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[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
[ CRYING ]
Woman: [ Foreign accent ] YOU'RE SO STUPID, BABY!
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
Neises: THIS IS MY STORY THAT I THOUGHT I'D NEVER LIVE TO TELL.
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
Narrator: WHEN DESIRE OVERTAKES REASON,
THE HUMAN MIND CAN UNLEASH DEADLY OBSESSION.
THESE ARE TRUE STORIES TOLD BY THE VICTIMS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Neises: I WAS LOOKING FOR A CHEAP PLACE TO LIVE.
THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BUY A HOME WAS, I WAS IN MY MID 30s,
AND IN MY MIND, IT WAS JUST LONG PAST THE TIME
TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND SETTLE DOWN.
IS IT OKAY IF I CHECK IN HERE?
EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED LIKE I FOUND EVERYTHING PERFECT.
AND, UM, IT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT AWAY?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THANKS SO MUCH. [ CHUCKLES ]
MY PRIMARY LIMITATION WAS BUDGET,
SO IMMEDIATELY IT JUST MEANT
THAT I WAS GOING FOR A SMALL PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I KNEW I'D BE SHARING A WALL.
I DEFINITELY JUST WANTED A PLACE
WHERE THE WALLS WOULDN'T BE PAPER-THIN
SO WE WOULDN'T BE HEARING EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
IT'S SO GORGEOUS, AND THE PRICE IS INSANE.
THANK YOU.
IT WAS ON A GOOD SIDE OF TOWN,
SO NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT I COULD FIND --
NO RAILROAD TRACKS, NO CRAZY ANYTHING.
EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED JUST PERFECT,
AND THE PRICE WAS EXACTLY WITHIN MY RANGE.
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
I'M A TECHNICAL WRITER, SO I WRITE INSTRUCTION MANUALS,
AND I WOULD SAY THAT WRITING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF ME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO.
HEY, PAT.
SORRY. I LOST TRACK OF TIME.
YEAH. WORKING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
LISTEN, IS IT OKAY IF I PICK YOU UP IN 20?
OKAY. GREAT.
SEE YOU THEN. BYE.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]
WITH THE SECOND VIEWING, I BROUGHT MY FRIEND PAT ALONG.
AND I JUST SAID, "HEY, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS?
LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I'M MISSING."
OKAY. YEAH. SO, I, LIKE, LOOK FOR THE BODIES
BURIED UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS, ET CETERA.
EXACTLY. RIGHT.
GOTCHA. RIGHT.
[ CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
AS WE WERE WALKING INTO THE DUPLEX...
THANKS SO MUCH FOR ORGANIZING THIS ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
THIS IS PAT.
SHE'S MY OBSERVANT FRIEND.
HEY.
...MY FRIEND PAT NOTICED OUR DOORS
ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER,
SO I COULDN'T ENTER OR EXIT MY FRONT DOOR
WITHOUT ALSO PASSING BY THE NEIGHBOR'S FRONT DOOR.
WHAT'S UP?
DOOR'S A BIT BUDDY-BUDDY HERE.
PAT, GET IN HERE.
I JUST SAY, "EH. I GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE, EVEN NASTY PEOPLE.
"I JUST GET ALONG WITH --"
I DID A LOT OF THIS, LIKE, "EH, I'LL BE FINE.
THANKS, BUT I'LL BE FINE," YOU KNOW?
SO, SPRING HILLS?
SALLY: Yeah. Do you like it?
YEAH. I LOVE IT.
That's great.
UH-HUH.
IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO KNOW?
LIKE, WHY ARE THE OWNERS SO KEEN TO GET OUT OF THERE?
They just wanted a quick sale.
UH-HUH.
Nothing to worry about.
EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED JUST PERFECT.
IN FACT, WHEN I EVEN STARTED NEGOTIATING FOR THE PRICE,
I SUCCESSFULLY KNOCKED DOWN THE COST.
OKAY. THANKS, SALLY.
SPEAK LATER.
"THIS IS GREAT. I AM AWESOME. HAPPILY EVER AFTER."
SO, AS SOON AS I CLOSED ON THE PLACE,
I SWAPPED OUT LIGHT FIXTURES.
I HAD A WORKMAN COME IN AND DO THE PAINTING.
THERE WAS A CERTAIN SORT OF PRIDE OF,
"THIS IS NOT ONLY MY HOME..."
"...BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A PLACE THAT I LIKE."
AS I WAS UNPACKING, I WAS EXCITED.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE THAT I HAD EVER OWNED,
SO I'M FEELING A LOT OF, "HEY, I'M AN ADULT NOW."
ABOUT FOUR NIGHTS AFTER I MOVED INTO MY DUPLEX,
I'M STILL RIDING THE WAVES OF, "I'M AWESOME.
I'M AN ADULT. EVERYTHING'S CUTE."
[ VACUUM WHIRRING ]
I WAS VACUUMING OR DOING SOM--
I WAS DOING SOME KIND OF CLEANUP, UNPACKING-TYPE WORK.
AND THAT'S WHEN I HEARD SOMEONE SCREAM.
[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]
IT WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.
WHAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND WAS,
"DID I JUST HEAR WHAT I JUST HEARD?
"IS IT SOMEONE'S TV? IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE'S TV."
[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]
AND THEN THE VOICE REPEATED AGAIN.
[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]
Woman: YOU ARE DEAD! I WILL DESTROY YOU!
IT WAS COMING FROM THE NEIGHBOR WHO I SHARED A WALL WITH.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED WHY I'D GOTTEN
SUCH A GOOD DEAL ON MY PLACE.
AFTER MY INITIAL RESPONSE OF, "OH, NO,"
I, OF COURSE, TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT AWAY
AND TRY AND FIND MAYBE SOME ALTERNATE EXPLANATIONS.
THE SOLUTION THAT I CAME UP WITH THAT I TOLD MYSELF
WAS THAT SHE MUST BE REHEARSING FOR A PLAY --
YOU KNOW, MAYBE LIKE A WAR THEME,
AND SHE'S PLAYING THE ROLE OF THE NAZIS,
AND, "HA HA HA. I WILL DESTROY YOU."
AND I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT, YOU KNOW?
IT WASN'T A RIGHT EXPLANATION,
BUT I THOUGHT, "I'M JUST GOING TO RUN WITH THIS
AND SAY, 'WHO AM I TO GET INVOLVED WITH HER ART?'"
[ Laughing ] YOU KNOW?
A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS ARRANGING THINGS,
SETTING STUFF ON THEIR SHELVES.
AND...
...WHEN I STARTED ORGANIZING THINGS IN MY BEDROOM...
I WAS ALARMED WHEN I FOUND THE BULLET,
BECAUSE MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS,
"I WONDER IF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF MY DUPLEX
BOUGHT IT FOR PROTECTION."
I MADE AN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE BULLET AND THE CRAZY SCREAMS.
[ CAT MEOWS ]
YEAH, I KNOW. "HURRY UP AND FEED ME, AMY."
[ CAT PURRING ]
Woman: DIE!
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
I CURSE YOU!
DIE!
THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE SCREAMING
HAPPENED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER I MOVED IN,
AND, AGAIN, IT WAS ANOTHER DEATH THREAT --
"I WILL DESTROY YOU. I CURSE YOU."
DIE, I SAY!
AND, AGAIN, IT RATTLED ME.
DIE!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
THE WAY THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE THE VOICE IS RAGE --
ABSOLUTE HATRED AND RAGE.
AND THERE WAS ALSO AN EDGE OF HYSTERIA TO IT,
LIKE A HYSTERICAL ANIMAL CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
DIE!
DIE!
WOMAN #2: 911. How can I help you?
I THINK SOMEONE'S IN DANGER IN THE APARTMENT NEXT DOOR.
THERE'S SCREAMING, ARGUING.
I CAN HEAR A VOICE KIND OF THREATENING SOMEBODY.
Neises: I CALLED THE POLICE,
AND I TALKED WITH JUST A PHONE OPERATOR AT DISPATCH.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING ELSE.
I-I JUST -- I'M CONCERNED
THAT SOMEONE'S IN TROUBLE, YOU KNOW?
REAL BAD TROUBLE.
I TRIED TO DESCRIBE WHAT I WAS HEARING,
AND I DID A PRETTY BAD JOB OF IT.
WOMAN #2: Is she talking to a friend?
I DON'T THINK SHE HAS ANY FRIENDS.
Neises: IT WAS THE WORST POLICE PHONE CALL, PROBABLY,
ON RECORD IN HUMANITY.
WOMAN #2: Ma'am, is it possible you are hearing a TV?
Neises: I'M THINKING, "I AM SUCH AN IDIOT
FOR DESCRIBING IT LIKE THIS,"
AND THE DISPATCH SAYS, "DID YOU GET A NAME?"
IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M A SNOOPY NEIGHBOR --
JUST SOMEONE WHO JUST DIALS 911 AND SAYS,
"OH, MY GOSH. TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE,
AND DO SOMETHING, AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING ELSE."
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
I WAS JUST SO MORTIFIED.
"GET YOUR FACTS TOGETHER, SWEETIE,
AND CALL US BACK WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING REAL."
SO IT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, "I'M NOT CALLING THE POLICE AGAIN."
THIS IS HORRIBLE, AND I'M AN IDIOT."
[ SIGHS ]
I DID TRY AND CONTACT THE MANAGER
OF MY HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION.
NO, THIS IS NOT A DISPUTE.
ABSOLUTELY NOT THAT.
DON'T YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE
TO BE IN DISPUTE WITH THEM?
I BELIEVE THE MANAGER WAS FULLY AWARE
THAT THE NEIGHBOR WAS A LITTLE BIT UNSTABLE
AND HE WANTED TO AVOID IT, AS WELL,
SO IT WAS ENOUGH FOR --
YOU KNOW, JUST TO FEEL EMBARRASSED ALL OVER AGAIN
AND SAY, "I DON'T WANT TO BE A TROUBLEMAKER."
FOR THE FIRST YEAR, I MADE A POINT OF NOT INTRODUCING MYSELF,
BUT AFTER AWHILE, IT JUST GOT TO BE TOO --
IT WAS SOMETHING I JUST COULDN'T STOP IGNORING.
[ CAT PURRING ]
YOU WILL DIE!
DIE, I SAY!
[ CHUCKLES ]
I JUST THOUGHT, "SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT I CAN HEAR THIS."
I CURSE YOU!
I HATE YOU!
I BELIEVE THAT THE MOMENT SHE REALIZED
THAT SOMEONE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WALL
WAS BECOMING UNNERVED, ANXIOUS, ALARMED AT HER YELLING,
THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD JUST APOLOGIZE,
AND THEN I WOULD SAY, "OH, NO, NO. NO PROBLEM."
AND THEN WE WOULD SING "KUMBAYA," AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE.
I WILL NEVER GO AND BETRAY
AS YOU BETRAYED ME, YOU KNOW?!
[ SIGHS ]
DIE!
DIE! DIE!
I WILL GET YOU!
[ SIGHS ]
I'LL TELL YOU, BABY!
YOU ARE IN AMERICA NOW, BABY!
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
I WILL GET YOU!
I PROMISE YOU THIS!
I TELL YOU ONE THING!
YOU ARE IN AMERICA NOW, BABY!
I WILL NEVER GO AND BETRAY
AS YOU BETRAYED ME, YOU KNOW?!
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH.
I COULD HEAR THAT SOMEONE
WAS COMING AT THE DOOR AT FULL SPEED.
[ RAPID FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING ]
I WILL GET YOU!
AND THEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR, AND THERE SHE WAS.
Neises: I WAS LOOKING FOR A CHEAP PLACE TO LIVE.
EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED LIKE I FOUND EVERYTHING PERFECT.
THANKS SO MUCH. [ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S WHEN I HEARD SOMEONE SCREAM.
[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]
Woman: DIE!
IT WAS COMING FROM THE NEIGHBOR WHO I SHARED A WALL WITH.
YOU ARE DEAD! I WILL DESTROY YOU!
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED WHY I'D GOTTEN
SUCH A GOOD DEAL ON MY PLACE.
SO, I DECIDED, "OKAY.
I NEED TO GO KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND TALK TO HER."
[ DOOR OPENS ]
WHAT I SAW WAS JUST A WILD, DISORIENTED LOOK.
I HEARD YOU SCREAMING.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
OH, YES. IT'S TRUE.
SOMETIMES I GET UPSET.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, SO I WILL TRY TO STOP.
HOW CAN YOU TRY TO NOT YELL?
YOU EITHER DO IT, OR YOU DON'T DO IT,
BUT SHE KEPT TALKING, AND IT WAS LIKE SHE DIDN'T EVEN SEE ME.
I WAS WONDERING --
I LIKE THE CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE TO THE APARTMENT.
IT LOOKS GOOD. YOU HAVE DONE...
JUST A LITTLE WARNING WENT OFF IN MY HEAD,
SAYING, "WARNING -- SOMETHING NOT RIGHT IS HAPPENING."
I LIKE THE BOOKSHELVES.
WHERE DID YOU GET THESE BOOKSHELVES?
THE POSITION OF THE TV MAKES MORE SPACE.
AND THE CURTAINS -- BETTER THAN BEFORE.
MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.
AND I THOUGHT, "HOLY COW. NO.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU WALKED INTO MY PLACE
WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?"
I WAS REALLY ALARMED THAT SOMEONE YELLING DEATH THREATS
JUST SAUNTERED INTO MY PLACE TO HAVE A LOOK-SEE.
UM, I-I'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK.
I JUST KNEW I HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE.
I'M GONNA SPLIT.
DID YOU GET THIS NICE HANDYWOMAN
TO MAKE YOUR CUPBOARDS?
MAYBE SHE WILL MAKE SOME CUPBOARDS FOR ME.
YOU HAVE BETTER TASTE
THAN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE BEFORE.
THEY DID NOT STAY LONG, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE...
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I WISH I'D NEVER KNOCKED ON THAT DOOR,
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK, I DON'T SEE HOW I COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT.
SO, ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO
AFTER MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE NEIGHBOR,
I FOUND A NOTE TAPED ON MY DOOR,
AND IT WAS FROM MY HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION.
WHEN I OPENED IT UP, I FOUND A STOCK FORM
TELLING ME THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE HOA BYLAWS.
MY CURTAINS WERE THE WRONG COLOR...
...AND THAT FOR CONSISTENCY
AND OVERALL APPEARANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY,
I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY CURTAINS TO WHITE IMMEDIATELY.
I FELT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RAGE.
YOU GUYS CAN'T ENFORCE THE NOISE BYLAWS,
BUT I HAVE CURTAINS THAT ARE THE WRONG COLOR.
COME ON. [ CHUCKLES ]
YOU! STUPID AMERICAN!
YOU! STUPID!
I HATE YOU, BABY!
YOU! YOU'RE A STUPID AMERICAN!
OVER THE COURSE OF THAT NEXT YEAR,
THE NEIGHBOR'S SCREAMS GOT MORE -- MORE FREQUENT.
[ BARKING ]
AND THEY BECAME MUCH MORE ANIMALISTIC.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
WHEN THE NEIGHBOR STARTED SCREAMING,
IT WAS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
IT COULD HAPPEN EARLY IN THE MORNING
AS I WAS GETTING READY FOR WORK.
IT COULD HAPPEN AS I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED OR IN BED.
Man: 59 DEGREES WITH THE TEMPERATURE DROPPING...
Neises: IT WAS UNSETTLING
NOT KNOWING WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO START OR WHEN IT WOULD STOP.
[ SCREAMING ]
SO, THE SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH THE NEIGHBOR
BEGAN JUST AS I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK.
THE DOORMAT.
I LIKE YOUR DOORMAT VERY MUCH.
WHERE DID YOU GET THIS DOORMAT?
UM...FROM THE HOMEWARE STORE ON EAST AND 5th.
IT'S REALLY NOTHING SPECIAL.
BEFORE I GOT MY KEY IN THE DOOR, I COULD HEAR HER,
AND THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD IS,
"SHE KNOWS WHEN I'M COMING AND GOING."
I'M GOING TO GET ONE JUST LIKE THAT.
THE EXACT SAME ONE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE JUST LIKE YOU.
THE THING IS, IS MY DOORMAT WAS PRETTY STUPID,
AND, LIKE, AS SOON AS I BOUGHT IT
AND THREW IT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR,
I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOSH. WHY DID I GET IT?"
BUT I JUST KEPT IT 'CAUSE I HAD ALREADY SHELLED OUT THE MONEY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE JUST LIKE YOU.
MAYBE WE CAN GO TO THE HOMEWARE STORE TOGETHER.
THE SAME DOORMAT AS YOU.
ME AND AMY. AMY AND ME.
WE WILL BE THE SAME, ME AND AMY.
AND SHE REPEATED, "I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU.
I'M GONNA GET THAT DOORMAT JUST LIKE YOU."
DOORMAT AND DOORMAT.
THE EXACT SAME ONE.
SO, I'D COME HOME AFTER WORK.
IT WAS A PRETTY STANDARD DAY.
AND I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE A HUGE STACK OF BOXES
PILED OUTSIDE MY FRONT DOOR.
EVERY SINGLE BOX WAS LABELED "POLICE"
IN BIG, BOLD SHARPIE, BLACK LETTERS,
ALL LABELED "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE."
"POLICE."
SOMETIMES I GET UPSET.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, SO I WILL TRY TO STOP.
I WISH I'D NEVER KNOCKED ON THAT DOOR.
I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THAT SEA OF BOXES
GREETING ME RIGHT AS I CAME HOME,
ALL LABELED "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE," "POLICE."
"POLICE."
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, "SHE'S TRYING TO SEND ME A MESSAGE
"THAT SHE WANTED ME TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT SHE WAS
TO BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE."
I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF THE BOXES HAD ANYTHING IN THEM.
WHAT IS ALL THIS?
Pat. Shh. Come inside.
WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAW IT,
SHE SAID, "DID YOU GO THROUGH THEM? LET'S LOOK."
AND I THOUGHT, "NO. I THINK SHE WANTS ME TO GO THROUGH THEM,
AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO KNOW IF I GO THROUGH THEM."
I SAID, "WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THOSE BOXES OUTSIDE MY DOOR.
"JUST IGNORE THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM.
THEY DON'T EXIST."
THE BOXES REMAINED OUTSIDE MY DOOR FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
AT THE END OF THE THREE WEEKS, WHAT I BELIEVE HAPPENED
IS THAT THE NEIGHBOR WAS GETTING ANNOYED
THAT I WASN'T ASKING HER ABOUT THEM.
SO SHE TAPED A GORGEOUS CARD ON MY DOOR.
INSIDE, SHE HAD WRITTEN, "OH, NEIGHBOR,
"I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THE BOXES.
"I'M SURE THEY'RE IN YOUR WAY.
DON'T WORRY. I'LL BE REMOVING THEM SOON."
I TOOK THE CARD AS AN INDICATOR THAT SHE WAS GETTING FRUSTRATED
THAT I WASN'T GIVING HER THE RESPONSE SHE WANTED.
BUT WHAT THAT ADDRESS LABEL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CARD
ALSO DID WAS, I HAD HER FULL NAME
AND THE CORRECT SPELLING OF HER LAST NAME,
AND THAT WAS THE START
OF MY SCURRYING AWAY EVIDENCE FOR THE POLICE.
[ CAT PURRING ]
ONE DAY, I CAME HOME.
ALL THE BOXES WERE GONE.
AND I JUST BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF.
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I WAS IN THE MIND-SET
OF "OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND."
I WAS UNEASY COMING HOME.
I WAS MAKING A POINT
OF COMING AND GOING FROM MY PLACE MUCH MORE QUIETLY,
BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, I WAS AWARE THAT SHE WAS AWARE.
SO I WAS BECOMING VERY AWARE OF HOW I WAS LIVING MY DAILY LIFE,
BUT I KNEW SHE WAS SENDING ME A MESSAGE --
"I'M HERE. I'M HERE. I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE."
AND WHAT WAS SCARY ABOUT IT IS THAT --
KNOWING THAT SHE WAS SO FOCUSED ON WHAT I WAS DOING.
[ BIZET'S "L'AMOUR EST UN OISEAU REBELLE" PLAYS ]
ONE DAY, I JUST HAD THE TV ON.
THE NEW YORK MET JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON.
I'M NOT A FAN OF OPERA, BUT IT WAS BETTER THAN INFOMERCIALS.
AFTER IT HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR A WHILE,
I HEARD THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR SINGING.
[ WOMAN HUMMING "L'AMOUR EST UN OISEAU REBELLE" ]
IT WAS A SEGMENT FROM "CARMEN."
YOU KNOW, THE "DUN-DUN-DUN, DA-DUN-DUN-DUN,"
BUT IT'S HORRIBLE.
[ Off-key ] ♪ LA LA ♪
♪ A-LA-LA-LA ♪
♪ LA-LA-LA ♪
♪ LA-LA-LA-LA LA ♪
AGAIN, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO THE POLICE, "SHE'S SINGING"?
BUT IT WAS THAT UNDERLYING CURRENT OF,
"SHE'S LISTENING TO WHAT I HAVE ON TV."
♪ LA-LA ♪
♪ LA-LA-LA ♪
♪ LA ♪
BUT, FOR PETE'S SAKE, "CARMEN"?! YOU KNOW, "STOP."
♪ LA LA ♪
♪ LA-LA LA-LA ♪
[ SIGHS ]
♪ OOH, LA-LA ♪
♪ OH, OH, OH ♪
[ WOMAN BARKING ]
IT WAS UNSETTLING
NOT KNOWING WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO START OR WHEN IT WOULD STOP.
THE NEIGHBOR'S SCREAMS GOT EVEN MORE ANIMALISTIC.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
SO, WHENEVER SHE GOT INTO A MANIC STATE,
IT WAS SO CLOSE, SO REAL,
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE MY OWN HOME.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
NO, NO!
THERE WAS NOWHERE THAT I COULD GO
TO GET AWAY FROM HEARING HER SCREAMING.
NO, NO, NO, NO!
[ LAUGHING LOUDLY ]
THERE WAS ONE DAY SHE JUST STARTED SHOUTING
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
YOU ARE ALL SO STUPID!
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HER MANIFESTO TO THE WORLD --
"I HATE EVERYBODY. I HATE THE UNITED STATES."
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!
AH, THIS IS AMERICA!
I HATE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
THEN SHE YELLED MY NAME.
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AMY?!
YOU ARE SO STUPID!
SO, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS BENIGN STUFF, HERE'S A SPIKE.
HERE'S, LIKE, ONE SEGMENT OF EVIDENCE
THAT, YEAH, SHE IS YELLING AT ME.
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AMY?!
[ WOMAN MOANING ]
[ MOANING INTENSIFIES ]
AND I VERY CLEARLY HEARD HER ***.
YOU ARE ALL SO STUPID!
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HER MANIFESTO TO THE WORLD.
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AMY?!
SHE IS YELLING AT ME.
[ WOMAN MOANING ]
[ MOANING INTENSIFIES ]
[ WOMAN GRUNTING ]
IT WAS SPRING AT THAT POINT,
AND I VERY CLEARLY HEARD HER ***.
AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
THAT I'VE LIVED IN CHEAP APARTMENTS.
I'M NO STRANGER TO WAKING UP
AND HEARING SEX AT NIGHT FROM THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
[ WOMAN MOANING ]
AND THEN IN ANOTHER FLASH,
I REALIZED, "SHE WANTS ME TO HEAR THIS."
AND SHE'S DOING IT VERY CLEARLY, AND SHE WANTS ME TO HEAR.
SHE WANTS ME TO MARVEL AT HER *** PROWESS,
AND SHE WANTS SOME KIND OF A RESPONSE.
[ MOANING ]
AND IT LED ME TO START WONDERING
IF SHE WAS ATTRACTED TO ME IN SOME WAY.
[ MOANING CONTINUES ]
[ CRYING ]
AND I REALIZED I CAN'T LET HER KNOW THAT I HEAR THIS.
AND IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT THAT I REALIZED,
"SHE IS DOING THIS ON PURPOSE. SHE IS TARGETING ME."
[ MOANING CONTINUES ]
THIS ISN'T JUST AN "OOPS" MOMENT.
THIS IS REAL -- A REAL ASSAULT.
[ MOANING CONTINUES ]
SO, MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS GRABBING MY DOC MARTENS,
AND I HAD MY ARM LIKE THIS READY TO THROW IT.
AND JUST A LITTLE VOICE INSIDE OF MY HEAD JUST SAID,
"STOP. DON'T DO IT."
AND SO I'M STANDING LIKE THIS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY I'M TELLING MYSELF TO STOP.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
AND IT WAS JUST, "STOP. DON'T DO IT.
"SHE'S DOING IT ON PURPOSE.
"DON'T LET HER KNOW.
DO NOT GIVE HER ANY INDICATION THAT YOU ARE HERE."
[ WOMAN MOANING ]
SO, I HAD CHOICE BUT TO JUST CRAWL BACK INTO BED,
DO MY BEST WITH THE PILLOW TACTIC
OF PUTTING THEM OVER MY EARS,
AND TO JUST WAIT IT OUT UNTIL SHE STOPPED.
[ GRUNTING ]
[ MOANS LOUDLY ]
I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED,
BUT, AGAIN, HOW CAN YOU PROVE THAT IT'S A *** ASSAULT?
[ CRYING ]
IF MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR HAD BEEN A MAN
AND WAS DOING THAT SAME THING IN THE SHOWER,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE CLEAR-CUT.
"BAM, BAM. YOU'RE A PERV."
BUT THIS WAS A WOMAN.
I BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL
AND COME OUT AFTER ME.
I WAS AFRAID OF A PHYSICAL ASSAULT,
AND I WAS ALSO AFRAID OF ***.
READY?
Neises: YEAH. I DECIDED TO LEARN A BIT OF SELF-DEFENSE.
[ SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY ]
I STINK AT KARATE. I FOUND THAT OUT REALLY QUICKLY.
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
I'M CLUMSY. I'M HORRIBLE.
[ ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
YAME. YASUME.
AND BOW.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
THEY STUCK ME WITH THE 12-YEAR-OLDS.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
[ ALL SHOUT INDISTINCTLY ]
GOOD.
I TRIED.
I TRIED FOR TWO MONTHS.
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
AND MY FRIENDS DID YELL AT ME, SAYING, "YOU NEED THIS,"
AND I'M COMING BACK AND TELLING THEM,
"12-YEAR-OLDS ARE KICKING MY BUTT.
I CAN'T DO THIS."
[ LAUGHTER ]
I JUST HAD TO SAY, "I GIVE UP."
IN THE SPRING OF 2009, I PUT MY HOUSE BACK ON THE MARKET,
HOPING THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S ABOUT WHEN THE HOUSING MARKET CRASHED.
[ WOMAN SCREAMING ]
DO YOU LIKE THIS ONE?
YEAH. I LIKE THIS ONE.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
DOES IT HAVE A CAT FLAP?
LET ME SEE.
IT DOESN'T SAY ON HERE.
KEEP LOOKING?
I'LL KEEP LOOKING.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
SO, FOR ME TO GET AWAY FROM HER
WOULD HAVE MEANT DUMPING MY PLACE
AND GOING SIGNIFICANTLY INTO DEBT.
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO FEEL TRAPPED.
[ WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON TV ]
BEING ABLE TO VISIT OTHER FRIENDS --
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
IT WAS A MEANS OF ESCAPE.
AND I ALSO REALIZED THAT IF I ABUSED IT,
I RAN THE RISK OF LOSING MY FRIENDSHIPS.
YOU REALLY NEED
TO GET YOUR OTHER NEIGHBORS INVOLVED IN THIS.
I'M TELLING YOU, PAT -- THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
I MEAN, WOULD YOU GET INVOLVED?
ABSOLUTELY.
I WISH YOU'D LISTEN TO ME.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU REALLY NEED TO END THIS, AMY.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
I JUST WENT ON A FACT-FINDING MISSION.
WHAT I ENCOUNTERED WAS JUST THAT DOWNPLAYING AND MINIMIZING.
[ SIGHS ]
HI.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU'VE HAD ANY PROBLEMS
WITH NOISE FROM THE NEIGHBOR AT 13?
NO. NO.
THEN I KNOCKED ON ANOTHER DOOR.
OH, HI.
I'M SO SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.
I WAS WONDERING WHETHER YOU KNOW MY NEIGHBOR AT NUMBER 13.
SHE'S HAD A FEW PROBLEMS RECENTLY,
AND I-I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE IF EVERYONE GOT TOGETHER AND...
SHE SEEMS...DISTURBED.
WE'LL PRAY FOR HER.
YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T THINK
THAT PRAYER'S NECESSARILY A BAD THING,
BUT WHAT I WAS ENCOUNTERING FROM THE PEOPLE I ASKED
WAS THIS FEELING OF, "OH, THERE'S A PROBLEM,
"BUT JUST...
YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST KEEP OUR DISTANCE FROM IT."
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR HAD SAID, "YEAH.
"ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL WOMAN.
"IN FACT, SHE TRIED TO SHARE HER MEDICATION WITH ME
WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS DEPRESSED."
AND I STARTED WONDERING, "HOW MENTALLY ILL IS SHE?
"AND HOW MUCH MEDICATION SHOULD SHE BE TAKING,
AND WHY ISN'T SHE TAKING IT?"
I SHOULD GO.
I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING THAT TROUBLESOME NEIGHBOR,
THE ONE WHO WAS TRYING TO BE THE FINGER-POINTER,
THE ONE WHO WAS SAYING,
"OH, LET'S ALL RALLY AGAINST THIS BAD PERSON."
I FELT REALLY ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED.
AFTER THE NEIGHBOR STARTED ESCALATING AGAINST ME,
I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED TO FIGHT BACK.
I CAN'T LET HER DESTROY ME IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
I JUST HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
THE THING THAT A LOG DOES IS THAT,
IT NOT ONLY GIVES A TRACK RECORD OF HARASSMENT,
BUT IT ALSO SHOWS PATTERNS.
I STARTED REALIZING
THAT THE ONLY REALLY GOOD MEANS OF FIGHTING THAT I HAD
WAS MY BRAIN.
[ WOMAN LAUGHING ]
AND MY ABILITY TO ORGANIZE -- IT WAS MY BEST DEFENSE.
Woman: ♪ LA LA-LA LA-LA ♪
WHEN I STARTED DOING THE RECORDINGS,
IT WAS AT THE TIME WHERE I WAS STILL TRYING
TO PROVE THAT HER NOISE WAS OUT OF CONTROL...
♪ OH, LA-LA LA-LA YA ♪
[ VOCALIZING ]
...AND JUST HOW DISTURBING THE WAILS WERE, HOW HORRIBLE,
AND HOPEFULLY THAT IT WOULD BE AN ANOTHER VENUE TO SAY,
"HEY, THIS WOMAN NEEDS HELP."
I'D COME HOME FROM WORK,
AND I JUST WENT TO THE MAILBOX TO GET MY MAIL.
AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS SCARED.
SO I TURNED AND WALKED IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.
SHE TURNED TO FOLLOW ME.
AT THAT MOMENT, I DECIDED
I WAS GONNA GO TO MY NEIGHBOR JANE'S HOUSE.
HER HOUSE WAS PRETTY CLOSE,
AND SO I FIGURED
I'LL JUST HOTFOOT IT OVER TO HER PLACE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO CAST TOO MANY, YOU KNOW, GLANCES
OVER MY SHOULDER,
BUT I COULD SEE OUT OF MY PERIPHERALS
THAT THE NEIGHBOR WAS COMING UP THAT WALKWAY, TOO.
[ KNOCKING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I WAS RELIEVED THAT AT LEAST SHE LET ME IN,
BUT IT WAS ALSO AWKWARD,
BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
BY ME BEING INSIDE OF HER HOUSE,
IF THE NEIGHBOR CAME OUT AFTER ME,
THAT JANE WOULD ALSO BE AFFECTED WITH IT.
[ SOBBING ]
I FELT GUILTY, AWKWARD.
JANE JUST VERY CLEARLY WANTED ME OUT OF HER HOUSE.
AT THAT MOMENT, A LINE HAD BEEN CROSSED.
SHE'S COMING OUT AFTER ME.
[ WOMAN SCREAMING ]
IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE MOMENT,
EVEN BEFORE I PUT MY KEY IN THE DOOR,
THAT IT WAS A PARTICULARLY BAD DAY FOR THE NEIGHBOR.
"I NEED TO LEAVE NOW. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS."
THAT I THOUGHT THAT I COULD JUST SNEAK OUT VERY QUIETLY
WITHOUT HER HEARING ME.
BUT SHE HEARD ME.
SHE ALWAYS HEARD ME.
SO IT BECAME AN EXERCISE IN MYSELF
TO JUST NOT LET PANIC OVERTAKE ME.
"YES, I'M HEARING SOMEONE COMING FROM BEHIND ME,
BUT I JUST NEED TO VERY CALMLY GET TO THE CAR AND LEAVE."
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
AND AS SOON AS I PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET,
I THOUGHT THAT I HAD MADE IT.
[ SIGHS ]
I SAW THE CAR. I SAW HER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Neises: YEAH. IT'S WORSE NOW.
SHE'S FOLLOWED ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
Neises: I SAW THE CAR. I SAW HER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Neises: YEAH. IT'S WORSE NOW.
SHE'S FOLLOWED ME.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, YOU'RE SO STUPID, BABY!
[ LAUGHS ]
Neises: ALL OF MY FEARS ARE STARTING TO COME TO LIGHT.
THEY ARE STARTING TO BE REALIZED.
AND EVERYTHING'S IN SLOW MOTION.
SHE ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO STOP JUST SHORT OF IT BEING A CRIME
OR BEING OBVIOUS THAT SHE WAS COMING OUT AFTER ME.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I WAS AFRAID THAT SHE'D LOOP BACK AROUND AND FIND ME,
SO I FIGURED IF I COULD JUST GO HOME AND PACK REALLY QUICKLY,
WHEREVER SHE'S GOING TO BE,
I CAN BEAT HER, AND I CAN GET OUT.
I BOUNCED AROUND A LOT.
FOR A WHILE, I WAS LIVING IN THE BASEMENT
WITH A COUPLE OF TWENTYSOMETHING BACHELORS.
THEN I MOVED INTO ANOTHER SPARE BEDROOM.
IT WAS A DEMORALIZING FEELING.
"I'VE LOST EVERYTHING NOW.
"I CAN'T LIVE IN MY HOME.
"AND NOW I'M BASICALLY HAVING TO BEG FOR CHEAP RENT
"SO THAT I CAN AT LEAST KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER
AND STILL GO TO WORK."
I WAS OUT OF MY HOUSE FOR SEVEN MONTHS.
Jane: HEY, AMY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK?
WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHECK ON MY PLACE,
I WOULD RUN INTO NEIGHBORS, AND THEY WOULD SAY, "OH, MY GOSH.
"NOW WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
BECAUSE NOW SHE'S COMING OUT AFTER US."
HEY. UM, I-I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
IT STOPPED BEING MY PROBLEM, AND THEN BECAME EVERYONE'S PROBLEM.
THE ONLY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD IS,
"FINISH THIS. JUST FINISH THIS."
WHEN SHE STARTED FOLLOWING ME,
THAT'S WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SAY, "HEY, SHE'S STALKING ME.
"SHE HAS BEEN COMING OUT AFTER ME.
SHE'S FOLLOWING ME. CAN I GET THAT STALKING ORDER?"
I WAS ROUTED TO A POLICE OFFICER, DETECTIVE THOMPSON,
WHO WAS TRAINED IN THE MENTAL-HEALTH AREA.
SO, HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE IS FIRST A POLICE OFFICER.
HE IS NOT A PSYCHIATRIST OR A PSYCHOLOGIST,
BUT HE HAS BEEN TRAINED IN THE MENTAL-HEALTH AREA
IN REGARDS TO HELPING HIM
FULFILL HIS ROLE AS A POLICE OFFICER.
HONESTLY, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS
TO FINALLY SPEAK TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS.
THOMPSON: Glad to be of service, Amy.
I'll do everything I can to help.
[ Click ]
[ Dial tone ]
YOU ARE ALL SO STUPID!
YOU MUST BE CURSED AND BURNED FOR TO BE SO STUPID!
IT'S AMY, YOU SEE?!
AMY IS CRAZY STALKER!
I WAS TERRIFIED.
YOU'RE A STUPID AMERICAN!
YOU'RE STUPID! I HATE YOU, BABY!
I HATE YOU, BABY!
I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD BE RECORDING THIS,
THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MOST BLATANT EVIDENCE
THAT I COULD PROVIDE.
AMY IS CRAZY STALKER!
I WOULD SAY WALKING THOSE FIVE STEPS TO MY DOOR
AND PURPOSEFULLY CLAMPING THAT PHONE ON THE DOOR
WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BRAVEST THINGS I'VE DONE.
SHE IS LIAR AND CRIMINAL!
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
JUST SAYING, "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
"AND YOU ARE NOW 3 INCHES AWAY FROM ME,
"BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT,
AND I'M GONNA RECORD EVERY SINGLE HORRIBLE THING."
SHE IS STALKING ME, AND NOW YOU WILL SEE!
DO I UPSET YOU, AMY?!
SHALL I PAY YOU A FEW DOLLARS?!
I FINALLY CONVINCED MYSELF I NEED TO CALL THE POLICE AGAIN.
THIS IS WHAT COMES TO -- SHE IS LIAR AND CRIMINAL!
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
AND SO THEY SENT TWO REPRESENTATIVES OVER.
STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU...
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
NO!
YOU PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND!
IT'S AMY THAT YOU MUST SPEAK TO!
SHE HAS SERIOUS MENTAL-HEALTH PROBLEM!
YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO AMY!
WHEN THE MENTAL-HEALTH PEOPLE TOLD HER,
"AMY CAN GET YOU ARRESTED,"
IT SCARED HER, AND SHE TOOK OFF.
AND SHE WAS GONE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS,
HIDING OUT FROM THE LAW.
[ DISTORTED SHOUTING ]
[ Distorted voice ] I HATE YOU!
Narrator: THE NEIGHBOR WAS ARRESTED FOR STALKING AMY
AND FOR THE VIOLATION OF TWO PREVIOUS STALKING ORDERS.
[ SCREAMING ]
Neises: THE POLICE FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH HER
A FEW WEEKS LATER OUTSIDE IN A PARKING LOT YELLING.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR STALKING.
WHEN THE ACTUAL CRIMINAL CASE WENT TO TRIAL,
WE ENDED UP SETTLING OUT OF COURT.
Narrator: AMY SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED ANOTHER STALKING ORDER
AGAINST HER.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE ORDER,
AMY'S NEIGHBOR AVOIDED A JAIL TERM
BUT WAS BANNED FROM ANY FUTURE CONTACT.
THE NEIGHBOR WAS ALSO EVICTED FROM AMY'S COMMUNITY
AND WAS EXPLICITLY BARRED FROM EVER RETURNING.
I'LL NEVER FEEL LIKE IT'S OVER.
IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE JUST HOW HORRIBLE OF A HOLE
IT LEFT INSIDE OF ME --
JUST THE REALIZATION
THAT SOMEONE ACTIVELY TRIED TO DESTROY ME.
YOU! YOU'RE A STUPID AMERICAN!
YOU'RE STUPID! I HATE YOU, BABY!
I HATE YOU, BABY!
I WILL DESTROY YOU!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I LIVE IN THE SAME PLACE NOW,
AND I KNOW THAT THE NEIGHBOR
KNOWS THAT IF SHE DECIDED TO COME BACK OUT AFTER ME,
SHE COULD FIND ME.
HI.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY STALKER IS NOW.
GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MORNING.
I'M SURE I WILL BE VERY HAPPY HERE.