Unwelcome to the Neighborhood

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor: "Unwelcome to the Neighborhood" – A Detailed Summary

Release Date: July 21, 2025

Introduction

"Unwelcome to the Neighborhood," an episode of the podcast Fear Thy Neighbor, hosted by ID, delves into the harrowing true story of escalating tensions between neighbors in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. This detailed summary captures the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.

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1. Setting the Scene: West Goshen Township

West Goshen Township, located a convenient 45-minute drive southeast of Philadelphia, is portrayed as a serene, middle-class suburb renowned for its peaceful residential neighborhoods. Vince Coco, a former prosecutor, and Sergeant Dave Maurer of the township's police department laud the area:

Clayton Carter (03:24): "We were named in 2013, I believe, one of the top 10 communities to live in the entire country."

The township's layout, with spacious half-acre to acre lots, fosters a close-knit community atmosphere. The Jennings family—Brooks, Jill, and their young son Matthew—are longstanding, beloved residents known for their active participation and friendly demeanor.

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2. The Jennings Family and Initial Harmonious Relations

Brooks Jennings, often referred to as the "mayor of the neighborhood," is celebrated for his dedication to fostering community spirit. His wife, Jill, runs a home-based design service, while Brooks works in fire damage remediation. Their commitment to their neighbors is evident in their interactions, especially with Bill McGill, an elderly widower living next door.

Brooks Jennings (04:33): "There was a gentleman that lives next door to us by the name of Bill McGill. Bill was elderly, he was frail, used a cane to walk around or a walker. Brooks would check on him and see if he needed anything."

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3. Introduction of the Carters

The harmonious neighborhood dynamic begins to shift when Bill McGill's daughter, Shannon Carter, her husband Clayton, their daughter Colleen, and their family dog move into Bill's residence to assist him with daily activities.

Brooks Jennings (05:11): "Bill soon arrives, but his daughter Shannon, her husband Clayton, and their daughter Colleen are all no shows."

The Carters, particularly Clayton, exhibit behavior that deviates from the community's norms. Despite Brooks' efforts to integrate them through invitations to gatherings, the Carters remain distant and unengaged.

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4. Early Signs of Tension

An initial incident sets the tone for the deteriorating relationship. Brooks hosts a surprise 40th birthday party, inviting the Carters, who only send Bill. Despite the lack of participation, Brooks notices unusual behavior from Clayton.

Jill Jennings (09:25): "This affront sets Clayton off big time."

Vince Coco, the former prosecutor, notes that Clayton's reluctance to engage goes against the neighborhood's social fabric, hinting at underlying issues.

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5. Escalation of Conflicts

Tensions escalate over seemingly minor disputes:

• Parking Issues: Clayton becomes territorial about parking spaces. When Brooks inadvertently encroaches by placing trash cans nearby, Clayton retaliates by blocking a guest's car, falsely reporting a hit-and-run incident.

  Brooks Jennings (10:10): "Clayton had a goal, and it was to make sure that everybody in the neighborhood was miserable. I truly believe that."

• Halloween Decoration: Colleen Carter's skeleton decoration becomes a focal point of conflict. Brooks addresses neighbor concerns, leading to a confrontation where Clayton refuses to remove the decoration.

  Clayton Carter (12:24): "I don't like it. If you don't like it, don't look at it. It's not your house."

These incidents reveal Clayton's increasing intolerance and antagonistic stance toward the Jennings and other neighbors.

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6. The Climactic Event: The Fatal Shooting

The prolonged hostility culminates on a fateful day in 2017. After a series of provocations, including Brooks confronting Clayton with a golf club, the situation spirals out of control.

While Brooks and Clayton engage in a heated verbal altercation, Clayton retrieves a firearm from his residence and fatally shoots Brooks. The episode includes actual audio from Jill Jennings' 911 call, capturing the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Brooks Jennings (32:28): "My neighbor shot my husband."

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7. Investigation and Legal Proceedings

Post-incident investigations reveal critical inconsistencies in Clayton's account. DNA testing on the alleged weapon—a knife—shows Clayton's DNA, contradicting his self-defense claims. Additionally, surveillance footage indicates a 12-second gap between the two shots fired by Clayton, suggesting premeditation rather than immediate self-defense.

Vince Coco (37:13): "We believe this case was a cold-blooded, calculated execution."

Ultimately, Clayton Carter is sentenced to life in prison without parole for the first-degree murder of Brooks Jennings, although he maintains his innocence and self-defense narrative.

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8. Aftermath and Community Response

The tragedy leaves deep scars on the Jennings family and the wider community:

• Family Impact: Jill Jennings grapples with profound grief, and their son, Matthew, loses his father at a young age. The community's support plays a crucial role in their healing process.

  Jill Jennings (41:25): "On my day seeing her. Her emotions changed just after a simple hug. This podcast is produced by Cream Productions in association with Fremantle Media and ID."

• Community Memorial: To honor Brooks Jennings, the neighborhood dedicates a pond in his name, serving as a perpetual reminder of his positive influence and the cost of neighborly discord.

  Brooks Jennings (40:59): "Our neighbors decided that they wanted to have the pond in the neighborhood dedicated to Brooks, and then they had a ceremony and a dedication. It's just a constant reminder of how much he was loved."

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9. Conclusion

"Unwelcome to the Neighborhood" underscores the fragile nature of community harmony and the devastating consequences that can arise from unresolved conflicts. The Jennings family's ordeal serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of understanding, communication, and the potential perils of unchecked animosity among neighbors.

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Notable Quotes:

• Brooks Jennings (10:10): "Clayton had a goal, and it was to make sure that everybody in the neighborhood was miserable. I truly believe that."

• Clayton Carter (12:24): "I don't like it. If you don't like it, don't look at it. It's not your house."

• Jill Jennings (32:28): "My neighbor shot my husband."

• Vince Coco (37:13): "We believe this case was a cold-blooded, calculated execution."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Fear Thy Neighbor masterfully illustrates how minor disputes can escalate into life-altering tragedies. Through detailed storytelling, firsthand accounts, and critical analysis, it provides listeners with a poignant reminder of the importance of neighborly relations and the potentially dire outcomes when conflicts are left unresolved.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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

[Brooks Jennings]

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.

[Jill Jennings]

How? Why?

[Clayton Carter]

She was so sweet and so young.

[Jill Jennings]

What happened to her?

[Brooks Jennings]

Listen to who Took Misty Copsey Wherever.

[Jill Jennings]

You get your podcasts.

[Vince Coco]

ACAST powers the world's best podcasts.

[Brooks Jennings]

Here's the show that we recommend.

[Jill Jennings]

What's up everybody?

[Clayton Carter]

I'm Indoma Kinsu, super bowl champ and.

[Jill Jennings]

Investor throughout my NFL career.

[Clayton Carter]

When I wasn't sacking your favorite quarterback.

[Jill Jennings]

I was networking with some of the sharpest business minds in the world. Now I'm bringing those conversations to you.

[Clayton Carter]

On no Free Lunch, a podcast from the Athletic and the New York Times.

[Jill Jennings]

On the show I talk to experts and athletes to find out how the.

[Clayton Carter]

Most successful people in sports and business.

[Jill Jennings]

Are growing their wealth and how we can learn from their example.

[Clayton Carter]

No Free Lunch drops Tuesdays and Thursdays. Find it on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Vince Coco]

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

[Jill Jennings]

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? We're in Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, within easy reach of one of the nation's most famous cities. Life is pretty much perfect here for the family at the heart of this story. They get along great with all their neighbors, including the elderly widower in the house beside them. But when the widower's daughter and her family move in with him, the harmony on the street takes a dark turn. Tension between the two families escalates to violent and deadly, leaving loved ones destroyed and a once joyful neighborhood in tatters. This is Fear thy neighbor. Unwelcome to the neighborhood. A convenient 45 minute drive southeast of Philadelphia, West Goshen Township is a desirable middle class suburb. Dave Maurer, a sergeant with the township's police department, and Vince Koko, a former prosecutor, sing West Goshen's praises.

[Clayton Carter]

We were named in 2013, I believe, one of the top 10 communities to live in the entire country.

[Vince Coco]

The neighborhoods are typically quiet suburban residential neighborhoods. Each house is on about a half acre to an acre of land.

[Jill Jennings]

West Goshen has long been home to Brooks and Jill Jennings and their young son Matthew. Here's Jill.

[Brooks Jennings]

So I grew up in East Goshen Township, which is right next door to West Goshen, and always very fond of it, very fond of the community. So when Brooks and I started looking for a home, it would be in that surrounding community. And it was a very social neighborhood, a great place to walk, to have your family grow up. And we knew just about everybody in the neighborhood.

[Jill Jennings]

Jill runs a design service from home. Meanwhile, Brooks works in fire damage remediation. Pretty much everyone who knows the couple attests to the fact that they're well liked and respected within the tight knit community.

[Vince Coco]

Brooks Jennings has been described as the mayor of the neighborhood. He wanted to be friends with everybody and everybody wanted to be friends with him.

[Brooks Jennings]

There was a gentleman that lives next door to us by the name of Bill McGill. Bill was elderly, he was frail, used a cane to walk around or a walker. Brooks would check on him and see if he needed anything. They would talk on a regular basis.

[Jill Jennings]

And today, Bill's daughter Shannon is moving in with him, along with her husband, Clayton Carter, their daughter Colleen and the family dog.

[Vince Coco]

He was having trouble with his day to day activities, so the Carters moved into the McGill residence to help him get around from day to day.

[Jill Jennings]

And of course, whenever there's a new arrival in the neighborhood, the mayor extends a warm welcome.

[Shannon Carter]

Hey, you must be our new neighbors.

[Jill Jennings]

Hello.

[Shannon Carter]

Brooks Jennings. This is my wife Jill and our son Matthew.

[Jill Jennings]

Hi, I'm Shannon. I'm Bill's daughter.

[Shannon Carter]

Nice to meet you, Clayton.

[Narrator]

Nice to meet you.

[Shannon Carter]

Pleasure.

[Jill Jennings]

And this is our daughter, Colleen.

[Brooks Jennings]

Hi, Colleen.

[Shannon Carter]

Beautiful dog. Bill told us he'd be moving in.

[Jill Jennings]

Brooks has a well established solid bond with Bill, so the Jennings expect to get along well with the Carters.

[Shannon Carter]

Well, if you guys ever need anything, you know where we live. Looks like I'm out of the penalty box. Third period's calling. All right, take care.

[Brooks Jennings]

Thanks.

[Shannon Carter]

Nice welcome.

[Jill Jennings]

Nice meeting you. The Carters have relocated from nearby Leola, Pennsylvania, where Clayton worked as a mobile home park operator. Recently retired, Clayton now has all the time in the world to devote to his hobbies.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton was a car guy. Had several vehicles in different states of repair in his garage, so he had one or two cars in the driveway, a pickup truck and a Harley Davidson.

[Jill Jennings]

It looks like the beginning of a great friendship. But strangely, as the weeks pass, the Jennings have almost no interaction with their new neighbors.

[Brooks Jennings]

The Carters were there for about a month, and we didn't know them very well at all.

[Jill Jennings]

The gregarious Brooks takes it upon himself to approach Clay and change that equation. True to form, he extends a warm invitation to his new neighbor.

[Shannon Carter]

I know you're settling in and getting used to the neighborhood. Thought it'd be nice to meet some of our neighbors. We're having a get together.

[Brooks Jennings]

Brooks was throwing a surprise 40th birthday party for me.

[Jill Jennings]

Yeah, sure.

[Shannon Carter]

You guys should all come by.

[Narrator]

Yeah, if we can make it, we'll be there.

[Shannon Carter]

All right, we'll see you there.

[Clayton Carter]

Appreciate it.

[Shannon Carter]

Let me know what kind of beer you drink. Thank you.

[Vince Coco]

Jennings regularly organized barbecues, parties, gatherings with the neighborhood, even some golf.

[Brooks Jennings]

Brooks pulled me aside and said, I just want to let you know I invited Bill and the Carters to come over to your party. And he said, I just wanted to make sure if we're having a good time and if we get loud, I want them to feel comfortable that they can come over and talk to us, you know, and not get upset about it.

[Jill Jennings]

Bill soon arrives, but his daughter Shannon, her husband Clayton, and their daughter Colleen are all no shows.

[Shannon Carter]

The rest of the family couldn't make it?

[Brooks Jennings]

No.

[Shannon Carter]

Not feeling too well today, I guess.

[Narrator]

No.

[Shannon Carter]

Well, let me set you up.

[Brooks Jennings]

Bill talked to everybody and he got a plate of food. Nobody else came over. There were no issues.

[Jill Jennings]

Little do the Jennings know there's an issue. Former prosecutor Vince Coco informs us the new next door neighbors aren't planning on coming to any parties ever.

[Vince Coco]

Mr. Carter liked to keep to himself. He likes to do his own thing. Even if he was invited to these parties, which many of the times he was early on in the relationship with the neighborhood, he would always decline because that wasn't what interested him.

[Narrator]

Well, down there getting loaded in front.

[Jill Jennings]

Of their kids, well, that's their choice.

[Vince Coco]

He didn't like the way that the neighborhood would gather together to party and drink, and he didn't like that kids were involved.

[Narrator]

Doesn't make it right.

[Vince Coco]

No, I know, but generally speaking, there's nothing wrong with keeping to yourself. It just was not the norm for this specific neighborhood.

[Jill Jennings]

Clayton likes his private space, which for him extends all the way down to the street. Here's Sergeant Dave Maurer to explain.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton was very, I guess, protective of the space in front of his house because he would shuffle Cars back and forth and wanted to reserve that space strictly for him or his family.

[Vince Coco]

Typically, this is not a street that is heavily trafficked by vehicles, but thanks.

[Jill Jennings]

To the Jennings get together, all the parking spots are filling up.

[Clayton Carter]

Well, Clayton didn't like that. And Clayton didn't want anybody parking in front of his house.

[Narrator]

I swear, if that idiot dents my car.

[Jill Jennings]

Clayton wants everyone to know that these are his parking spots. So Clayton allegedly decides to send a message. When one of Brooks guests goes to leave, she finds she's been blocked in. Wife Jill recounts the incident.

[Brooks Jennings]

Apparently, Clayton had parked his car up against the back of her car, went in the house and got the keys and backed up the other car so that she couldn't get out. And when she tried to get out, she struggled for quite a while, and she finally was able to get out, but she tapped the car.

[Jill Jennings]

This affront sets Clayton off big time.

[Brooks Jennings]

And he claimed that it was a hit and run and called the police. It was just, in our opinion, crazy. It didn't make any sense. This was the first time that we ever witnessed anything that Clayton had done that was just so such unusual, bizarre behavior of anyone that we realized something here isn't quite right.

[Shannon Carter]

There's not even a scratch on his car. Why would he call in for this anyway?

[Brooks Jennings]

I don't want to come back again.

[Vince Coco]

For a noise complaint. Time to wrap things up.

[Brooks Jennings]

Clayton had a goal, and it was to make sure that everybody in the neighborhood was miserable. I truly believe that.

[Jill Jennings]

The Jennings soon learned the incident is not a one off. It's the new normal.

[Brooks Jennings]

On the street, he was always out working on his cars or his motorcycles. He was very territorial. He couldn't go near the property. It just. And nor would you want to, honestly, especially if he was outside, because he was just so intimidating.

[Clayton Carter]

And it just raised eyebrows and gave people a funny feeling or that sixth sense that something's wrong here with this guy.

[Jill Jennings]

At the same time, as relations sour between Jill and Brooks and new neighbor Clayton Carter, their longtime friendship with Bill McGill also disintegrates.

[Brooks Jennings]

So after Clayton and Shannon moved in, that's really when the relationship with Bill kind of of stopped. Over time, Bill kind of just got a little bit distant, not being responsive.

[Jill Jennings]

It's tough to lose an old friend, but the neighborhood is still a great place to live, especially with Halloween on the horizon. All right, buddy, let's get those pumpkins out of the trunk. But this year, something next door scares Jill's young son.

[Vince Coco]

Matthew Carter put a skeleton outside near a large tree on his front lawn as a Halloween decoration. Generally, the entire neighborhood did not like the way that the skeleton looked. It frightened some of the children.

[Jill Jennings]

No surprise. Brooks steps up and decides to speak on behalf of other neighbors that have voiced concern to him.

[Narrator]

Is there a problem?

[Shannon Carter]

Yeah, skeleton's not really appropriate for a lot of the younger kids on the street.

[Jill Jennings]

But according to Sergeant Dave Maurer, Brooks's concern does not go down well with his neighbor. In fact, Clayton views it as an affront.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton did not like to be told what to do.

[Jill Jennings]

It's.

[Narrator]

It's Halloween.

[Shannon Carter]

Yeah, but it kind of goes over that line and it's really scary to my son especially.

[Narrator]

It's the time of year. Scary things happen.

[Shannon Carter]

Do you think, though, you could maybe move it to your backyard? Please?

[Jill Jennings]

No.

[Vince Coco]

Clayton's response to that was typically if you don't like it, then don't look at it. It's not your house.

[Brooks Jennings]

There's no reasoning with him. So what's the point?

[Jill Jennings]

The skeleton is staying right where it is and there's nothing anyone can do about it. While it may seem like the rift between households is laid to rest, it's just getting started.

[Narrator]

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

[Brooks Jennings]

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.

[Jill Jennings]

How? Why?

[Clayton Carter]

She was so sweet and so young.

[Jill Jennings]

What happened to her?

[Brooks Jennings]

Listen to who Took Misty Copsey?

[Jill Jennings]

Wherever you get your podcasts, say hello to Samantha. Hi there. Samantha built a SaaS platform that helps.

[Vince Coco]

Small businesses manage their workflow. But she needed a smarter way to reach decision makers.

[Brooks Jennings]

That's where Acast came in. They helped me produce a professional audio.

[Jill Jennings]

Ad which played to business owners and ops leads using their audience attributes targeting tools. Suddenly, my platform was showing up in the ears of the exact people I needed to reach.

[Vince Coco]

Now that's streamlined marketing. Samantha, what's your tip for scaling smart?

[Jill Jennings]

Solve a real problem and make sure the right people hear about it.

[Vince Coco]

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[Jill Jennings]

The Skeleton Encounter has left the community and the mayor feeling shut out and shot down. And the new guy in town has made it clear he couldn't care less what others think.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton wanted to be left alone. He wasn't here to make friends.

[Jill Jennings]

Clayton may not be keen on his neighbors, but he's crazy about his cars and motorcycles. And his hobby increasingly takes up a.

[Vince Coco]

Lot of space he would park his cars out onto the street. It came to be assumed that there was an unwritten rule that those were his spots because they were outside of his house.

[Brooks Jennings]

Nobody was allowed to park in front of their house. If that happened, there were consequences.

[Jill Jennings]

When Brooks encroaches just a little on a precious parking space by putting out his garbage, it's enough to push Clayton's buttons.

[Shannon Carter]

Hey, what are you doing?

[Brooks Jennings]

Brooks had put the trash cans out, and Clayton was gonna run them over.

[Shannon Carter]

Hey, if we can't park in front of your place, don't park in front of ours. There's plenty of space around here.

[Narrator]

It's a public street. I can park there if I want.

[Brooks Jennings]

Shannon was standing in front of the trash cans, and she was trying to calm him down, but he was obviously in a rage that we would dare put our trash cans out too close to his truck.

[Jill Jennings]

Come on, Clayton, please.

[Shannon Carter]

Let's go.

[Jill Jennings]

Sorry, Brooks.

[Shannon Carter]

That's right. Listen to your wife.

[Brooks Jennings]

I don't know why you get such rage over that. It just doesn't make any sense. But honestly, not a whole lot made sense with Clayton.

[Jill Jennings]

And it's not long before Brooks and Clayton clash again. It all starts when Brooks sees his neighbor intimidating a mother and her children walking past his house. As they pass by, Brooks, Clayton's dog, begins to bark, something he immediately blames on the mother and children.

[Narrator]

Make my dog go crazy.

[Jill Jennings]

Listen, they're just kids. They're just kids.

[Brooks Jennings]

They're just playing basketball. No, we don't need this.

[Jill Jennings]

Have some respect.

[Vince Coco]

Come on, let's go. Brooks could see Clayton what he believed was following this woman and her two.

[Brooks Jennings]

Children, just staring at her and keeping pace with her as she walked past the house. Leave him alone.

[Narrator]

You don't leave him alone. Leave my dog alone. Your kids are antagonizing the hell out of him.

[Jill Jennings]

To Brooks, Clayton's reaction is totally out of line. It's something the unofficial mayor of the community can't sit back and watch, so he decides to intervene.

[Shannon Carter]

Hey.

[Narrator]

It's unbelievable.

[Shannon Carter]

What do you think you're doing?

[Vince Coco]

So Brooks decided to step in and went over and confronted Clayton about this. And the two men began to yell at each other.

[Narrator]

What are you, some kind of girl scout now?

[Shannon Carter]

Oh, is that supposed to be an insult?

[Narrator]

Oh, God. Get out of my way.

[Brooks Jennings]

He called Brooks a girl scout, and it was because he took care of the people in the neighborhood. And I just think that it bothered Clayton to some degree.

[Narrator]

Walking around like you own the neighborhood.

[Shannon Carter]

We don't need a piece of trailer Trash like you in this neighborhood.

[Vince Coco]

This is just another incident of Brooks Jennings taking it upon himself to step in for a neighbor, someone who he believed he could protect.

[Jill Jennings]

This time, the shouting match rises to a whole new level. Clayton goes into his house and returns moments later with a firearm.

[Brooks Jennings]

He makes it very clear to us that he has a gun.

[Clayton Carter]

Anytime that you bring a gun out, you're escalating things tenfold.

[Vince Coco]

Clayton wanted to make a point that if you keep doing this, this is what's going to happen. This is what can happen.

[Jill Jennings]

Fortunately, Clayton backs off before anyone gets hurt. But the street is on high alert. A neighbor who witnessed the altercation calls the police. When they arrive, Clayton tells them it's Brooks who was intimidating him.

[Brooks Jennings]

His comment to the police was that he felt threatened by us.

[Narrator]

This guy's crazy. He's coming out and he's yelling at me. And we moved in here and like, it's just been all over my family. It's unbelievable. Okay, yes, I had a gun, I came out with it, but I have a license for it. That is my right. That is my second amendment right.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton Carter is allowed to possess a firearm. He's allowed to have it in his hand. It could be argued that him just possessing it was threatening, but it didn't break the law at the time.

[Brooks Jennings]

Nothing was done by the police. This is going to be what we're going to have to deal with living here. Clayton is a very, very smart man. He knows exactly what his boundaries are and what he can accomplish.

[Jill Jennings]

Those boundaries are tested again when one night, nerve shattering sounds ring out on the cozy street. Brooks and Jill Jennings call home. The noise is so loud, it startles them from their sleep.

[Brooks Jennings]

What was that? It was so loud and I just, I shot straight up out of bed.

[Jill Jennings]

It sounds like gunfire. The noise brings Brooks and Jill's terrified son Matthew rushing in from his room. Mom, dad, Matthew come over. Brooks goes outside to investigate, expecting the worst. He is relieved to find neighbor Clayton Carter isn't firing any weapons, but he is waking up the entire neighborhood.

[Brooks Jennings]

Clayton was out in the driveway in the garage revving the motorcycle and it's pretty loud and it goes on for a little while.

[Jill Jennings]

Brooks returns home and summons the police. Sergeant Dave Maurer is sent to investigate. Here he is to explain what happened that night.

[Clayton Carter]

I responded to a call for a noise complaint in the neighborhood. When I got there, he told me that he was adjusting the carburetors and he did stop tuning the motorcycle or working on it that night.

[Jill Jennings]

This time, Clayton plays the considerate neighbor happy to oblige. Brooks doesn't buy it for a second. With good reason. Halloween is long past, but the skeleton that frightened neighborhood children still holds court on Clayton's lawn. And there's no sign of it going away anytime soon.

[Brooks Jennings]

It would get a New Year's hat at New Year's time, an American flag hat at 4th of July. Every holiday it had something different.

[Clayton Carter]

He was told that it was upsetting some people, and he seemed to get some joy out of that and refused to take it down.

[Shannon Carter]

Hey, is that thing a permanent fixture now or something?

[Narrator]

Oh, come on. It's just a lawn ornament.

[Shannon Carter]

It's just plain offensive at this point.

[Jill Jennings]

In response, Clayton points to something in Brooks's yard he finds repugnant. A vote for Trump sign.

[Narrator]

That's offensive. That is offensive.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton and Brooks were on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

[Shannon Carter]

You have a problem with my politics now?

[Brooks Jennings]

Politics?

[Narrator]

Come on. You're out of your mind.

[Jill Jennings]

Breathing idiot.

[Vince Coco]

This was just one of the many reasons that Brooks and Clayton would disagree and argue.

[Narrator]

He's just a Bohr.

[Jill Jennings]

Removing the sign could have been an olive branch. Instead, Brooks doubles down, putting up several more Trump signs all over his lawn.

[Shannon Carter]

Sis, you put whatever you want on your lawn.

[Narrator]

So do I. I'll take that propaganda down.

[Shannon Carter]

I'll take them down when that thing goes.

[Jill Jennings]

The skeleton doesn't budge. Brooks signs stay up, too. In this ongoing feud, Clayton always gets close to, but never crosses a legal line, which doesn't make it any easier for the Jennings to live next door.

[Brooks Jennings]

Jill explains, I used to come out of my house every weekday at the same time to get Matthew off the bus? Clayton would start to understand our schedule. Why are you trying to make sure that you're standing at the driveway, at the end of the driveway when I walk by? I don't understand what you're trying to accomplish here other than to let me know you're in charge and try to intimidate me. But I also didn't want my son to think this was normal. I was very concerned for Matthew's safety. It was a very stressful living environment.

[Jill Jennings]

Every day brings the same choice for these neighbors. Make peace or war. This day, Brooks tries for peace, or so it seems. Former prosecutor Vince Coco and Sergeant Dave Maurer helped describe the event.

[Vince Coco]

Brooks Jennings was outside chipping golf balls, and he saw Clayton Carter outside of his house.

[Clayton Carter]

He wanted to speak with Clayton and settle this once and for all.

[Jill Jennings]

Brooks approaches his neighbor with his golf club in hand. Whatever his intention, Clayton sees it as A threat?

[Clayton Carter]

Brooks had a golf club. I know he was a big golfer. I don't know why he took it over there. Was it to defend himself or to intimidate Clayton?

[Narrator]

Look, I don't want any problems, Brooks, all right? Just get off my property.

[Shannon Carter]

I'm not trying to cause any trouble.

[Narrator]

You're doing a great job for not trying. Get off my property. Brooks. No, just take it easy. Just get off my property. I don't want anyone.

[Shannon Carter]

No problem.

[Jill Jennings]

No problem. Hey.

[Narrator]

Get off my property.

[Brooks Jennings]

Hey.

[Shannon Carter]

There's no need for that.

[Jill Jennings]

Brooks insistence on talking things out with his volatile neighbor while holding what Clayton may consider a weapon gets increasingly out.

[Clayton Carter]

Of hand when he's told to leave. Has to leave. So he's, you know, being a defiant trespasser. If he won't leave, we're not done here.

[Vince Coco]

Brooks didn't want to take no for an answer. It's in his DNA. It's his personality to try and push and push.

[Jill Jennings]

But he's pushed too far. Once again, Clayton retreats into his house and returns moments later with a gun that he levels directly at Brooks.

[Narrator]

Get off.

[Shannon Carter]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Narrator]

My property.

[Shannon Carter]

Whoa, whoa.

[Narrator]

I will not tell you again.

[Jill Jennings]

Again. Neighbors are alerted to the commotion and call the authorities. Police soon arrive at the scene.

[Clayton Carter]

Our officers responded out there, and again, they tried to mediate the situation. Clayton told police that he did, in fact, go and retrieve a handgun because he felt that Brooks, given the opportunity, may attack him with the golf club. He explained that I have every right to protect myself, which, again, is true.

[Brooks Jennings]

Brooks came home scared to death. I've never seen him shake like that before.

[Vince Coco]

The neighborhood was definitely on edge for a lot of reasons. When it came to Clayton Carter. They believed that he was going out of his way to strike fear and to just cause a general disturbance.

[Jill Jennings]

At the same time, Clayton believes the entire community has it out for him.

[Vince Coco]

It was his opinion that a lot of his neighbors were kind of teaming up to try and push him out, to drive him out of the neighborhood.

[Jill Jennings]

Clayton is determined to stand his ground no matter what, while Brooks is determined not to let the street he loves be bullied by an outlier. Then one day, news reaches Brooks and Jill Jennings that there may be light at the end of their dark tunnel.

[Brooks Jennings]

Clayton had a conversation with one of the neighbors that the Carters were planning on moving. When the daughter graduated from high school. There was this sense of disbelief, like, really? This is going to happen? I don't. I can't even imagine. We really thought there was hope on the horizon. That we were going to have a better life and our neighborhood would get back to normal.

[Jill Jennings]

Yet the good news quickly turns bad and all hope is abandoned. After graduation day arrives, that same neighbor.

[Brooks Jennings]

Had another conversation with Clayton. He said, so when are you guys moving now that you know your daughter's graduated from high school? He said, oh, yeah, Wouldn't everybody in the neighborhood like that? Well, we're not going anywhere. It was like the light on the candle was blown out and any hopes of a normal life were gone.

[Jill Jennings]

And on a fateful day in 2017, the stage is set for yet another neighborhood clash. And this time it reaches a tragic conclusion.

[Vince Coco]

Say hello to Mia.

[Jill Jennings]

Hey there.

[Vince Coco]

Mia runs a pet grooming service in Chicago. But getting new clients was rough until.

[Brooks Jennings]

I started using acast. I recorded my ad, targeted pet owners in the area and let ACAST do the rest. Now people all over the city know about my grooming services.

[Vince Coco]

Mia's business is looking sharp. What's your secret for happy pets and happy clients?

[Brooks Jennings]

A fresh cut, a friendly vibe, and a well placed podcast ad.

[Vince Coco]

Get the word out about your business through Acast. Visit go.acast.com advertise to get started.

[Jill Jennings]

Here's Sergeant Dave Maurer to set the scene for what unfolded that day.

[Clayton Carter]

We learned that Brooks had consumed some alcoholic beverages that day at the restaurant or having lunch with his friends. And then when he got home again, continued to drink.

[Jill Jennings]

Brooks sees Clayton with his daughter Colleen in their backyard and makes a spur of the moment decision.

[Clayton Carter]

Brooks began to record Clayton with his cell phone.

[Narrator]

Paul, what the hell are you doing now?

[Clayton Carter]

And they were having a verbal altercation back and forth. They were calling each other names.

[Shannon Carter]

Don't mind me, man. Just giving a scrap ball.

[Jill Jennings]

Sergeant Dave Maurer has no explanation for what Brooks may have been trying to accomplish, especially knowing his neighbor has a firearm and a history of yielding it.

[Clayton Carter]

Maybe his judgment was impaired by the alcohol and it made him go poke the bear, so to speak. Or to confront Clayton once and for all.

[Narrator]

Get off my property before I grab you property.

[Shannon Carter]

Oh, you mean your father in law's. Stop living off Bill, you sponge.

[Vince Coco]

Brooks called Clayton a sponge because what he believed was that he was sponging off of his father in law.

[Narrator]

I'm calling the cops.

[Vince Coco]

The police responded within a few minutes and immediately spoke with Clayton as another officer spoke with Brooks. They told the two men to stay away from each other, to act like adults and live in a peaceful and orderly manner.

[Jill Jennings]

Both men withdraw to their side of the battle lines. But it's only a Pause in the hostilities. Jill Jennings explains what happened later that night.

[Brooks Jennings]

So I got home about 9:15 that night. We got Matthew to bed and came back downstairs. And Brooks was telling me that he had. There was an incident with Clayton. And they started having words back and forth, and I don't know exactly what was said. So my response was, oh, great. What is he going to damage tonight?

[Jill Jennings]

Next door, things are also on edge. Clayton's wife Shannon, sends him on an errand to distract him. Listen, honey.

[Brooks Jennings]

Listen, Clay, listen, I need.

[Jill Jennings]

I need a few things from the store. So why don't you just, like, get in the car, go for a ride, you know, just cool down, okay?

[Brooks Jennings]

Can you do that?

[Jill Jennings]

Okay. Thanks. Former prosecutor Vincent Coco and Brooks's wife Jill recount what happens when Clayton leaves and Brooks comes outside.

[Vince Coco]

Soon after, Carter went to the local grocery store, which is only a few minutes from his house. He bought several household items, including kitty litter.

[Brooks Jennings]

And meanwhile, Brooke started cleaning out the garage so that he could put one of the cars in the garage. And he set up a spotlight shining on the cars.

[Vince Coco]

There's a floodlight on the ground on the driveway, and there's another floodlight in the netting of a basketball hoop shining towards the Carter residence. When Clayton arrived back at his house, he attempted to parallel park out on the street. And as Clayton was trying to parallel park in between two cars, Brooks was sitting in his own driveway and shining some sort of floodlight towards Clayton, making it difficult for him to see and therefore difficult for him to parallel park. We believe that Clayton got frustrated with this process, gave up on parallel parking, and pulled his car into his driveway to unload the groceries that he just picked up.

[Clayton Carter]

Clayton goes into the house, carries in the kitty litter. He says that when he goes out to park his car, Brooks is there shining the lights in his face, and he's blinding him. And he can't see to park. This infuriates Clayton. Clayton just snapped. And he drove across the front yard in a fit of rage and gets out, and the two of them begin to argue.

[Narrator]

How do you like it, huh?

[Shannon Carter]

Yeah. Well, there's lots of spaces on the street to park for guns.

[Narrator]

Oh, there's lots of places on the street. You parked right in front of my house.

[Clayton Carter]

This dispute had been taking place now for years and going back and forth, and there had not been any resolution.

[Jill Jennings]

The argument quiets, and for a moment, everything is still. Then a terrifying sound.

[Brooks Jennings]

And I'm sitting there, and I hear a gunshot.

[Jill Jennings]

Jill leaps up and opens the door. She's confronted By a horrific sight.

[Brooks Jennings]

I see something laying on the ground, which I quickly realized was Brooks. And I see Clayton standing over top of him. And I see Clayton's arm extended with the gun in it. And I see Clayton then shoot Brooks in the head.

[Jill Jennings]

Jill rushes outside to tend to her husband, even though Clayton is still standing over him. What follows is actual audio of her call to 911.

[Clayton Carter]

911, where is your emergency?

[Brooks Jennings]

My neighbor shot my husband.

[Jill Jennings]

Okay, where's your husband right now? He's laying on the ground.

[Clayton Carter]

Okay, can you tell me where he is? He's laying on the right.

[Jill Jennings]

No, your neighbor.

[Brooks Jennings]

Where's your neighbor?

[Jill Jennings]

Jill tells the dispatcher Clayton is only inches away.

[Clayton Carter]

Does he still have the gun?

[Jill Jennings]

He has the gun, yes. Put the gun down. But Brooks wife stays right where she is. She's desperate to save her husband.

[Clayton Carter]

I can't.

[Jill Jennings]

Please stop. Brooks.

[Vince Coco]

Brooks.

[Brooks Jennings]

My heart was in my throat. I leaned over Brooks. I was inches from his face. I tried to see where he was shot. I think there was an angel there protecting me from seeing things I shouldn't have seen because. Because all I could see was this white haze and I couldn't focus on anything. I didn't. It didn't even look like he was shot.

[Jill Jennings]

The entry wounds are very small, but Brooks has taken two bullets to the face. Soon the street is swarming with law.

[Clayton Carter]

Enforcement as they arrive on the scene. Clayton is still standing over top of Brooks. He's still holding the gun in his hand. Now the officers, they order Clayton to the ground and they detain Clayton.

[Vince Coco]

They tried to resuscitate Mr. Jennings. They tried any and all life saving techniques that they could, but unfortunately it was too late.

[Brooks Jennings]

I just collapsed on the step. I just couldn't believe he was gone so fast. And that this has happened in my neighborhood, in my home.

[Jill Jennings]

Miraculously, Brooks's and Jill's son Matthew sleeps through the entire tragedy.

[Vince Coco]

Clayton Carter was taken back to the West Goshen Township Police Department where he was questioned with his attorney present.

[Jill Jennings]

You're about to hear the real archive audio from his interrogation conducted by Sergeant Dave Maurer. Throughout the interrogation, Clayton Carter is adamant he acted in self defense.

[Dave Maurer]

And I got out of the car, I said, what in the hell is your problem? Why are you putting the light in my face when I'm trying to drive? Why are you putting it in when I'm trying to park?

[Jill Jennings]

Nobody likes you.

[Vince Coco]

I know.

[Dave Maurer]

It was a nasty exchange.

[Jill Jennings]

Clayton confesses he grabbed his gun when he went inside to unload his groceries.

[Dave Maurer]

When I went Back out to park. I had the pistol in my sweat jacket. I said, if he comes out here.

[Shannon Carter]

Oh, you're back for more, huh?

[Narrator]

Go play with your lights, Brooks. I'm done with you.

[Dave Maurer]

Then he starts insulting me with this stuff about, you know, why are you here? You should go. And we get into back and forth. And he said, you know, nobody in this neighborhood likes you and your trailer trash.

[Narrator]

What is your problem?

[Jill Jennings]

Then Clayton makes a shocking claim.

[Shannon Carter]

You're my problem.

[Jill Jennings]

He tells police Brooks was armed with a knife and came at him.

[Dave Maurer]

And before I know it, there's a knife at my stomach. He's got a knife at my stomach. And when I saw. All I saw was the blade. And when I saw that blade, I took the pistol out and I shot him. And when he went down, I shot him again.

[Vince Coco]

Clayton Carter reiterated many times throughout his interview that he shot two times, and both times were in self defense.

[Dave Maurer]

I guess in my brain was, this guy's gonna fucking tr trying to kill me now. That was what was in my mind. It felt like he was trying to fake me out. I didn't even see a wound when he went down. I didn't see a wound. I shot him a second time because I thought that he was going to get back up and get me with the knife. That's what I thought.

[Jill Jennings]

Sergeant Maurer has questions about the knife Brooks allegedly brought with him to attack Clayton.

[Clayton Carter]

When we test that knife, are we going to find your DNA on it?

[Dave Maurer]

I don't think so.

[Clayton Carter]

You don't think so?

[Vince Coco]

During the interview, Detective Maurer asked him if he ever touched the knife, to which Clayton responded, I don't think so. I don't think I touched the knife.

[Dave Maurer]

Well, I don't think so because I don't think I touched it.

[Clayton Carter]

Okay, so if we find your DNA on here.

[Dave Maurer]

Yeah, because you just told me a.

[Clayton Carter]

Minute ago you didn't touch it.

[Dave Maurer]

I'm trying to remember. I don't know. I don't think I touched it.

[Clayton Carter]

So do you think we're gonna find your DNA on the knife?

[Dave Maurer]

I don't think so.

[Jill Jennings]

No. The knife found beside Brooks's body, supposedly belonging to him, is sent for DNA testing. Former prosecutor Vince Coco outlines the finding.

[Vince Coco]

The DNA results came back that Brooks Jennings DNA was not on the knife. However, Clayton Carter's DNA was on the knife.

[Jill Jennings]

Authorities find another hole in Clayton's story. He says he fired his two shots quickly, one after the other. But thanks to audio caught on a neighbor's security camera, detectives can hear there was, in fact, 12 seconds between the two shots, giving Clayton ample time to plant the knife beside Brooks, reposition himself, take aim and fire a second round. Authorities now believe they have a clear picture of what transpired that night.

[Vince Coco]

We believe this case was a cold blooded, calculated execution.

[Clayton Carter]

And at the end, the jury saw it exactly how we believed that it happened.

[Vince Coco]

We know that there were 12 seconds in between the first and the second shot. From the time that Clayton shot the first time. He took the knife out of his pocket, unfolded it, placed it next to Brooks's hand, made sure that he manipulated the scene to make it look as if Brooks possessed this knife the whole time. To make it seem as if he shot and killed Brooks in self defense.

[Clayton Carter]

He stepped closer and shoots Brooks a second time to make sure that Brooks is dead. So Brooks can't say that this is not my knife.

[Jill Jennings]

On August 29, 2019, Clayton Carter is sentenced to life in prison without parole for the first degree murder of Brooks Jennings. While it won't bring her husband back, Jill is grateful to see her husband's killer behind bars.

[Brooks Jennings]

I'm happy to know that in my son's lifetime he will never ever be worried that that man will be out of prison.

[Jill Jennings]

At the sentencing hearing, Clayton continues to maintain that he was acting in self defense. What's more, he remains adamant that he was mistreated by the entire neighborhood.

[Clayton Carter]

When Clayton stood up, he basically said that I'm the victim here. I was picked on by everybody in this neighborhood, and you owe me an apology. He never took responsibility for anything that happened that night. He feels that his family was victimized.

[Vince Coco]

At Clayton Carter's sentencing, he went on an unhinged rant. He blamed everybody except himself.

[Brooks Jennings]

Even for Clayton to continue to stick by that claim made me realize how delusional he really is. He's got his own mindset of how things are and it's not accurate.

[Jill Jennings]

Shannon and Colleen Carter continue to live next door to the Jennings for another year, but move out once Shannon's father Bill passes away. Jill and Matthew still reside in the same house.

[Vince Coco]

Even though Clayton Carter's in jail for the rest of his life, they'll never be able to hug their husband or hug their dad ever again. There's nothing that you can do to replace that. No amount of justice, no penalty can bring him back.

[Brooks Jennings]

It was a very difficult process to try to handle my own well being, my mental well being, and try to heal from what I had seen.

[Jill Jennings]

While Jill's grief is unimaginable, she explains that the neighborhood of which Brooks was a Pillar has helped her persevere.

[Brooks Jennings]

I would not have been able to come through this as well as I have without the support of all of them, the support of the community. Our neighbors decided that they wanted to have the pond in the neighborhood dedicated to Brooks, and then they had a ceremony and a dedication. It's just a constant reminder of how much he was loved.

[Jill Jennings]

Last words to Matthew Jennings, who lost his father to a neighbor's gun while only a child. My dad, he's always the person that was there if you needed him. I used to be really close to my dad and now I'm even closer with my mom. And I didn't know how to embrace my mom's emotions. I didn't know how to be there for her. So usually my grandpa would tell me to go give her a hug and I would see her smile and that was kind of bright. On my day seeing her. Her emotions changed just after a simple hug. 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.

[Vince Coco]

Acast powers the world's best podcasts.

[Brooks Jennings]

Here's a show that we recommend so.

[Vince Coco]

What does it mean to live a good life?

[Brooks Jennings]

Really accepting the fact that happiness requires a little bit of training.

[Vince Coco]

These are the questions we explore on the top ranked Good Life Project podcast.

[Jill Jennings]

Which has been downloaded and viewed over.

[Shannon Carter]

A hundred million times.

[Jill Jennings]

Spend your time and energy on things that actually matter to you.

[Clayton Carter]

Remember what's already good and stay curious.

[Jill Jennings]

About what could be good.

[Vince Coco]

On Good Life Project, we sit down with leading voices and legends and help art, science, spirituality, entertainment, industry and culture.

[Jill Jennings]

Well, I'll just say what just came to mind, which is to be careful with yourself.

[Brooks Jennings]

Be yourself. It's. You know what? It's not easy always, but it's simple.

[Vince Coco]

Check out Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts now. Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.