David Bailey moved closer to Teresa and Danny Silverstone, and the tension has become unbearable. Soon, every resident of the neighborhood seems to raise Danny's ire, including Quiness Durham and the people who visit his home.

[Nick Edwards]

He used to make the comment, it's making this area look trashy.

[Narrator]

You're selling dope.

[Quiness Durham]

Danny thought I was the drug dealer. He thought I was Pablo Escobar.

[Nick Edwards]

Mind your business, and you'd better stop.

[Narrator]

But Danny won't let it go. Later that day, Quiness gets an unexpected knock on the door.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny's interpretation of it was the guy selling drugs. And in fact, Danny called the police and reported the neighbor saying exactly that.

[Quiness Durham]

I had probably like six, seven police officers pull up on my home like it was just crazy.

[Thomas Cox]

So then the. It looked like the police went out to look into that allegation. As it turned out, it wasn't drug dealing after all.

[Nick Edwards]

Sorry to have bothered you.

[Narrator]

Aren't you gonna do anything?

[Nick Edwards]

There's no illegal activity going on in there.

[Narrator]

He's dealing drugs.

[Thomas Cox]

He got that wrong.

[Nick Edwards]

He's only dealing haircuts. After the police were at Quintus house, he was so convinced that it was all lies. No way. Nothing's going on over there.

[Quiness Durham]

For me to be accused to be a drug dealer, it was a huge stereotype.

[Nick Edwards]

He was like a dog with a bone for that poor kid. He honed in on that boy for no reason.

[Narrator]

According to Quiness, he has an encounter with Danny one night, which leaves him in fear for his life.

[Quiness Durham]

Mr. Danny basically came through and pulled up on me in his white truck on the back alley and confronted me with his shotgun, like, what are you doing around here? You know, I see you jumping that fence, boy.

[Nick Edwards]

I'm just going to the store, okay? I'm just going to the store.

[Quiness Durham]

I Was taking a shortcut. I was trying to calm him down, and I'm just like, yeah, that's my house. We just moved there. He just had a whole bunch of questions as far as where we're doing next or where we're going. And be careful. You can't be doing this and doing that.

[Nick Edwards]

That probably scared the heck out of that poor boy. Probably made him fearful to even live there.

[Quiness Durham]

It was pretty like. It was pretty. Pretty horrible. He's very territorial as far as the neighborhood being his.

[Narrator]

But Danny has a different recollection of events now.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny says he didn't do that.

[Narrator]

Danny won't let anyone disrupt the peace on the street he cherishes. Jerry and David don't know how much longer they can put up with him. They question whether moving into what they were hoping to be their dream home was the right choice. Regardless of what their feelings may be, it soon becomes clear that this clash of neighbors has reached the point of no return.

[Thomas Cox]

The day that this incident happened was not simply an isolated incident. It was the culmination of a series of things between neighbors.

[Narrator]

But for now, the morning of October 23, 2017, seems like any other.

[Nick Edwards]

There was no worries in my life at all that morning when I got up to go to work.

[Narrator]

As Nick goes off to work for the day, Danny is outside doing some work of his own.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny had washed his truck, wiped it down, had the windows down so it would air out. You know, he had gone over the interior and everything.

[Narrator]

Danny working outside doesn't go unnoticed by Jerry.

[Quiness Durham]

I thought you were going to water.

[Nick Edwards]

The garden this morning.

[Narrator]

I don't want to work outside while he's there. I can't be bothered. I'm going to work out back. But Danny soon finishes up washing his pride and joy.

[Thomas Cox]

He went in the house. Jerry had come out and put the lawn sprinkler out.

[Narrator]

And according to Danny, the water coming out of Jerry's sprinkler crosses more than just the property line.

[Nick Edwards]

Mom said, I was watering the lawn and water got on his truck. He came out cussing and screaming at me because I got water on his truck.

[Thomas Cox]

And because Danny had left the windows down, that meant it was sprinkling the inside of his truck. Hey, hey, hey.

[Narrator]

Get your ass out of here.

[Nick Edwards]

Mom said, shut up. It's only water.

[Narrator]

What about my truck? Shove your truck and you know where you can shove it.

[Nick Edwards]

My mom was not a happy camper.

[Quiness Durham]

She was heated, and it was a lot of talking and arguing and yelling to where you could stand outside and literally literally hear it.

[Nick Edwards]

I said one of these days I'm gonna all three of you.

[Narrator]

Jerry and Danny are both reaching their breaking point. The only question now is who will snap first?

[Quiness Durham]

Foreign.

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[Quiness Durham]

It'S not.

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[Narrator]

To Jerry and David, it seems like Danny is looking for any excuse to start a fight just so he can escalate it. Attorney Thomas Cox explained.

[Thomas Cox]

Explains Basically, the friction was making things worse and worse.

[Narrator]

And for Danny, a few drops of water is gasoline on the fire.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny went and he called the police.

[Nick Edwards]

When I came back, cops were there.

[Narrator]

Officer, I don't understand. How is that a crime? It was an accident. It's vandalism.

[Nick Edwards]

You got no respect for my property. Of course it's a crime.

[Thomas Cox]

I don't believe it is.

[Quiness Durham]

You can see Danny and you can see Jerry arguing and the police there in between, you know, trying to de escalate everything.

[Thomas Cox]

Obviously the cops basically told everybody to calm down.

[Nick Edwards]

The cops, well, we can't do anything. He hasn't done anything. So he threatened to shoot us. He has a gun.

[Thomas Cox]

The Baileys said, hey, Danny threatened my life. But Danny said that just flat out wasn't true.

[Nick Edwards]

I said, well, if he does shoot, call us. I said, it's gonna be hard to do and we're dead.

[Narrator]

Keep in mind the police know that Danny pleaded guilty to a prior charge and was on probation for two years after pointing his gun at another neighbor.

[Thomas Cox]

They told everybody, go in your house, stay in your house.

[Narrator]

But the law enforcement's inaction only exacerbates Danny's frustration.

[Thomas Cox]

That's what's frustrating Danny. The cops aren't doing anything about this, and it's gonna be a problem. And unfortunately, that's exactly what it was gonna become.

[Narrator]

Our producers were provided the body cam footage of the responding officers to Danny's 911 call. Listen to their conversation after everyone has gone back into their homes.

[Quiness Durham]

They got.

[Nick Edwards]

They got water on his driveway.

[Narrator]

What'd she say?

[Nick Edwards]

Well, she got.

[Quiness Durham]

She.

[Nick Edwards]

She used water in the yard. She got the drywall wet. If you got upset because. Well, she.

[Quiness Durham]

Apparently there's not all that she got wet. Apparently, she got the truck wet, too.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Nick Edwards]

So truck is wet.

[Quiness Durham]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Just tell her to just turn her.

[Quiness Durham]

Back when she's watering the yard next time.

[Nick Edwards]

Well, I think it's the sprinkler. Well, she needs to bring the sprinkler back up. That's what it was. That's what it was, a sprinkler. She didn't do it on purpose. She left the sprinkler going, and she came in regardless. It don't matter. It's water.

[Quiness Durham]

When you tell them, if they don't.

[Nick Edwards]

Like it, they just put a fence up.

[Narrator]

After giving their warnings and discussing the issues amongst themselves, the police leave the neighborhood. But even though everyone is inside, separated from each other as the day drags on under the hot Texan son, anger and resentment only continues to grow.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny was frustrated by the police response. Basically, they didn't address the issue. They didn't do anything about the fact that Jerry was encroaching on his rights as a property owner.

[Nick Edwards]

She was like, oh, I can't stand that motherfucker.

[Narrator]

Nick realizes he's forgotten something outside and walks back to a. Towards the front door. That's when he sees Danny outside again. Nick decides to give him a piece of his mind once and for all.

[Nick Edwards]

He said, danny, I have nothing to say to you. Leave me the alone. We have nothing to talk about. But you threatened my mother. Men don't threaten women like that. I said cowards do that. You are now officially under the piece of shit category with me. If you want to fight with somebody so bad. I'm a grown man. If that's what you want.

[Thomas Cox]

Nick went ahead and challenged Danny to a fight, which keep in mind that Nick's, what, 30, 40 years younger? So that wasn't going to happen. Danny going and accepting the challenge to go fight in the street.

[Narrator]

Clean up your mama's mess. What's going on here, Mom?

[Nick Edwards]

I got this telling mom, just go in the house, go in the house.

[Narrator]

Just stay away from me though. Recently, the soundscape on Halifax Court has been those of power drills, sledgehammers, buzz saws, and arguing neighbors. On October 23, 2017, a new sound joins the orchestra in a rare fear thy neighbor exclusive. We were able to sit down with Danny Silvers in prison to hear about what happened that fateful night. Here is his perspective when they come at me.

[Danny Silvers]

And more aggressive hollering and cussing louder. Getting loud belligerents, all three of them threatening, beat my old ass up. And saying a lot of stuff like that and stuff I'm not going to say right now. It happened. I started shooting at him. I didn't think something like this would ever, ever, ever happen, man.

[Thomas Cox]

He called his wife and he told her, hey, the neighbors just attacked me. I had to shoot them.

[Danny Silvers]

We have lived there for 26 years. Not very many problems. I never thought this kind of stuff would happen.

[Thomas Cox]

And he called 911.

[Narrator]

What you're about to hear is the real audio of Danny's call to 911 following the shooting of his neighbors.

[Nick Edwards]

911, where's the emergency?

[Danny Silvers]

How fast forward? Cedar Hill got three people downed.

[Thomas Cox]

If it's about the gunshots, we're getting units heading that way.

[Danny Silvers]

Well, you better get three ambulances out here.

[Narrator]

By the time police respond to the scene, Nick is clinging to life. He's been shot three times.

[Nick Edwards]

You can only imagine what it feels like. Remember feeling the burn.

[Thomas Cox]

The two sides disagree as to what happened. While the Baileys claimed that they stayed on their property and all they were doing is saying things Danny said. That's not true. Danny said it was them coming around and coming onto his property while making threats while saying they were going to attack him. That caused Danny to pick up the gun and use it.

[Narrator]

Following the shooting, Nick is briefly paralyzed. After repairs to his spinal cord, he is released from the hospital with his own version of the story to tell.

[Nick Edwards]

I was like, let's go. You have your option. We can go out there right now. We can handle this and settle it and it'll be done. Actually, I remember is he said, the hell with this, and he pulled out his gun and started popping rounds.

[Narrator]

While the two sides disagree about what led to the bloodshed, one thing is for certain. Danny Silvers is successful in shooting all three of his Nick, David and Jerry. Nick recalls what that horrible moment was like.

[Nick Edwards]

Mom tried to go towards the door. David tried to go to the left. I then noticed my mother was laying on the ground. And I remember grabbing the grass and dragging myself to her. All I could do is I just reached for her. And then I heard David. I could hear David and I could hear that he was injured. So I knew at that point he had been shot. And he's yelling out at Danny, why did you shoot me? Why'd you shoot my wife? Danny, why did you do this? I remember telling David, be quiet. He's going to kill us.

[Narrator]

Though David is still able to call out, and Nick has dragged himself to his mother. Jerry, Nothing they do can save her.

[Nick Edwards]

As I was holding my mom's hand, I heard some people call it the death rattle. I didn't. I didn't know that at the time. Subconsciously, I already knew she was gone. It just hadn't registered yet. The next thing I remember was I was in the back of an ambulance. I heard. I was looking up at this guy and then, where are we going? To the hospital. Why? You've been shot. I don't care. Where's my mother? And nobody could answer my questions.

[Narrator]

Jerry is pronounced dead at the scene.

[Nick Edwards]

Just insane.

[Narrator]

It was.

[Nick Edwards]

It was. It was real, but it wasn't real. It just. And it was like I was. Like I was outside of myself watching it on TV or something. I couldn't break it. I could not end it. That nightmare, that dream you just can't wake up from.

[Narrator]

Along with Nick, David survives the shooting. Danny Silvers admits to police that he was the shooter and is promptly arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

[Thomas Cox]

I was sitting in my office one day when I got a call from Danny's wife, Teresa, who said that her husband was in jail, charged with murder. And that's how my involvement with the case began.

[Narrator]

Thomas Cox, who you've been hearing from throughout this episode, serves as Danny's legal counsel for his trial. He offers a bit of insight into what was going on in Danny's mind that night.

[Thomas Cox]

Danny believed that his actions, he was in the right, and so he waived his rights and told the police he did it and you know, he did it in self defense.

[Danny Silvers]

And if Cedar Hill Police Department would have done something, this would never happen. Probably Cedar Hill Police Department did not do their job. All they did is smacked him on the hand and said, get in the house and don't come back out. Like they told me to do the same thing. It wouldn't have never happened if Cedar Hill would have charged him for trespassing and terroristic threats.

[Thomas Cox]

So anytime somebody shoots someone else and claims self defense, that's always going to be a jury trial. That's exactly what happened here. We took it to trial because basically the only other option being pleading guilty to murder and accepting some sentence that for Danny would probably be the rest of his life in prison. That made it an easy choice.

[Narrator]

Believing his actions on October 23, 2017 were justified, Danny Silvers takes the stand. During his trial, Danny told the jury.

[Thomas Cox]

That he was on his property, he was minding his own business and they came around onto his property attacking him.

[Narrator]

But based on the evidence presented at that trial, the jury disagrees with Danny's recollection of that day's events. He is found guilty and sentenced to prison.

[Danny Silvers]

They charged me with giving me 35 years. I mean I'm 75 here.

[Nick Edwards]

He'll never walk the streets as a free man again due to his age and his medical conditions. I'm glad that he's facing a punishment. I'm glad that he's got to sit there.

[Narrator]

Even still, Nick was hoping for a different outcome.

[Nick Edwards]

I was under the impression in the state of Texas that if there was more than one witness and with certain things that had happened, comments that were made to other people from Danny himself, that it became a premeditated case which in turn should have caused it to be a capital murder case, which is death row in the state of Texas. But they did not charge him that. I was a little disappointed with that.

[Narrator]

Following her husband's incarceration, Teresa Silvers moves away from Halifax Court.

[Thomas Cox]

She certainly hadn't done anything wrong, but she ended up putting the house up for sale and moving out of town.

[Narrator]

After this incident, some neighbors, like Gwynne S. Durham, also wanted to leave the neighborhood following the shooting.

[Quiness Durham]

And everyone wanted to basically move away and get away from the city because you know, the man was crazy. And that was my first like traumatic experience. Like all three of my neighbors just get taken out that quick following the shooting.

[Narrator]

Life is a constant struggle for Nick and David, mentally and physically.

[Nick Edwards]

I stuck around for a little while after everything happened and I couldn't sit there, could not sit in that house. Every single thing in that house my mom was involved with that we all built and created in this home. And everywhere you look it's just another reminder and just ease it and eats at you can't go to sleep because you're in pain. You can't get out of bed because you're in pain. I had to get away from the house, so I came down here to Austin visit. That's all I needed to get away.

[Narrator]

David decides to stay put in his home, but sadly, tragedy finds him once more.

[Nick Edwards]

David ended up getting a roommate. I'm not sure 100% of all the details, but this guy apparently pulled a gun on David and shot him in the same damn house with one of the rounds. Completely shattered his arm in half. The guy ended up turning the gun on himself, killing himself.

[Narrator]

This time, David succumbs to his injuries. Sitting behind the glass of the prison interview room, Danny Silvers expresses some measure of regret.

[Danny Silvers]

I didn't want that to happen. I never thought in my life that I would shoot somebody like that man, if I could take it back. I know you can't. But by golly, it was hell is hell. Now.

[Narrator]

Whether that regret is for the lives he took or because he's now staring down the barrel of spending the rest of his life in prison, it's up to you.

[Danny Silvers]

There's nothing you can say to help something like that. You know, it's done. It's done.

[Narrator]

Though Danny seems remorseful, Nick isn't forgiving.

[Nick Edwards]

It may be bad, and people say, you know, you're supposed to forgive. Let go and forgive. I'm sorry. I do not forgive. I have no forgiveness in my mind, body or soul for that man. I wish him as much pain and misery that can ever be brought upon somebody. I hope he hurts.

[Narrator]

Even with the knowledge that his mother's killer will remain behind bars for the rest of his natural life, Nick finds himself in a prison of his own.

[Nick Edwards]

That day relives in my head every day. I'd like to tell you that there's a day that I don't think about it. That would be such a great feeling to have that peace for a moment that it's not there in my eyes. I lost my whole life.

[Narrator]

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

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