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Finished watching Netflix’s latest true crime offering Worst Neighbor Ever? Here’s our follow-up, walking you through where the perpetrators and families of the victims stand today.
From Cynthia Childs and producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, Worst Neighbor Ever chronicles four chilling tales of destructive and deadly neighbors from across the United States. The series explores tales of harassment, violence, police negligence, and catastrophic consequences. In the words of Jason Blum: “If you want to appreciate your neighbor, watch just how bad it can be.”
This show serves as the third spinoff in Netflix’s Worst Ever series, the previous two being Worst Roommate Ever and Worst Ex Ever.
If you’ve finished Worst Neighbor Ever and you’re left wondering what happened to many of the key figures in the series — such as Frances Zaayer, Jamal Thomas, Mark Leonard, and Caroline Herrling — we’ve compiled all of the latest details regarding where they stand today. Let’s dive into each specific case.
Episode 1: ‘She Finally Snapped’
Worst Neighbor Ever: Season 1. Shawna in Worst Neighbor Ever: Season 1. Cr. NETFLIX © 2026
In the opening instalment of the series, we meet couple Shawna and Dave Scott. The two live together in a small, but tight-knit neighborhood in Kentucky. After Shawna rekindles her teenage friendship with long-estranged friend Frances Zaayer, the two form a close bond — so much that when Frances is struggling, Shawna allows her to stay in her family home until she gets back on her feet.
However, despite a smooth transition, things begin to turn sour. A steadfast attention seeker, Frances becomes destructive over time. Due to antisocial and coercive behaviour, both Shawna and her husband Dave ultimately evict Frances from their home, and she moves into her permanent residence across the road. Frances takes it personally, and continues to harass Shawna and Dave over time. Such acts involve stalking, obsession, and violence.
The police became involved in the case from an early altercation between Shawna and Frances. The latter was a frequent caller to the police, resulting in nearly daily visits to the neighborhood. Ultimately, Frances escalated the situation, taking matters into her own hands. In 2018, she marched into Shawna and Dave’s household, shooting Shawna in the face and killing David.
Where are they today?
Shawna survived but suffered terrible injuries resulting in 16 facial surgeries. She is still close to her daughter and her two grandchildren. “I just want to be here for my kids and my grandkids because they are the most important thing to me,” she said in the documentary.
On January 12, 2022, Frances Zaayer pleaded guilty to murder, 2nd degree assault, and wanton endangerment. She received a 35-year sentence and will be eligible for parole in 2038. It remains Shawna’s biggest fear that Frances will get parole in 2038.
Episode 2: Midwest Meltdown
Worst Neighbor Ever: Season 1. Cr. NETFLIX © 2026
This episode involved not just one or two neighbors, but an entire neighborhood that was caught in the middle of a major explosion, killing two. The story begins in a quiet Indiana suburb; the type where everyone knows each other and they’re all friendly. However, the entire neighborhood was rocked back in 2012, when one of their homes suddenly went up in flames, an explosion equivalent to almost 5 tons of TNT.
The mastermind behind the plot was Mark Leonard. He had joined the neighborhood after getting in a relationship with Monserrate “Moncy” Shirley, the owner of the home that exploded. But why was the home destroyed? Leonard was a con-man with significant history in confidence tricks. He also had major gambling issues and significant debt. After entering a relationship with Moncy, he pressured her to join him in his scheme, to flood the home with natural gas and rig up a microwave to be the ignition of the explosion. In destroying the house, they’d receive over $300,000 in insurance money.
The explosion had devastating effects in the neighborhood. It levelled 33 homes and resulted in $4 million in damages. Dozens were injured, and two people lost their lives: John ‘Dion’ Longworth and his wife, Jennifer Longworth.
Mark Leonard was ultimately found guilty of 53 counts including felony murder and arson, and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 75 years. Meanwhile, Moncy pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Where is Mark Leonard today?
Mark Leonard died in prison in 2018 of natural causes.
At the time of Mark Leonard’s death, Don Buxton, father of Jennifer Longworth, said in a statement (per IndyStar): “I don’t feel bad for Mr. Leonard, I certainly might feel bad for his family. I don’t wish them any hardship. But I don’t feel bad for the deceased.”
In addition, Mark Leonard’s half-brother Robert was also involved in the scheme, and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Episode 3: Fear Thy Neighbor
Worst Neighbor Ever: Season 1. Cr. NETFLIX © 2026
When Miles and Melina Armstead moved into a new home in East Oakland, California, they believed they’d found their dream home. It was a relatively safe location in California, and a place they cited as ideal to raise a family. However, soon after moving in, they began to experience targeted harassment from Jamal Thomas (also known as ‘JT’), an evicted neighbor who had been squatting in the house next door. Jamal Thomas would consistently harass Miles and his family, bashing on the door at night and ringing the bell.
As Jamal’s obsession with Miles and Melina escalated — which included bricks being thrown through the window — they took out a restraining order against him, but it did not help; the couple cited police neglect as a major failing in de-escalating the case.
Jamal Thomas kept returning, and the police were almost always late to the scene. When they did apprehend him, he escaped custody only two days later. With continued harassment, Miles and Melina took drastic measures (including boarding up windows), and later decided to move out of the area. On May 1, 2020, as Miles was preparing the home for sale, 47-year-old Jamal Thomas entered the property and shot him dead.
In July 2024, Jamal Thomas was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Miles Armstead. And in April 2025, he was sentenced to 28.8 years to life.
How did the case progress?
Following the death of Miles, the Armstead family filed an official federal lawsuit against the city of Oakland.
“Oakland police officers failed to make an arrest, detain and/or curb the behavior,” the family said in their complaint (per Courthouse News). “Instead, officers complained they were understaffed, overworked and the family’s pleas for help were not high priorities.”
They were concerned about police negligence and failure to apprehend Jamal Thomas despite a long track record of criminal behaviour. In 2023, their lawsuit was settled, and the family was awarded $2.4 million.
Episode 4: The Executor
Worst Neighbor Ever: Season 1. Cr. NETFLIX © 2026
The Executor explores a multi-million dollar fraud scheme, spearheaded by Caroline Herrling (though she didn’t work alone). This episode takes place in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, focusing on her exploitation of 71-year-old recluse Charles Wilding. Heerling and her associates identified homes in affluent areas. After citing Wilding’s home, they made moves to shift him from his residence and seize his assets. Wilding died in 2020; there is still no definitive cause of his death. His neighbors reported his disappearance to the police in 2021, sparking a full investigation.
Had Wilding’s neighbors not reported the disappearance, it’s highly unlikely that the case would have been investigated.
From that point, Caroline embezzled his assets and falsely proclaimed herself as a trustee to maintain complete control over his estate. She forged power-of-attorney form. As the police investigations became more intense, Herrling moved Wilding’s body to Los Angeles, where they attempted dissolve the remains with chemicals (the documentary compares the attempt to a scene from Breaking Bad). However, their attempt at dissolving the body was botched, and they instead dismembered the body and the remaining parts were dumped into the San Francisco Bay — no remains have been found to this day.
What happened to Caroline Herrling and her associates?
In 2024, as the documentary states, Caroline Herrling pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison and was ordered to pay $3.8 million in restitution to the victims.
“This defendant’s misconduct was both greedy and grotesque, causing profound pain to the victims and their loved ones,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement (per CBS News). “There must be serious consequences for those who prey on vulnerable communities, such as older adults, and my office will remain steadfast in bringing these offenders to justice.”
In addition, in 2023, one of her associates, Matthew Jason Kroth, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Worst Neighbor Ever is now streaming on Netflix. Read our review here.
