Shawna and David Scott believed they were doing a good deed for family friend Frances Zaayer by allowing her to live with them. Sadly, this decision led to David’s death and left Shawna with severe injuries.
This chilling narrative is highlighted in the first episode of Netflix’s series Worst Neighbor Ever, titled Finally Snapped.
The episode recounts the tale of the Kentucky couple and how their lives were turned upside down by Zaayer, an old family friend whose presence became a nightmare after she moved in following her marriage collapse in 2017.
As tensions escalated, Zaayer eventually moved next door. Following numerous disputes and a physical altercation, Zaayer accused Shawna of assault to the police. However, with no evidence and Zaayer unharmed, the charges were dropped. The situation worsened when Zaayer arrived at the Scotts’ home with a firearm.
In 2018, David was fatally shot in the chest. Shawna survived despite her face being shattered by another bullet during the ordeal.
The bullet traveled through Shawna’s nose and exited her head. According to the American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons (AANS), the survivability of a gunshot wound to the head depends on factors like the bullet’s trajectory, the gun’s caliber, and the bullet’s size and speed.
A projectile that avoids critical blood vessels and major brain areas is likelier to result in non-fatal injuries than those that hit vital parts.
The AANS explains that a trajectory passing through the right frontal lobe toward the forehead above the skull base usually causes minor damage because it misses essential brain areas.
Conversely, a path from the left frontal lobe toward the temporal lobe and brainstem is more likely to be deadly if it passes through critical brain tissue.
After the shooting, Shawna was in critical condition and fell into a coma. Upon waking, she learned the heart-wrenching news that David had died. She also lost hearing in one ear and sight in one eye.
Reflecting on the tragic events in the Netflix documentary, Shawna recounted: “I remember this awful bang, and I was down.
“I can recall being able to look out of the sliding glass door, and saw David laying there, and I can remember shouting for someone to help him.”
Zaayer received a 35-year prison sentence after being convicted of murder, attempted murder, and burglary, stemming from the prolonged neighborhood conflict.
She will not be eligible for parole until 2038.
Worst Neighbor Ever is now streaming on Netflix.