Ep 2. Loathe Thy Neighbor

In Deadly Women season 5 episode 2, titled "Loathe Thy Neighbor," the focus is on three women who turn their anger and resentment against their neighbors into deadly obsession.

The first case takes us to a quiet suburb in Maryland, where a middle-aged woman named Sandra Walters becomes convinced that her neighbors, the Riggins family, are out to get her and her husband. Despite the lack of evidence or any real reason for suspicion, Sandra harbors a deep resentment towards the Riggins and begins to make their life a living hell. It all comes to a head when she shoots and kills the patriarch of the Riggins family in cold blood, leading to a tense standoff with the police.

Next, we delve into the case of 28-year-old Ashley Laney, who moves into a trailer park in Florida with her boyfriend. However, her neighbor, a woman named Michelle Cannon, takes an instant dislike to Ashley and begins to bully and harass her, even going as far as smashing her car and threatening her with a knife. Ashley ultimately snaps and beats Michelle to death, claiming self-defense. But the evidence suggests that her actions were premeditated and fueled by a deep-seated hatred towards her neighbor.

The final case takes a darker turn as we meet Angela Simpson, a woman who is obsessed with her neighbor, 70-year-old Frank Cushman. Angela becomes fixated on Frank and begins to stalk him, breaking into his home and stealing his belongings. She even goes so far as to hire hitmen to kill Frank and his wife, but her plot is foiled and she is sentenced to life in prison.

Throughout the episode, we hear from the friends, family and law enforcement officials involved in each case, as well as experts in criminology and psychology who shed light on the motivations, behaviors and warning signs of these deadly women. As with every episode of Deadly Women, "Loathe Thy Neighbor" is a fascinating and chilling exploration of the extremes of human behavior and the consequences of unchecked anger and resentment.