Ep 6. Not In My Yard

Not in My Yard is the sixth episode of the sixth season of the true crime documentary series Fear Thy Neighbor. The series takes a look at real-life cases where disputes and conflicts between neighbors turn deadly.

In this episode, viewers are introduced to the story of two neighboring families in the small town of Newberry, South Carolina. The Riddick family, consisting of 67-year-old James Riddick and his 35-year-old son Jamie, had just moved in next door to the Surratt family, consisting of Tom and Rhonda Surratt and their teenage daughter Kayla.

At first, the two families got along fine, but things quickly took a turn after the Riddicks began doing construction on their property. The noise and mess from the construction bothered the Surratts, but when they complained to the Riddicks, James Riddick allegedly responded with threats and insults.

The situation escalated when Tom Surratt's dog went missing and he suspected that the Riddicks had something to do with it. He confronted Jamie Riddick, who denied having anything to do with the disappearance of the dog.

From there, the conflict between the two families only grew more intense, with Tom Surratt even going as far as to put up a security camera to monitor the Riddicks' property. This move angered Jamie Riddick, who felt that he was being unfairly spied on.

As tensions continued to rise, things came to a head on October 7th, 2017. Jamie Riddick was working on his property with a chainsaw when Tom Surratt approached him. According to Jamie Riddick, Tom Surratt came at him with a pipe, and he was forced to defend himself with the chainsaw.

Tom Surratt was severely injured in the altercation and had to be taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Jamie Riddick was arrested for the murder of Tom Surratt and is still awaiting trial.

Not in My Yard examines the events leading up to the deadly confrontation between the Riddicks and the Surratts, including interviews with family members, neighbors, and law enforcement officials who were involved in the case.

The episode also delves into the legal process that followed the incident, including the charges that were brought against Jamie Riddick and the impact that the tragedy had on both families and the community as a whole.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a glimpse into the complex and often fraught relationships that can exist between neighbors, and the sometimes-deadly consequences that can result when conflicts spiral out of control.

Not in My Yard is a gripping and thought-provoking installment of Fear Thy Neighbor, offering a sobering reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when disputes between neighbors are not handled with care and respect.