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'Worst Neighbor Ever' True Story, Where Is Frances Zaayer Now After The Murder Of David Scott?
Netflix's Worst Neighbor Ever opens with the disturbing true story of Frances Zaayer, whose escalating feud with her next-door neighbors ended in a fatal shooting.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleNetflix is back with another chilling true-crime docu-series, bringing the chilling real-life cases of neighbors from hell that will have you checking your doors and windows a second time around, or saying hello to the family that moved in next door. The streamer’s latest docu-series, Worst Neighbor Ever, delves into four shocking cases where everyday neighborhood disputes turned into harassment, intimidation, and deadly violence.
In the opening episode, titled 'She Finally Snapped', viewers see the horrifying true story of Frances Zaayer, whose bitter feud with her longtime friends and next-door neighbors ended in a fatal shooting that forever changed the lives of an ordinary Kentucky family.
What exactly happened between Zaayer and the Scotts?
The first episode of the docuseries revisits the shocking true story of a close friendship turned deadly between two neighbors. Shawna Scott and her husband, David Scott, had just recently moved to a new neighborhood in Kentucky in Mount Sterling when they met an old family friend who got in touch with them.
Francez Zaayer, who was in the middle of her divorce and had been living away for a while, decided to be near friends again when her marriage broke down. A former resident of the area, she purchased the house next door to the Scotts and temporarily stayed with them while renovating her property.
However, what initially appeared to be a fresh start for a heartbroken woman quickly deteriorated into something sinister. Frances' behavior turned oddly uncomfortable with time, and Shawna and David allegedly noticed increasingly controlling and erratic behavior on her part. Tensions escalated further after Frances moved into her own home next-door to the couple.
The Scotts were relieved when Frances moved out. However, little did they know that things were beginning to take a sinister turn. Zaayer's controlling instincts became increasingly problematic for the couple, and things turned ugly when she built a driveway over her neighbor's land, despite being repeatedly told she couldn't.
One day, a frustrated Shawna confronted Zaayer, asking why she was acting that way; the latter simply replied, "Because I can." The confrontation soon turned physical, and Shawna's husband, Dave, had to step in to separate the two.
However, when the police arrived, Zaayer allegedly claimed Shawna had attacked her with a stick and repeatedly punched her while Dave joined in. Despite showing no visible injuries, Zaayer wore a neck brace and pursued assault charges. Although the case was later dropped, she continued filming the Scotts and even claimed she planned to involve the FBI and then-President Donald Trump in the dispute.
By early 2018, Zaayer's behavior had reportedly become increasingly erratic. According to the documentary, she would mow her lawn topless and walk around her property in minimal clothing while continuing to file repeated complaints against the Scott family. In fact, Shawna was briefly arrested on an assault case and later released after prosecutors dropped the case due to insufficient evidence.
Zaayer allegedly turned furious when Shawna was released. Shortly afterward, Zaayer walked across the street armed with a handgun and opened fire on her neighbors. Shawna was shot in the face, with the bullet entering through her nose and exiting the side of her head. While Shawna survived the attack, she suffered permanent injuries, including blindness in one eye and hearing loss in one ear. Her husband, David Scott, was shot in the chest and died at the scene at the age of 47.
Such was her impression by then that when a neighbor called 911, the dispatcher immediately asked whether the shooter was Frances Zaayer, as she was already well known to local emergency services because of her frequent complaints. Zaayer was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to the attack. According to the documentary, Shawna only learned that David had been killed after waking from a coma.
Where is Frances Zaayer now?
At her trial, Frances Zaayer pleaded guilty to murder, second-degree assault, and first-degree wanton endangerment. In 2022, the court ordered a 35-year prison sentence with no eligibility for parole. At her sentencing, Shawna's daughter, Haley, told Frances:
"You deserve so much more than the sentence you are receiving today. But it's at least a good start for taking the life of a proud father, grandfather, adoring husband, and a pillar of this community. I know families of the victims often end their statements with 'I forgive you,' or 'I need to forgive you to move on.' But I want to make myself very clear. I do not forgive you, I don't want to forgive you, and I'm never going to forgive you."
Frances Zaayer is currently incarcerated at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women in Kentucky's Pewee Valley, and is in her fourth year. She would not be eligible for parole until 2038.
Worst Neighbor Ever premiered on Netflix on July 1, 2026, and all four episodes are available for streaming now.
Image credit: Netflix
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