Under Surveillance

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor – Episode: "Under Surveillance"

Host: ID
Release Date: July 28, 2025

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Introduction: A Picturesque Community Turned Hostile

"What would you do if the person you feared most… was living right next door?"
— Narrator, [02:00]

In this gripping episode of Fear Thy Neighbor, host ID delves into the unsettling transformation of the Delrida neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama. Once a serene and closely-knit community, Delrida becomes the epicenter of fear and hostility when Jason Clark, a long-absent resident, returns with a dark agenda.

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Setting the Scene: The Ideal Neighborhood

Delrida is depicted as the epitome of suburban bliss. Residents like Brenda Biller and her husband Paul, welfare worker Joe Gross, and hospital worker Sarah Chandler describe their community as "absolutely beautiful" ([03:54]) and "the American dream" ([04:05]). The arrival of new neighbor Kristen Hamilton, a college student, initially adds to the neighborhood's charm, especially with her litter of adorable puppies ([06:04]).

---

The First Crack: Noise Complaints Over Puppies

The harmony begins to fracture when Jason Clark confronts Kristen about the incessant barking of her puppies:

"Hey, Kristen, what's up? Can you cut the noise, please?"
— Jason Clark, [07:37]

Kristen, taken aback, tries to reassure him that the puppies are temporary. However, Jason's frustration escalates as the barking persists, leading him to file a complaint in court ([08:36]). Despite testimonies from neighbors like Sarah Chandler, the court rules against Kristen, imposing a $500 fine for her noise complaints ([10:15]).

---

Escalation: From Legal Battles to Personal Threats

The legal confrontation marks the beginning of Jason's descent into hostility. Sarah Chandler becomes a target when she receives an anonymous threatening call:

"I'll make you pay for this, you crazy bitch."
— Jason Clark, [11:03]

Despite multiple police reports, Jason denies the threats, leaving Sarah feeling isolated and fearful ([12:02]). Attempts by neighbors to mediate, such as Paul Biller's confrontations and Joe Gross's efforts, only fuel Jason's anger ([18:04]).

---

Community Response: Vigilance and Desperation

As Jason's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and threatening, the community takes matters into their own hands. Paul Biller, an ex-policeman, arms himself and becomes a neighborhood watch leader ([18:40]). However, Jason continues to outmaneuver law enforcement, using tactics like turning off lights before officers arrive ([26:15]).

---

Climactic Confrontation: Assault and Arrest

Tensions culminate in a violent altercation between Jason and Paul Biller:

"Why don't you come over here and say it to my face?"
— Jason Clark, [19:34]

In a desperate attempt to confront Jason, Paul faces a physical assault. Witnesses describe the horrifying scene where Jason brutally attacks Joe Gross with a hammer, only to turn the violence inward just as police arrive. Despite clear evidence and neighbor testimonies, Jason initially evades conviction. However, persistent community advocacy leads District Attorney Darrell Bailey to secure a search warrant, uncovering Jason's extensive arsenal and incriminating evidence ([43:15]).

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Resolution: Legal Justice and Lingering Fear

Jason Clark is eventually charged with aggravated stalking and, after pleading guilty, is sentenced to two consecutive 20-year terms ([43:58]). Despite his incarceration, the emotional scars on the Delrida community remain deep. Residents like Brenda Biller emphasize the importance of unity in overcoming such terror:

"No one or two people can get through something like this. It takes sticking together."
— Brenda Biller, [45:47]

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Aftermath: Lessons Learned and Community Healing

The episode concludes with reflections on the impact of Jason's actions and the resilience of the community. While Jason's mother, Verna, remains a lingering presence, the residents of Delrida are forever changed, embodying both fear and the strength derived from collective perseverance.

"There are dangerous and evil people out there and like I never thought in my neighborhood I would have to watch my back."
— Sarah Chandler, [45:15]

---

Key Takeaways:

• Seemingly Minor Conflicts Can Escalate: What starts as a simple noise complaint over puppies spirals into life-threatening harassment.

• Community Unity is Crucial: The strength and persistence of the Delrida residents eventually lead to justice, highlighting the power of collective action.

• Limitations of Law Enforcement: Initial police responses failed to address the severity of Jason's behavior, underscoring the challenges communities face in dealing with persistent and manipulative threats.

---

Notable Quotes:

• "He wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted." — Lindsay Rogers, [10:33]

• "This is crazy how that totally went out of control with that initial noise complaint." — Sarah Chandler, [12:12]

• "He's an evil, evil person controlled by some dark, dark place." — Janet Boyd, [34:34]

• "It's tough to cope. Everybody's called the cops on me for no reason." — Jason Clark, [22:57]

---

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale

"Under Surveillance" serves as a stark reminder of how trust and safety within a community can be shattered by one individual's unchecked rage and deception. Fear Thy Neighbor masterfully portrays the psychological and emotional toll such a transformation can have on a once-peaceful neighborhood, leaving listeners both horrified and reflective on the complexities of neighborly relationships.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Jason Clark]

This area was sort of a shark tank for predators. Not just the Green River Killer, but.

[Narrator]

Others in who Took Misty Copsey? I'm investigating the disappearance of a 14 year old girl who vanished from the Washington State Fair in 1992.

[Jason Clark]

How?

[Lindsay Rogers]

Why?

[Jason Clark]

She was so sweet and so young. What happened to her?

[Narrator]

Listen to who Took Misty Copsey wherever.

[Lindsay Rogers]

You get your podcasts. 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 centers on a young man who has recently returned to the street he grew up on after years away. Initially, everyone is thrilled to have the young man back in the fold, but they soon discover he's not the same person they knew when he left. And it's not long before their beloved neighborhood turns into a hotbed of hostility. Threats and insults lead to court subpoenas and tension builds to an onslaught of terror as events spiral out of control. This is fear thy neighbor under surveillance. We're in the heart of Dixie, in one of the most sought after suburbs of Montgomery, Alabama. The picturesque Delrida neighborhood is the type of community where most residents are not only good neighbors, but great friends. Here's resident Brenda Biller and journalist Lindsey Rogers.

[Brenda Biller]

And it is just absolutely beautiful. It's always been safe. It's always been just a very, very comfortable area. It's just an ideal place to live.

[Kristen Hamilton]

That was it right there in Delrida. It was the American dream.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It's the type of place that calls people back to it. So it's no big surprise that telecom worker Jason Clark has decided to move back to his mother Verna's home on Georgetown Drive after many years away.

[Jason Clark]

Don't worry, mom. I got these. Aw, thanks, hon.

[Lindsay Rogers]

I'll get everything set in the kitchen.

[Jason Clark]

As a young teenager, he grew up there and he would do things for me. He would blow my drive off. He would blow the leaves.

[Lindsay Rogers]

That was good. Friend and next door neighbor to Jason and Verna, State welfare worker Joe Gross. Joe has known the family for many years and is delighted to have Jason back on the block.

[Jason Clark]

We got along great.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Returned to his childhood street. Jason fits right in like he never left. Another longtime resident, hospital worker Sarah Chandler, lives across from the Clarks and has known Jason since he was a teenager.

[Sarah Chandler]

Jason and I always had a good neighborly relationship. He appeared to be real nice and he was living with his mother, but seemed to be all right. Jason seemed to be all right.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Paul Biller, Brenda Biller's husband. Couldn't agree more.

[Jason Clark]

Gorgeous, isn't it? Sure is.

[Paul Biller]

My first impression of him, Jason was, wow, you know, this guy's really going to be a good neighbor. His yard, it was beautiful. It was one of the most beautiful yards I'd seen. Look almost like a golf course.

[Lindsay Rogers]

This charming neighborhood doesn't just draw old neighbors back. It's also a magnet for brand new residents like college student Kristen Hamilton. District Attorney Darrell Bailey speaks to her arrival in the house. Right beside Jason and Verna.

[Joe Gross]

Kristen is really just out on her own for the first time. Very excited about moving into the Dalrida neighborhood and into this house and just excited.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Kristen and Jason soon meet. He is instantly taken with her dog.

[Jason Clark]

Hi. Who's this, this is Missy. Oh, nice to meet you. Don't worry.

[Narrator]

The worst she'll do is lick you to death.

[Jason Clark]

Well, welcome to the best treat in the neighborhood. I'm Jason.

[Narrator]

I'm Kristen.

[Jason Clark]

Nice to meet you.

[Sarah Chandler]

I remember Jason welcoming her to the neighborhood.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason, honey, can you come on in.

[Jason Clark]

And give me a hand? Well, duty calls, but welcome again to the neighborhood. And honestly, if there's anything else you need, just let me know.

[Sarah Chandler]

Thank you.

[Jason Clark]

No worries.

[Lindsay Rogers]

When Joe Gross approaches Jason for assistance, he always proves true to his helpful nature. Hi.

[Jason Clark]

A neighbor. How you doing? Doing okay, thank you. By the way, thank you so much for helping me out with the yard last week. I'm very technology challenged and Jason would help me update my phone.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It's safe to say you'd be hard pressed to find a happier community in all of Montgomery. For now, life in this neighborhood continues as it always has, with things getting a little more exciting as new arrival Kristen Hamilton's dog gives birth to a litter of puppies.

[Paul Biller]

Yeah, it's a dog neighborhood.

[Joe Gross]

Kristen did have some puppies, new puppies that were barking. His dogs do.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Journalist Lindsay Rogers seconds Darryl Bailey's observation. They're cute.

[Kristen Hamilton]

They're adorable. Everybody wants to come and see the puppies. Of course there's going to be noise. It's understandable.

[Jason Clark]

I would hear them bark some when I was outside.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But it's not long before the street's joyous celebration of the puppies comes to an abrupt end. Jason confronts Kristen about all the noise.

[Jason Clark]

Hey, Kristen, what's up? Can you cut the noise, please?

[Narrator]

They're puppies.

[Lindsay Rogers]

What can I do?

[Jason Clark]

I don't know. Bring them somewhere where they don't annoy your neighbors.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Relax, Jason.

[Narrator]

They'll be going to new homes in a couple weeks.

[Jason Clark]

No, that's too long. Maybe deal with it now. I can't listen to that all day. Come on, let's go somewhere quiet.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Kristen is surprised by Jason's reaction, yet the barking seems to follow him everywhere and his anger rises. To make matters worse, we the way the neighborhood is laid out, the sounds are nearly impossible to drown out.

[Joe Gross]

There's really not very much space between these houses.

[Jason Clark]

Shut those dogs up. Enough is enough.

[Kristen Hamilton]

I guess he thought that it was going to be a permanent fixture for him and he wasn't going to have any of that.

[Jason Clark]

I knew they were upset about the dogs, but I didn't know that they were as upset to the extent that.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It developed into South Georgetown. Drive is about to find out just how upset Jason is and he starts by filing a complaint with the city.

[Jason Clark]

I knew that they were planning something. I just didn't know it was court.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Kirsten Hamilton.

[Jason Clark]

You'Ve been served a subpoena.

[Narrator]

A subpoena?

[Jason Clark]

Yes, ma'.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Am. Please show up to court on that day. Are you kidding me? To many in the neighborhood who have known Jason for years, it seems so out of character. But Jason shows no signs of stopping in his mounting legal war against Kristen. Desperate to find a solution, she turns to neighbor Sarah Chandler for help. I can't believe it.

[Narrator]

Jason is suing me because of the pups.

[Sarah Chandler]

I was very surprised that they would do that. I had known Jason for a good 25 years, that he had been around, you know, and it just started taking a different turn. Then I need you to testify on.

[Narrator]

My behalf at court.

[Sarah Chandler]

I did not want to get involved in it for sure, but, you know, I thought, well, if I have to go, I have to go.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The trial pits neighbor against neighbor. And worse still, each side begins pulling other neighbors into the case as witnesses. Joe Gross, himself, an owner of a little lap dog named Abigail, wants nothing to do with the dispute.

[Jason Clark]

Jason and Verna wanted me to go to court with them as character witnesses. I never testified. I stayed out.

[Sarah Chandler]

I told the judge that the dogs were not bothering me at all. You know, I could not hear him bark or anything.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Despite Sarah's testimony, the court rules against Kristen, and she's fined $500 for noise complaints relating to her pets.

[Jason Clark]

My understanding was she had 10 dogs at that time.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It's a win for Jason. Yet the outcome settles nothing, says journalist Lindsay Rogers.

[Kristen Hamilton]

But it's really only made things worse.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Especially worse for Sarah, who testified on Kristen's side.

[Narrator]

Jason, my testifying.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Look, it was nothing personal.

[Narrator]

I was just trying to have this.

[Jason Clark]

I don't need to hear it. You've already made it perfectly clear where your loyalties lie.

[Sarah Chandler]

Jason used a few obscenities to me that day, so I knew then I was on guard from then on.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Later that evening, Sarah receives an anonymous phone call.

[Sarah Chandler]

Hello?

[Jason Clark]

I'll make you pay for this, you crazy bitch.

[Joe Gross]

You made a big mistake.

[Sarah Chandler]

I'm 100% sure it was Jason.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Like many others in the community, Sarah has noticed a shift in Jason's behavior, and he's made it perfectly clear that she's now the target of his ire. Not sure what else to do, Sarah calls the police to report the threatening phone call.

[Sarah Chandler]

So I knew then there was a problem. It's crazy how that totally went out of control with that initial Noah's complaint.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Authorities are soon speaking with Jason at his front door.

[Jason Clark]

Hello there. Are you Jason Clark? Yeah.

[Joe Gross]

Your neighbor said you threatened her.

[Jason Clark]

My neighbor? No. No. No way. That's B.S. absolutely not.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Sarah tells a different story when police come to her place.

[Narrator]

He definitely threatened me. He said he'd make me pay.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Now I'm scared of what he might do.

[Joe Gross]

He's denying making a threat. Do you have a recording?

[Narrator]

No.

[Lindsay Rogers]

To Sarah, it feels as though the police merely brush off her complaints, leaving her feeling more alone and scared than ever before.

[Sarah Chandler]

I think the city of Montgomery actually thought it was just a neighborhood problem and was not as intense as it.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Was at that point. It's just a he said, she said.

[Jason Clark]

Unless you can provide evidence, there's nothing we can do.

[Lindsay Rogers]

You can't. You're not going to do anything.

[Sarah Chandler]

It was very scary. I live by myself. My husband died like 20 years ago and it was very scary to me.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The next day, Sarah discusses the phone call with friend and neighbor Brenda Biller.

[Narrator]

I have never hurt him, talked like that before.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It was disturbing. I'm sure it was just the heat of the moment. Things will calm down, but that's not going to happen. In fact, explosive encounters with Jason are about to become more and more frequent. And not just for Sarah and Kristen. For everyone. Hey, it's Janese from Warner Bros. Discovery. Here we are in the thick of summer, and I am locked into my summer plans. I'm taking beach trips. I'm catching up with my friends. I'm taking tons of funny selfies with their kids after we tell ghost stories. I'm watching the fireflies at night and swimming in the creeks and the waterfalls whenever I can find them. I am eating so much ice cream at least once a day, sometimes twice. And you know what doesn't belong in all of these epic summer plans? Getting burned by my wireless bill. And that's why I love Mint Mobile. With Mint, I can get the coverage and speed I'm used to, but for way less money. And for a limited time, Mint mobile is offering three months of unlimited premium wireless service for just 15 bucks a month. Crazy. So while my friends are sweating over data overages and surprise charges, I'll be chilling, literally and financially. And I'll also be able to send them all of the cute pictures I've taken. No sweat. So why else should you make the switch? Well, all plans come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest fire. And you can use your own phone with any Mint Mobile plan. And bring your phone number along with all your existing contacts. So come on over to the Mint Mobile side of things and get the service and pricing you deserve this year. Skip breaking a sweat and breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your three month unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com thyneighbor that's mintmobile.com thyneighboro upfront payment of $45 required, equivalent to $15 per month limited time new customer offer for first three speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

[Narrator]

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[Jason Clark]

This area was sort of a.

[Joe Gross]

Shark tank for predators.

[Jason Clark]

Not just the Green River Killer, but.

[Narrator]

Others in who took Misty Copsey? I'm investigating the disappearance of a 14 year old girl who vanished from the Washington State Fair in 1992.

[Jason Clark]

How?

[Lindsay Rogers]

Why?

[Jason Clark]

She was so sweet and so young. What happened to her?

[Narrator]

Listen to who took Misty Copsey. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The next target of Jason's verbal accosts is Brenda Biller.

[Jason Clark]

Hey, what are you guys gossiping about? Me?

[Lindsay Rogers]

No one's talking about you, Jason. You're just paranoid.

[Jason Clark]

You always were a disrespectful fat cow.

[Lindsay Rogers]

It's a shocking insult. No one could have imagined Jason ever talking like this to anyone, says Brenda.

[Brenda Biller]

He has two sides, but I'm here to tell you the good side. You know, he can't play good boy for a very long time.

[Lindsay Rogers]

As Sarah explains, she can't help but pick up on a rather revealing pattern when it comes to to Jason's targets.

[Sarah Chandler]

I think now Jason loved to pick on women. I think he loved to do that because I was a good target for him.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Brenda's husband, Paul Biller, is outraged to learn of Jason's insults.

[Jason Clark]

I'm going to have a word with him.

[Paul Biller]

She was really upset. You know, she's an adult. She can handle herself. But she's still my wife. I want a piece of him.

[Jason Clark]

Hey, I've been hearing you're causing some trouble and calling my wife names. That better stop, mister.

[Paul Biller]

I was watching my P's and q's and trying to make sure that I didn't go over the line. I didn't mind, you know, saying things back to him.

[Jason Clark]

You know, you got some audacity coming onto my property talking to me that way. Especially when you're friends with that backstabber Sarah. Why don't you take a hike and get lost? Look, just stop it, okay? Shut up.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Paul tried to talk to him, but it really only fueled his fire.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The entire neighborhood is left rattled and shocked by Jason's and sudden change in behavior. Unsure of what else to do, Paul decides to stand guard, both figuratively and literally.

[Sarah Chandler]

Paul is an ex policeman and definitely wants to make sure the community is looked after.

[Paul Biller]

We have an open carry law, and I went and bought a weapon that was stainless steel, so it wasn't dark, nice and shiny, so when I walked down the street, it would show up very well.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Paul is a block captain, neighborhood watch, doing what folks in neighborhoods across our country do in an effort to try and keep their community safe.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But Jason doesn't see it that way. To him, it's just another escalation in the ongoing war.

[Jason Clark]

Why are you playing cop? Mind your own business.

[Kristen Hamilton]

He doesn't like authority. He doesn't like being told what to do.

[Jason Clark]

Are you gonna make me? Hey, shouldn't you be inside with that barn animal wife of yours, huh?

[Paul Biller]

He'd make me sexual comments about her and so forth and such and such and just trying to edge me on.

[Jason Clark]

Give her one from you there, old MacDonald.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Suddenly this shouting match turns deadly serious.

[Jason Clark]

Why don't you come over here and say it to my face?

[Paul Biller]

I stopped and looked up at him, and I could see that he was hiding something behind his leg, and I assumed it was a gun.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Paul believes Jason is trying to lure him onto his property in order to shoot him.

[Paul Biller]

But he kept trying to come up with different ways to. To confront me and goad me into something.

[Jason Clark]

Why don't you come over here?

[Lindsay Rogers]

Neither man wants to be the one to back down, but Paul isn't about to resort to violence.

[Jason Clark]

You're not worth it.

[Paul Biller]

I'm not stupid enough to do that. You know, my ego is not so fragile that some loudmouth shooting his mouth off about sexual innuendos about my wife is going to get me all upset.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The standoff ends without anyone getting hurt. Yet there's no way to put the Jason genie back in the bottle, says journalist Lindsay Rogers, victorious.

[Kristen Hamilton]

I think that he would have seen that as a win.

[Lindsay Rogers]

And the wins keep piling up for Jason, at least in his mind.

[Sarah Chandler]

I would go to work in the morning. I worked at a hospital here, and I would leave in the dark.

[Lindsay Rogers]

On this night, as District Attorney Darrell Bailey tells us, Jason lies in wait at neighbor Sarah Chandler's place until she arrives home.

[Jason Clark]

What's up, Sarah?

[Joe Gross]

He would jump out of the bushes to scare his neighbors.

[Sarah Chandler]

It was really getting really bad. It was escalating. I did call the police a lot during this whole, whole period of time. We all did.

[Jason Clark]

The police would come out, and Jason was always very rude and hostile.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But the police don't have enough evidence to press charges. Once again, their visit boils down to a he said, she said account of events. They don't even know who to believe.

[Joe Gross]

Mr. Clark has no respect for authority, has no respect for law enforcement.

[Lindsay Rogers]

He can see his friend is flirting with disaster and wastes no time trying to intervene.

[Jason Clark]

I would advise him, Jason, you can't. You don't need to talk to the police like this. You need to try to get along with him because they're never gonna be on your side as long as you treat them the way you do. I don't remember asking your opinion, man. How about you mind your own business? What is. Okay, thanks, Joe. Great advice. Well, sometimes he listened, and sometimes he would get upset with me for saying things. And he could get ugly. Not violent or anything like that. In fact, I never thought of him as a violent person. He just had a very bad temper. One time, he even brought me a watermelon as a gift because he realized he had been so ugly. Hey, man, I just. I just kind of wanted to say I'm really sorry. I don't really know what came over me there.

[Lindsay Rogers]

For now, Jason is keen to make things right with his dear friend.

[Jason Clark]

It's okay. He would always come back and apologize to me later. Moving forward, just don't get so upset. It's just been tough. It's tough to cope. Everybody's called the cops on me for no reason. I don't even know what's going on anymore. Jason would come basically to cry on my shoulder. You gotta rise above it. Don't let them get to you.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Sarah Chandler doesn't buy the regretful act for a minute.

[Sarah Chandler]

I can see Jason being very manipulative to the other neighbors in the neighborhood that did not know exactly what was going on.

[Lindsay Rogers]

And unfortunately, her fears are soon vindicated.

[Sarah Chandler]

I came home from work one day and my front door was shot out. Glass was everywhere. That got very, very scary and creepy. For the first time, shots are fired.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Who knows what could happen? You know, when bullets are start flying.

[Brenda Biller]

Tensions are going to be higher. Anger. There's going to be a lot of anger. There's going to be a lot of fear.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Shaken to the core, Sarah once again calls the police. In her mind, there's no question Jason is responsible.

[Joe Gross]

Why do you think your neighbor did this?

[Narrator]

Because nobody else would do this.

[Sarah Chandler]

We assumed it wasn't anyone else but him.

[Lindsay Rogers]

When confronted, Jason denies any involvement in the shooting. With no proof, authorities are unable to make an arrest. District Attorney Darrell Bailey speaks to law enforcement's frustration.

[Joe Gross]

Police department did go out and investigate, but of course, unless they had a witness who actually saw the person shoot into the house or they have a confession, it's really hard for them to know who did it.

[Sarah Chandler]

And it was awfully hard, you know, to go to sleep at night, to wake up in the morning and not know what to expect every day when I got up, I thought, what's awaiting me this morning?

[Lindsay Rogers]

During his vigilante neighborhood patrols, Paul Biller discovers that Jason's antics are getting even more disturbing.

[Joe Gross]

He would dress up in what is known as a ghillie suit, which is used by hunters to disguise themselves or blend in with the environment.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason ambushes Paul from some nearby bushes.

[Jason Clark]

What the hell are you doing? You better stop hassling my mom or you'll be sorry.

[Paul Biller]

He called out at me something about, don't you ever threaten my mother again.

[Jason Clark]

What are you talking about? Haven't even talked to her.

[Paul Biller]

I'm gonna kill you. Well, that's okay.

[Jason Clark]

I'd like to see you try.

[Paul Biller]

I'm not gonna stand there and let somebody, you know, you know, mess with me like that. And so I looked at my watches. Well, I got five minutes. I got time.

[Jason Clark]

Well, what are you waiting for?

[Kristen Hamilton]

I commend Paul for trying to do what he could. And I think if anyone in the neighborhood, he was equipped to be that person. To come face to face with Jason Clark and say, listen, this has got to stop. Look at what you're doing to everyone around you.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason is not going to let up on his campaign of abuse and immediately launches the next assault. This time he has a new piece of artillery. Bright lights, including laser lights that he shines into his neighbors homes.

[Narrator]

What the hell?

[Brenda Biller]

It was just like a coliseum being lit up.

[Sarah Chandler]

I mean, when you say lights, you just don't think about just like you think regular lights. But these were blinding lights.

[Jason Clark]

Jason, knock it off or I'm calling the cops.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Yet Jason is already one step ahead of his neighbors.

[Jason Clark]

He had a police scanner and he knew when they were coming to the house.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Jason Clark knew how to skirt around the system and keep from getting things to a certain point so that he could continue doing what he was doing.

[Lindsay Rogers]

By the time police arrive, Jason has already turned off the lights. There's no evidence of any wrongdoing. They leave without pressing any charges. For Sarah Chandler and the community, it feels like nothing will ever change.

[Sarah Chandler]

We had to try something. It was getting desperate.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Feeling unable to rely on law enforcement, many in the community band together in hopes of accruing evidence against Jason. Sarah joins others on the street in installing security cameras.

[Joe Gross]

He was very angry about these cameras being put up.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Yet even when his neighbors capture video, evidence of Jason's obnoxious light shows law enforcement does not act.

[Joe Gross]

That is when I learned that unfortunately at that time, the Montgomery police department was not willing to help them. And I verified that. I went all the way up to the top of the police department. At the time, they felt this was a neighborhood dispute and they were not going to get involved in it.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Neighbors continue organizing to maintain the pressure on local authorities.

[Paul Biller]

We had meetings. The more he acted up, the more we talked it up.

[Lindsay Rogers]

At Neighborhood Watch, Kristin Hamilton, successfully sued by Jason Clark in courts, is at the forefront of these efforts.

[Jason Clark]

We have to keep calling the police.

[Narrator]

He won't stop otherwise. Okay, well, let me know if he gets up to anything else.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But Jason has already made his next move, and it's more invasive and alarming than anything the street has experienced yet.

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[Sarah Chandler]

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[Lindsay Rogers]

According to neighbors, Jason has somehow found a way to access their telecommunications and he begins broadcasting their private calls for the whole neighborhood to hear.

[Paul Biller]

He had taken a recording of her phone call and he had put it on a loudspeaker from his command post. This guy's capturing communications.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Besides Kristen, Jason specifically targets Sarah Chandler. I want to report my neighbor, Jason Clark. He's arresting me.

[Sarah Chandler]

I was calling the police and he was broadcasting a loud, loud loudspakers, I'm afraid.

[Kristen Hamilton]

Send someone right away.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Journalist Lindsay Rogers explains the toll these loudspeaker broadcasts had on the otherwise quiet street.

[Kristen Hamilton]

You should be able to have a personal phone conversation inside your house. But Jason Clark even robbed them of something as simple as that. That really starts to weigh on you when you don't feel like you can be at home in your home.

[Jason Clark]

Jason, please.

[Kristen Hamilton]

My neighbor, he's broadcasting all of our phone calls.

[Lindsay Rogers]

This is crazy enough. Even Jason's last friend on the street, Joe Gross, has reached his limit.

[Jason Clark]

This needs to stop. It was just a frightening time. I tried for the longest to not respond to anything that he was doing. I reached the point that I had seen put up with all of the terror that I could stand.

[Kristen Hamilton]

And that bond was broken and there was no turning back. There was a sense of fear, there was a sense of dread, and things were escalating. So they start to see him build up his walls. Quite literally.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason erects high, bright orange walls all around his property line and plasters them with warning signs.

[Sarah Chandler]

It was absolutely horrendous. I think at one time everyone counted it was like 20 or 25 signs he had up there that no trespassing. It was just such an eyesore. It was just unreal.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The neighbors may be horrified, but Jason's new construction is perfectly legal.

[Jason Clark]

And I told him, I said, that fence is not going to stay there. He threatened me that if I ever did do anything, that he was going to have me arrested. Even if I tried to paint it, I let it stay there because I just wanted to try to keep down any more harassment than I was already getting.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Yet worse is still to come. Neighbor Brenda Biller recounts a horrific incident.

[Brenda Biller]

We have two dogs, two babies. They're like our children. So I had to take one of them to the vet. It was a really nice, pretty morning. And all of a sudden, he reached in my window and grabbed my dog.

[Jason Clark]

Jason.

[Lindsay Rogers]

I know.

[Sarah Chandler]

What are you doing?

[Jason Clark]

Jason?

[Brenda Biller]

It shocked me. I didn't know. I didn't know what to do.

[Jason Clark]

Don't hurt her. Don't give her back.

[Brenda Biller]

I was scared to step on the gas. I was scared he'd snatch her.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason. Fortunately for Brenda, Jason doesn't harm her dog this time.

[Brenda Biller]

Who would think that somebody would do something like that to you? And you live with things like that for as long as we did, and it just. It just. It wears you down.

[Lindsay Rogers]

After three long years of misery and no help from police, the battered community rallies to fight back.

[Sarah Chandler]

In court, we decided to. We had finally enough evidence to present a very strong case.

[Joe Gross]

So all of that led to them filing charges along the way from 2011 to 2014 in municipal court. So these would have been misdemeanor charges.

[Lindsay Rogers]

The court date arrives. After hearing from all sides, the judge rules in the neighbor's favor. Jason is forced to leave the street he lives on.

[Joe Gross]

So these court actions resulted in Mr. Clark being issued restraining orders against him from living within certain amount of distance with these neighbors.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But astonishingly, Jason soon finds a group of guardian angels. Janet Boyd is a member of a nearby local church. Here she is now. I met Jason Clark at the end of the street.

[Brenda Biller]

Early one morning.

[Jason Clark]

Here, here, here. Let me help you with that.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Thank you.

[Jason Clark]

You're welcome. It's nice to see that there's still good people in the neighborhood, you know?

[Lindsay Rogers]

What do you mean?

[Jason Clark]

Well, I don't know. I made one little noise complaint, and it feels like the whole neighborhood's just kind of ganging up on me now.

[Lindsay Rogers]

You said the people around here are after me. Oh, dear.

[Narrator]

Well, I'm always here if you need a friend.

[Lindsay Rogers]

I just could not believe that Jason was anything but a gentleman.

[Joe Gross]

There was a local congregation in the neighborhood that heard about Mr. Clark and that he had lived there for so long, and they felt sorry for him and actually donated a house for him to live in that was owned by the church so that he would have a place to live.

[Sarah Chandler]

Janet became friends with with Jason and Verna and didn't realize what was going on.

[Lindsay Rogers]

He was a nice guy. And, of course, you know, as you know, some people get in dire straits sometimes, and you just want to help them, you know? Jason may have been ordered off South Georgetown Drive, but he's still living close by. And for residents still living on the street he left behind, his proximity offers little reassurance.

[Brenda Biller]

And we knew at that point that Jason was extremely angry at all of us. And we knew that, you know, he would do anything to get revenge on us. So it wasn't a comfort or a relief.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason ignores the restraining order and continues to harass his former friends like Joe Gross every time he returns from an outing.

[Jason Clark]

You're a dead man walking, Joe. He was always out waiting on me, and I could never figure out how he knew when I was coming home.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Joe enlists the help of Paul Biller in his quest for answers. And it's with Paul's help that Joe uncovers a disturbing detail.

[Paul Biller]

It seemed that everything that was going on in his house, Jason knew about.

[Jason Clark]

Did you say Jason had access to your phone? Yeah, he would do all the updates for me.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Paul discovers that Jason has remained logged into Joe's phone account.

[Jason Clark]

It never dawned on me that because he had the password to my phone that he was tracking me on my phone.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Joe changes his account password to get Jason off his tail, but it doesn't really help.

[Jason Clark]

In fact, I think he may have gotten worse because I think he was mad.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Still camped out at the helpful church, Jason experiences another setback. This water bill is really expensive, and how can it be this, you know? Janet is determined to speak with her guest and makes an alarming discovery. We found out that he was slipping inside the church and using the church's computer. And my husband said, you know, Jason, you are, I believe, taking advantage of the church. When my husband said that to him, this man changed into what looked like a devil. I mean, his face was red, his eyes were red. He started cursing. So we knew then that something was terribly, terribly wrong with Jason. We were in trouble. Yeah. He was not the person he made out to be. And so, like the residents on Georgetown Drive, Janet Boyd and her parish make moves to remove Jason from Their church.

[Joe Gross]

They started the eviction process, and under Alabama law, you have to give them 30 days in order to move out.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason takes advantage of those days to strike back at the good Samaritans. He wrote on the side of the church, 666. He broke bottles and light bulbs all over the churchyard, all over the grass, so that the children could not walk through there. It was sickening. We were good shepherds to him, you know, we were trying to help a guy out. While the congregation deals with evicting Jason out of the blue, all across his old neighborhood gardens are mysteriously dying. And for some residents, like Kristin Hamilton. Missy. Something much worse happens. Brenda Biller shares the awful details.

[Sarah Chandler]

Missy.

[Narrator]

Missy, wake up.

[Brenda Biller]

They did an autopsy, and her dog had died of a massive dose of rat poison.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Missy.

[Brenda Biller]

Christmas. Kristen had told me that Jason at one time had told her that he was going to kill her dog.

[Lindsay Rogers]

And it's not just Kristen's dog. Abby, Joe's beloved canine, suffers the same terrible fate.

[Jason Clark]

Abigail.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Poisoned to death.

[Jason Clark]

Abigail I had to put down because of the pain from the nerve damage. She was like a companion, like my child. As far as I'm concerned, she was my child.

[Paul Biller]

There's something seriously wrong with somebody's mind who would do bad things to an animal.

[Lindsay Rogers]

A devout in his religion, Joe determines to send a message to his neighbor.

[Jason Clark]

I know Verna went to the Baptist church nearby. I don't know whether Jason went, but I did sense that he had some faith in God. I put a sign up. It was something to the effect God does not like people being mistreated.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But Joe's attempt to appeal to his faith has the opposite effect.

[Sarah Chandler]

By then, Jason couldn't stand Joe. You know, he was a target for him, too, like we all were.

[Jason Clark]

What are you playing at? Jason came out of the house and he attacked me specifically.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason grabs the hammer Joe was using to pound his signpost into the ground and beats him with.

[Brenda Biller]

Takes somebody with a touch of evil in them to do things like that.

[Jason Clark]

I did have the hammer up in the air. He came at me, had me in a bear hug. I couldn't even move. And he threw me down on the pavement and he started hitting me in the face. He broke my glasses, and then he was taking my head and banging it into the pavement.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Sarah Chandler and another neighbor see the whole attack unfold.

[Jason Clark]

Oh, my God.

[Narrator]

Joe.

[Jason Clark]

No, no, no.

[Sarah Chandler]

I began shouting at Jason to get off of Joe.

[Jason Clark]

I finally hit him in the back with my knees, and it knocked him forward off of me. He immediately grabbed the hammer. Well, I thought he was going to kill me. Then Jason don't.

[Lindsay Rogers]

By now, police sirens can be heard. Instead of continuing to batter his neighbor, Jason Clark takes the hammer and according to witnesses, strikes himself in the face with it.

[Jason Clark]

It appeared he had taken that hammer and had split his lip wide open. He had a couple of teeth knocked down.

[Paul Biller]

That's kind of a weasel. This guy really is. He's nut bag.

[Jason Clark]

He knew that there were two witnesses to his attacking me. And I believe he knew that he was in trouble.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Now when police arrive on the scene, Jason claims he's the victim.

[Jason Clark]

He hit me with a hammer. I was acting in self defense. That was not my fault.

[Sarah Chandler]

Jason is lying through his teeth to the police.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Miraculously, Joe is not seriously injured. And once Sarah Chandler and other witnesses give law enforcement the real story, Jason is cuffed and arrested for assault. Joe, Sarah and several other neighbors testify at the trial. Yet the judge finds Jason not guilty.

[Jason Clark]

Of course, we're dumbfound. The impression we got from the verdict was that the judge thought that this was just a neighborhood squabble.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason's acquittal leaves the entire community terrified.

[Jason Clark]

We were like sitting ducks just waiting to see what he was going to do next.

[Joe Gross]

People were afraid to go out of their house in fear of being harmed or killed.

[Lindsay Rogers]

But this time, the residents refused to back down. Journalist Lindsay Rogers describes how they collectively turned to District Attorney Darrell Bailey.

[Kristen Hamilton]

They found a DA and prosecutors who saw the scope and the magnitude of what was going on. They took the time to sit down with all of these victims and hear what they had been going through.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Darrell becomes convinced their fears have merit.

[Joe Gross]

This was more than a neighborhood dispute in that this was possible criminal behavior and that it needed to be looked into. We got a local circuit judge to sign a search warrant, and local law enforcement went into the residence to serve the search warrant.

[Sarah Chandler]

What they discover over at Jason's house is more shocking than we could ever imagine.

[Kristen Hamilton]

It was a true arsenal. It was everything. It was 40,000 rounds of ammunition, all kinds of weapons.

[Joe Gross]

Law enforcement found photos and videos of the neighbors. We found journals that he had created about the different neighbors and their patterns. Something that you would see when you catch a serial killer.

[Brenda Biller]

He was going to kill us. There's no doubt in our minds that at some point he was going to use those weapons.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Citing the evidence gathered in the house search, Jason Clark is charged with two counts of aggravated stalking against Sarah Chandler and Kristin Hamilton.

[Joe Gross]

This judge told the audience that he had sentenced people to life in prison. He had sentenced people to death row and he had never seen anybody in his court before that was more dangerous than Jason Clark.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Jason pleads guilty and is sentenced to two 20 year sentences to be served consecutively. Janet Boyd, the kind parishioner who gave Jason shelter on church property, is still horrified by the man she took in. He is an evil, evil person controlled by some dark, dark place. For Joe Gross, the terrible memories are too much to bear. He donates his house to the church and leaves the neighborhood for good.

[Jason Clark]

I don't really hold any animosity towards Jason. I've forgiven him for everything he's done did to me. That does not mean that I don't think he should serve the time for his actions.

[Lindsay Rogers]

Meanwhile, Jason's mother, Verna still lives in her home to this day.

[Brenda Biller]

We do not see her very often. Every once in a while you'll see her outside.

[Sarah Chandler]

His house serves as a daily reminder of everything that happened. There are dangerous and evil people out there and like I never thought in my neighborhood I would have to watch my back.

[Lindsay Rogers]

And while the whole encounter has terrorized Brenda Biller and left her and the rest of the community forever changed, the encounter has also shown her just how much of a difference community can make. In this case, it's a difference of life and death.

[Brenda Biller]

No one or two people can get through something like this. It takes sticking together. Stay unified, be persistent, don't give up. Take it to the highest level that you need to to get something done.

[Lindsay Rogers]

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

[Narrator]

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[Jason Clark]

Acast powers the world's best podcast. Here's a show that we recommend. Hey, folks. Looking for a whole new thing to be into? Well, check this and check it out. We're the Sloppy Boys and we're basically like pretty much the new classic guys. We were in a comedy group called the Birthday Boys with Bob Odenkirk and now we're an indie band and we have a podcast about the drinks of the summer like the Gator Bite or the Grape Gorilla. And we have guests that are music people like Jeff Rosenstock or Stefan from the Band Pup or comedy people like Tom Sharply or Mitch from Doughboys. Yeah, dude.

[Lindsay Rogers]

We talk about TV and movies and.

[Jason Clark]

Music like Turnstile or King Giz and it's completely kind of cool. Ooh. Give it a listen and check it out to see what you think. But don't forget that we're the new classic guys. ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.