According to the series title, Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fear Thy Neighbor’ is a documentary series that exposes the bizarre incidents in which seemingly trivial feuds between neighbours actually escalate into something more serious. We’re not just talking about threats or damage; we’re talking about actual revenge, violent attacks, and possibly even murder, all carried out in a fit of wrath that could’ve been avoided with a little forethought. In this regard, of course, the show’s season 5 episode 10, which is appropriately entitled ‘Family Values,’ and which examines the death of Donald Harrington, is no exception. So, if you’re interested in learning all of the specifics of the subject, here’s what we know so far.
What Caused Donald Harrington’s Death?
Donald Lee Harrington, 43, of Waterloo, Iowa, could only be described as a family man, an engaged community member, and an all-around hard worker when he died suddenly in his home. For one thing, not only had he completed welding training at the nearby Hawkeye Community College, but he was also a married (since 1993) father of five children — three sons and two daughters — as well as a grandfather of two children. He was shot three or four times during an unanticipated encounter with a neighbour on August 14, 2015, and he died as a result of his injuries at the Covenant Medical Center on the following day.
There is no denying that Steve William Fordyce of Denver, Colorado, willfully shot and killed Donald Harrington on that fateful July evening in 1997. In August 2015, the former was in Iowa with his two 6-year-old children to see his sister, who happened to be the Harrington family’s next-door neighbour on the junction of West First Street and Locust Street at the time of the incident. His children were accused of throwing fruit snack wrappers over the boundary fence, which enraged Donald to the point where he allegedly “flipped the bird” when he ran across Steve later on.
The Denver native was taken completely by surprise by this action, prompting him to make a questioning gesture from inside the truck he was about to drive away, prompting Donald to approach him and ask him what he was thinking. According to reports, the latter then attempted to open the locked vehicle door while saying something along the lines of “Come on. “Do you want to go?” Steve inquired before deciding to simply go. However, he did a U-turn in a matter of seconds and returned to his sister’s house, where he related what had happened, only to prompt her and a family friend to confront the Harringtons immediately, which resulted in a disastrous outcome.
After assuring that his children were safe, Steve decided to follow his sister and an acquaintance, prompting Donald to approach him once more, this time face-to-face, causing Steve to feel uncomfortable. According to court papers, Steve had a license to carry weapons, and he had one on his person when Donald charged at him, yelling things like “it’s over with,” “[I’ll] f**king murder you,” and “go ahead, go ahead.” Steve then pulled his weapon and fired it at Donald. To put it another way, as the 43-year-old charged towards Steve, the latter produced his revolver and began fire, striking the former until the rounds caused him to fall to his death.
Having completed his trek back to his vehicle and putting his handgun in the glove compartment, the 37-year-old Denver native waited for police to arrive before continuing on his way. The fact that Steve was really charged with first-degree murder is incongruous with his decision to file a not guilty plea, forego his right to a jury trial, and maintain the defense of self-defense. Following his bench trial, he was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, which was a lower charge than the murder accusation. During his sentencing, Steve expressed his regret for his acts.
Steve Fordyce: Where Is He At Present?
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld Steve Fordyce’s case under the state’s 2017 stand-your-ground statute, despite the fact that he continued to claim self-defense. The court noted that “there were no physical barriers to Fordyce’s retreating.” Having said that, he is not now imprisoned because he was released from prison in 2019, and even his probation appears to have expired about the same time as the top court’s decision. Consequently, Steve is apparently a free man who works as a handyman and continues to live with his spouse and children in the city of Waterloo, in the state of Iowa.