Too Many Dead Neighbors

Kerby is a tiny census-designated place in Josephine County, in the extreme south-west corner of Oregon, close to the California border and a few miles from Cave Junction. It began in the 1850s as a gold-mining settlement named for James Kerby, served briefly as the county seat under the names Kerbyville and Napoleon, and lost that role to Grants Pass. By the time of this story it had between roughly 200 and 600 residents, a median household income of $37,219 against a national average of $69,000, and a median home cost of $330,900.

details of the account remain covered until revealed By 2009 he was living in Kerby with his elderly mother, Clarice, whom he cared for, and was regarded by some neighbours as the street's watchman and by others as a nuisance who called the sheriff constantly. His next-door neighbour was Kenneth Vaughn, and the two men quarrelled over a strip of land three or four feet wide between their houses.

In November 2009 that quarrel turned into a gunfight in the side yard. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed

Vaughn's house stood empty until Laron Estes, 59, and his partner Barbara Hicks moved in. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The friendship soured over the same strip of land. this part of the story is covered for now Estes unplugged the lights, put up a black plastic barrier, cut down an apple tree on the disputed line, bred chihuahuas without a permit and kept a growing junk pile. details of the account remain covered until revealed

A surveyor finally let slip to Estes that the previous owner of his house had been shot dead by the man next door. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The court refused to admit the letter, the psychiatrist could not attend, and the order was denied. this part of the story is covered for now

details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it

this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed Estes died on the property. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now

details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now Much of the defence evidence about Estes's reputation for violence was excluded, as was an audio recording and a neighbour's account of Estes with a gun and a pitchfork. details of the account remain covered until revealed

the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it