Frenemies (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Frenemies: Loyalty Turned Lethal Myspace Cyber Attack - full transcript
Narrator: THE PARTY GIRL
AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
BECOME BEST FRIENDS...
WE TOLD EACH OTHER
THAT WE LOVED EACH OTHER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL SEETHING RESENTMENTS
IGNITE A DANGEROUS CONFLICT.
I KNEW RIGHT AWAY
IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
THEY WERE GETTING
CRAZIER AND CRAZIER.
YOU WANT TO START? GAME ON.
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE...
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NIKKI RASMUSSEN
AND JENNIFER HARRIS MEET
WHILE WORKING AT A GAS STATION
CONVENIENCE STORE
JUST OUTSIDE
OF DES MOINES, IOWA.
THEY ARE BOTH 21 YEARS OLD.
NIKKI IS QUIET AND SHY,
BUT SHE HAS A BIG HEART.
Holdefer: NIKKI IS
GENEROSITY TO THE EXTREME,
AND WOULD DO
ALMOST ANYTHING FOR YOU.
Narrator: JENNIFER
IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
SHE'S FUNNY AND LOVES TO BE
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
Nikki:
JEN WAS VERY OUTGOING.
SHE DEFINITELY HAD
A LOT OF ENERGY
AND WAS A VERY FUN PERSON
TO BE AROUND.
JENNIFER BROUGHT OUT
A LITTLE BIT OF A FUNNER,
CRAZIER SIDE OF NIKKI.
Nikki:
JEN AND I WERE LIKE OPPOSITES.
WE JUST HIT IT OFF AS FRIENDS.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG,
THEY BECOME BEST FRIENDS.
JENNIFER ADMIRES
NIKKI'S DOWN-TO-EARTH
AND PRACTICAL NATURE.
AND SHE QUICKLY COMES
TO RELY ON HER
FOR GUIDANCE
AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
JEN LIKED TO ASK ME FOR ADVICE.
SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF ME
AS HER GOOD CONSCIENCE.
Narrator: NIKKI
IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL
WHEN IT COMES
TO JENNIFER'S SON, MATTHEW.
Nikki: SHE'S RAISING
HER SON BY HERSELF.
JEN STRUGGLED EMOTIONALLY,
BEING A SINGLE PARENT.
Narrator:
NIKKI AND JENNIFER
THINK THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE
FOR EACH OTHER,
THROUGH THICK AND THIN.
WE TOLD EACH OTHER
THAT WE LOVED EACH OTHER.
Narrator: BUT LITTLE
DO EITHER OF THEM KNOW,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS HEADED
FOR A DANGEROUS CONFRONTATION.
AND WHEN IT DOES COME,
IT'S EXPLOSIVE.
AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF FRIENDSHIP,
JENNIFER AND NIKKI
ARE STILL CLOSE.
BUT THEIR LIVES HAVE STARTED
TO MOVE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
NIKKI IS NOW A DEVOTED WIFE
TO HER HUSBAND, JIM,
AND A LOVING MOTHER
TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
NAMED KATELYN.
SHE HAS A JOB AS AN ACCOUNTANT,
AND A STABLE HOME LIFE.
Nikki:
MY PRIORITIES CHANGED.
I FELT LIKE I HAD TO BE
A MORE RESPONSIBLE PERSON.
Narrator: NIKKI'S LONGTIME
BEST FRIEND JENNIFER
IS WORKING
AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
BUT HER WILD LIFESTYLE COULDN'T
BE MORE DIFFERENT THAN NIKKI'S.
Nikki:
JEN WAS PRETTY CRAZY.
SHE WAS DRINKING A LOT,
BRAGGING ABOUT HER DRINKING
AND HOW MANY BOTTLES OF WINE
SHE'D HAD THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Narrator:
ALONG WITH JENNIFER'S DRINKING
COMES A CONSTANT STREAM
OF BOYFRIENDS.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR LOVE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE,
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE, PROBABLY,
WAS GOING ABOUT IT
THE SMARTEST WAY.
Narrator:
NIKKI IS DISTURBED
BY HER BEST FRIEND'S
RECKLESS BEHAVIOR.
WHAT SHE ONCE SAW
AS OUTGOING AND FUN-LOVING
NOW SEEMS IRRESPONSIBLE
AND IMMATURE.
AND SHE IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE EFFECT
JENNIFER'S UNSAVORY LIFESTYLE
MIGHT HAVE ON HER SON MATTHEW,
WHO IS NOW 9-YEARS-OLD.
Nikki: I THINK HER SON
WAS DEFINITELY AFFECTED
BY ALL THE MEN
COMING IN AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
THERE ONE DAY AND GONE THE NEXT.
Narrator:
NIKKI TRIES TO HELP
AS SHE WATCHES JENNIFER'S LIFE
MOVE DANGEROUSLY CLOSER
TO THE EDGE.
I KIND OF WANTED TO HAVE
A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
Nikki:
I ALWAYS TOLD HER HOW I FELT.
I FELT THAT SHE NEEDED
TO DRINK LESS.
I FELT THAT SHE NEEDED
TO FIND ONE PERSON.
I THINK IT'S TIME
YOU SLOW DOWN.
STOP HAVING MEN
COMING IN AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
Narrator: BUT OVER TIME,
JENNIFER STARTS TO THINK NIKKI
IS JUST BEING BOSSY.
I DO SPEND PLENTY OF TIME
WITH MY SON!
AND WHEN NIKKI REALIZES
THAT HER HEARTFELT ADVICE
IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS,
SHE QUICKLY GROWS IRRITATED.
Nikki:
IT JUST PUSHED ME AWAY,
JUST MADE ME NOT WANT
TO BE AROUND HER.
Holdefer: WITH JEN,
IT WAS JUST NONSTOP DRAMA.
THERE WAS JUST A LOT
OF CONTROVERSY AND CRAZINESS
SURROUNDING HER.
NIKKI WANTED TO GET AWAY
FROM THAT KIND OF THING.
Narrator:
JENNIFER'S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
BEGINS TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDS.
JEN AND I
STARTED GROWING APART.
STILL FRIENDS, BUT NOT
HANGING OUT ALL THE TIME.
I FELT THE DISTANCE
GROWING BETWEEN US.
Narrator: AND WITHOUT NIKKI
THERE FOR CONSTANT SUPPORT,
JENNIFER BECOMES
INCREASINGLY UNHINGED.
JEN DID HAVE MOOD SWINGS.
THERE WERE TIMES
WHERE SHE'D BE REALLY DOWN.
Narrator:
BUT NIKKI COULD NEVER IMAGINE
WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
HER FRIEND'S MIND.
ONE DAY, IN THE FALL OF 2011,
JENNIFER GOES TO AN EXTREME.
SHE HAS A HYSTERICAL
BREAKDOWN AT WORK
AND SUDDENLY DRIVES OFF
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
AND WHEN JEN GOT HOME,
SHE PULLED HER CAR
IN THE GARAGE.
Narrator:
JENNIFER CLOSES THE GARAGE DOOR,
BUT SHE DOESN'T
GET OUT OF HER CAR.
SHE LEFT HER CAR RUNNING
AND LOCKED HERSELF IN.
Narrator: JENNIFER TRIES
TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE --
THE ULTIMATE ACT OF DESPERATION.
BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO HER,
A CONCERNED COWORKER
HAS FOLLOWED HER HOME.
WHEN JENNIFER
DOESN'T LEAVE THE GARAGE,
SHE FEARS THE WORST
AND CALLS 9-1-1.
POLICE RACE TO JENNIFER'S HOUSE
AND PULL HER FROM HER CAR
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Nikki:
JEN WAS VERY LUCKY.
I FELT BAD FOR HER.
NIKKI WAS MORE AND MORE WORRIED
ABOUT HER MENTAL STATE.
Narrator: NIKKI IS RELIEVED
THAT JENNIFER IS UNHARMED.
BUT NEITHER OF THEM REALIZE
THAT JENNIFER'S
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
IS ONLY THE START
OF A TERRIFYING CHAIN OF EVENTS.
IT TURNED INTO A GAME
OF CAT-AND-MOUSE
BETWEEN JEN AND NIKKI.
Nikki: I WAS SCARED.
IT WOULDN'T COME INTO MY MIND
THAT ANYONE WOULD ACTUALLY DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S SCARY. VERY, VERY SCARY.
I WAS STARTING
TO FEEL THREATENED.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN JENNIFER AND NIKKI
IN RECENT MONTHS,
NIKKI IS HORRIFIED, BUT RELIEVED
WHEN HER BEST FRIEND
OF NEARLY 10 YEARS
SURVIVES A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
JENNIFER IS ADMITTED INTO
A MENTAL HOSPITAL IN DES MOINES.
Nikki:
I WAS NOT SURPRISED,
WITH HER ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
AND HER DRINKING,
I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS PROBABLY
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.
Narrator: FROM HER HOSPITAL BED,
JENNIFER REACHES OUT TO NIKKI --
THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS
BEEN THERE FOR HER IN THE PAST.
BUT THIS TIME, JENNIFER MAKES
A SURPRISING REQUEST.
Holdefer:
JEN REACHED OUT TO NIKKI
TO ASK HER TO PLAN
A 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY.
Narrator: JENNIFER CAN'T ACCESS
FACEBOOK FROM THE HOSPITAL,
SO SHE ASKS NIKKI TO SEND OUT
THE INVITATIONS ON HER BEHALF.
JEN WANTED A LOT OF BOOZE
AND FUN AND CRAZINESS.
Narrator: NIKKI IS UPSET
THAT JENNIFER IS MORE FOCUSED
ON A PARTY THAN HER RECOVERY.
NIKKI FELT CONFLICTED
BECAUSE JEN'S GOT
MORE PROBLEMS THAN A MATH BOOK,
AND HER 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY
SHOULD BE
THE LEAST OF HER WORRIES.
Narrator: BUT AGAINST HER BETTER
JUDGEMENT, NIKKI AGREES TO HELP.
I AGREED TO DO THIS
JUST BECAUSE I FELT
SORRY FOR HER.
Narrator:
LITTLE DOES NIKKI KNOW
THAT HER ACTIONS WILL SET OFF
A FRIGHTENING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
THAT NO ONE
COULD HAVE PREDICTED.
BY THE TIME JENNIFER
IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL,
NIKKI HAS RELUCTANTLY SENT OUT
THE PARTY INVITATIONS.
I PROBABLY INVITED,
MAYBE, 20 TO 30 PEOPLE.
Narrator: THE BIRTHDAY BASH
IS SCHEDULED
FOR THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY.
JENNIFER IS RIGHT BACK
TO HER PARTYING WAYS.
AND FOR HER, THE BIG NIGHT
CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH,
BUT HER EXCITEMENT
IS SHORT LIVED.
WHEN JENNIFER CHECKS FACEBOOK,
SHE IS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT
THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE
ARE COMING TO HER PARTY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T
GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
THERE'S, LIKE,
NO ONE COMING.
JEN SAID THE PARTY WASN'T
GOING TO BE ANY FUN --
NOBODY WAS COMING.
JEN FELT THAT IT WAS NIKKI'S
FAULT FOR THE POOR TURNOUT.
Narrator: BUT NIKKI FEELS
SHE HAS BENT OVER BACKWARDS
FOR HER FRIEND.
I THINK NIKKI GOT UPSET.
AND SHE THOUGHT, "HEY, I MEAN,
I'M DOING THESE THINGS FOR YOU.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
DO IT YOURSELF."
Nikki: I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT SHE WAS TRYING
TO PIN THIS ON ME.
Narrator: THEN JENNIFER SAYS
IF NO ONE'S COMING,
SHE'LL GO OUT
AND FIND HER OWN PARTY.
ON TOP OF THAT, SHE SHARES
A DISTURBING PLAN WITH NIKKI.
JEN TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD
PUT MATTHEW TO BED,
AND THEN SHE WOULD BE ABLE
TO GO OUT TO THE BARS.
I'LL GET TRASHED
BY MYSELF.
I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I'M A MOTHER,
AND I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK
THAT LEAVING YOUR 9-YEAR-OLD SON
HOME ALONE
WHILE YOU'RE OUT AT THE BAR
IS APPROPRIATE.
I CALLED HER OUT ON IT.
I TOLD HER,
"JEN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT."
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS SICK OF NIKKI
TELLING HER
HOW TO LIVE HER LIFE.
Nikki: JENNIFER WAS MAD.
SHE MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT ME
SOUNDING JUST LIKE HER MOTHER,
AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"JEN, I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO BE
COMING TO YOUR PARTY."
Narrator: NIKKI ANGRILY
HANGS UP ON HER FRIEND.
BUT IT'S FAR FROM OVER
FOR JENNIFER.
WHEN NIKKI REFUSES
TO COME TO HER PARTY,
JENNIFER FEELS LIKE
IT'S A STAB IN THE BACK.
WHEN NIKKI SAID SHE WASN'T
COMING TO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY,
JEN JUST COMPLETELY LOST IT.
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
ALL OF JENNIFER AND NIKKI'S
FRUSTRATIONS COME TO A HEAD.
THAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT
IN THE FRIENDSHIP.
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS INFURIATED
AND SHE LASHES OUT AT NIKKI
IN A SHOCKING WAY --
ON THE INTERNET
FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
LATER THAT DAY,
WHEN NIKKI LOGS ON TO FACEBOOK,
SHE SEES A POST FROM JENNIFER
THAT CATCHES HER
COMPLETELY OFF-GUARD.
JEN HAD POSTED A COMMENT SAYING,
"ISN'T IT [BLEEP] UP
"THAT THE PERSON WHO'S THROWING
YOU YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY
DECIDES THAT THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO SHOW UP."
Narrator: NIKKI IS HORRIFIED
WHEN SHE REALIZES THAT JENNIFER
IS TALKING ABOUT HER.
BUT ALL SHE CAN DO
IS WATCH HELPLESSLY
AS OTHERS START ACCUSING HER
OF LETTING HER FRIEND DOWN.
IT HURT ME,
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE PEOPLE
ARE BELIEVING WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
THEY'RE TAKING JEN'S SIDE.
Narrator: A FURIOUS NIKKI
IS QUICK TO RETALIATE,
FIRING OFF AN ANGRY POST
OF HER OWN ON JENNIFER'S WALL.
I WAS VERY UPSET,
AND I DID POST SOMETHING
ALONG THE LINES
OF, "WHAT'S MORE [BLEEP] UP?
"ME NOT COMING TO THE PARTY,
"OR HER LEAVING
HER 9-YEAR-OLD SON HOME ALONE
WHILE SHE'S OUT DRINKING?"
Narrator:
NIKKI HITS A RAW NERVE.
NOW BOTH FRIENDS
ARE SEETHING WITH RAGE,
AND EVENTS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE
AN ALARMING AND DANGEROUS TURN.
THEY WERE TERRIFIED.
Nikki: I WAS SHOCKED.
I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WOULD EVER
DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO ME --
EVER.
Narrator:
BEST FRIENDS NIKKI AND JENNIFER
ARE LOCKED IN A BITTER FEUD
ON FACEBOOK,
AND THEIR ONLINE BATTLE
IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE
INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR.
JENNIFER BELIEVES
THAT NIKKI DELIBERATELY RUINED
HER BIRTHDAY PARTY
AND PUBLICLY HUMILIATED HER.
NOW IT'S PAYBACK TIME.
JEN'S MELTDOWN
WAS NOTHING SHORT OF NUCLEAR.
Narrator: JENNIFER'S TARGET?
NIKKI'S MARRIAGE.
SHE WAS SAYING THAT I WAS USING
A FAKE FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
TO MEET MEN.
OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S A BIG ACCUSATION,
THAT A MARRIED WOMAN
WOULD TRY TO MEET OTHER MEN.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET
MY HUSBAND MAD AT ME.
Narrator: FORTUNATELY,
JIM DOESN'T BELIEVE JENNIFER.
I WROTE OFF THOSE MESSAGES
AS NONSENSE.
Narrator: BUT HE IS FURIOUS
THAT JENNIFER'S ATTACKS ON NIKKI
WILL STOP AT NOTHING.
THAT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC.
I FELT ANGRY.
Narrator: AND FOR NIKKI,
THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
THAT, PRETTY MUCH,
WAS THE LINE IN THE SAND FOR ME,
AND SHE CROSSED IT.
AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN I
BLOCKED AND UNFRIENDED JEN.
BY UNFRIENDING JEN ON FACEBOOK,
I THINK NIKKI SENT JEN
A PRETTY CLEAR MESSAGE --
"LEAVE ME ALONE.
I'M DONE WITH YOU.
I DON'T WANT
TO KNOW YOU ANYMORE."
Narrator: JUST LIKE THAT,
AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIP,
NIKKI DOESN'T
JUST UNFRIEND JENNIFER,
SHE CUTS HER OUT OF HER LIFE.
Holdefer: JEN WAS FURIOUS.
VERY, VERY, VERY ANGRY.
Narrator:
IN JENNIFER'S MIND,
NIKKI HAS JUST COMMITTED
THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
AT THAT MOMENT, JENNIFER VOWS
REVENGE AT ANY COST.
Nikki:
I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM JEN
SAYING, "YOU WANT TO START
[BLEEP] GAME ON."
Narrator:
THOUGH NIKKI IS SHAKEN,
SHE TRIES TO PUT THE DISTURBING
MESSAGE OUT OF HER MIND.
BUT THE MESSAGES CONTINUE,
AND THEY GROW MORE VICIOUS.
Holdefer: THERE WERE INCREASING
TEXT MESSAGES DURING THE DAY.
JEN STARTED WRITING
VERY THREATENING THINGS.
I DIDN'T RESPOND BACK TO HER.
I DIDN'T TEXT HER.
I DIDN'T CALL HER.
I DIDN'T TRY TO COME
INTO CONTACT WITH HER AT ALL.
Narrator: WHEN NIKKI IGNORES
JENNIFER'S MESSAGES,
IT ONLY EGGS HER ON.
SHE WAS SAYING THAT SHE WAS
GOING TO COME AND BEAT ME UP.
SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
PUNCHING HER FACE IN,
AND "I CAN'T WANT TO SEE
THE LOOK ON HER FACE."
THEY WERE GETTING
CRAZIER AND CRAZIER.
Narrator:
NIKKI IS PARALYZED WITH FEAR.
HER EX-BEST-FRIEND, WHO SHE
USED TO SHARE EVERYTHING WITH,
IS HELL-BENT
ON GETTING BACK AT HER.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT NIKKI.
SHE WAS CRYING.
SHE WAS VERY UPSET.
Narrator:
THEN, ON OCTOBER 26th,
JENNIFER SENDS
YET ANOTHER MESSAGE.
AND THIS ONE IS
THE MOST CHILLING OF THEM ALL.
SHE SAID I WASN'T GOING TO
HAVE LEGS TO STAND ON
OR A HOUSE TO LIVE IN.
IT SCARED ME.
I WAS VERY WORRIED THAT SHE
MIGHT ACT UPON HER THREATS,
BUT THERE WASN'T
ANYTHING I COULD DO.
Narrator: NOW IT'S CLEAR
THAT JENNIFER
IS OUT FOR REVENGE,
AND NOTHING CAN STOP HER.
AND WHAT SHE HAS PLANNED
FOR NIKKI NEXT IS SHEER TERROR.
I WAS SCARED.
IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.
MY FIRST INSTINCT
WAS TO CALL 9-1-1.
Narrator: NIKKI AND JENNIFER'S
DECADE-LONG FRIENDSHIP
HAS IMPLODED.
AND UNBEKNOWNST TO NIKKI,
JENNIFER IS PUSHING HER REVENGE
TO THE EXTREME.
Nikki:
I WENT OUT RIGHT BEFORE BED
AND SHUT THE GARAGE DOOR,
WENT INSIDE, WENT TO BED.
Narrator:
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ON THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 27, 2011,
AND NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
ARE FAST ASLEEP.
I WAS SLEEPING SOUNDLY
THAT NIGHT,
BUT I WOKE UP
TO A LOUD POPPING NOISE.
Narrator: ALARMED, NIKKI
GETS UP, GOES TO THE WINDOW,
AND IS STRUCK WITH TERROR
AND DISBELIEF AT WHAT SHE SEES.
I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW --
SAW FIRE.
Narrator: PANIC STRICKEN,
SHE IMMEDIATELY WAKES JIM.
I COULDN'T EVEN SEE MY GARAGE.
IT WAS JUST BARRELS OF SMOKE
AND FIRE COMING OUT OF IT.
Narrator: TO THEIR HORROR,
THE ENTIRE GARAGE
IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES,
AND THE RAGING FIRE IS NOW
SPREADING RAPIDLY TO THE HOUSE.
Nikki:
WHEN I SAW THE FIRE,
I GRABBED THE PHONE,
CALLED 9-1-1.
I RAN TO THE BEDROOM.
I WOKE KATELYN UP.
Jim:
NIKKI YANKED HER OUT OF BED.
I WAS SCARED.
I JUST WANTED
TO GET KATELYN AND GET NIKKI
AND GET THEM OUT.
THERE WAS SO MUCH ADRENALINE,
I DON'T REALLY -- I JUST ACTED.
Narrator:
THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE
IS STRAIGHT TOWARDS
THE ROARING FLAMES.
THE HEAT WAS SO BAD,
YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT
RIGHT WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR.
THEY HAD TO RUN
RIGHT THROUGH THE FIRE.
THEY WERE TERRIFIED.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
MAKE IT OUT ALIVE
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Nikki: WE GOT OUT TO THE STREET
AND IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.
THERE WAS, I THINK,
FIVE FIRE TRUCKS
ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF WE DIDN'T WAKE UP.
I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT WE
GOT OUT ALIVE AND UNHURT.
Narrator:
FINALLY, THE FIREFIGHTERS
MANAGE TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE
AND REVEAL
THE TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION.
Jim: WE LOST
EVERYTHING IN THE GARAGE,
INCLUDING MY CAR, NIKKI'S CAR,
KATELYN'S BIKE.
IT COOKED.
IT COOKED EVERYTHING IN THERE.
GONE -- ALL OF IT.
Narrator: THE FLAMES CAUSED
SEVERE DESTRUCTION
TO THEIR HOME.
Nikki: I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LONG
BEFORE THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
THE WHOLE BACK SIDE OF MY HOUSE
AND THE WHOLE SIDE OF MY HOUSE
WERE COMPLETELY MELTED OFF.
TWO WINDOWS WERE BROKE
FROM THE HEAT.
Narrator: FOUR NEIGHBORING HOMES
ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE.
THEN, AS THE SMOKE CLEARS,
REALITY SINKS IN.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE SMOLDERING
RUBBLE OF MY GARAGE.
IT TOOK ME ABOUT 30 SECONDS
TO REALIZE IT WAS JEN.
SHE KNEW IT WAS JEN,
I KNEW IT WAS JEN.
Nikki: I KNEW RIGHT AWAY
IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
WHEN THE POLICE CAME,
I TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY.
THEY DID ASK IF THERE WAS
ANYBODY THAT MEANS TO HURT US,
AND WE JUST DIDN'T HESITATE
A MOMENT -- "JENNIFER HARRIS."
Narrator:
AFTER NIKKI SHARES
JENNIFER'S TEXT MESSAGES
AND FACEBOOK POSTS WITH POLICE,
THEY TRACK HER DOWN AND BRING
HER IN FOR QUESTIONING.
UNDER INTENSE CROSS-EXAMINATION,
SHE CONFESSES
TO SETTING THE FIRE.
Nikki:
THE GARAGE WAS UNLOCKED
AND JEN ENTERED THE GARAGE
WITH A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER,
OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO MY CAR
AND THREW THE LIT ROLL
OF TOILET PAPER ONTO THE SEAT.
AND THEN SHE LEFT.
Holdefer:
JENNIFER FELT THAT NIKKI
HAD BETRAYED HER AS A FRIEND.
SHE WANTED
TO BURN HER LIFE DOWN,
AND THAT'S WHAT SHE TRIED TO DO.
I WAS SHOCKED.
I COULD NEVER IMAGINE ANYONE
WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THAT TO ME -- EVER.
Narrator: NIKKI AND JENNIFER
WERE BEST FRIENDS
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS,
UNTIL A BITTER FEUD
PROVOKES AN ACT
OF LIFE-THREATENING VIOLENCE.
I DON'T THINK
NIKKI WOULD HAVE GUESSED
THAT HER BEST FRIEND
WOULD BURN HER GARAGE DOWN.
Narrator: NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
ARE STILL AT A LOSS
TO EXPLAIN WHY SOMEONE
THEY THOUGHT WAS HER BEST FRIEND
WOULD WANT TO DESTROY HER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I STILL DON'T TO THIS DAY.
Narrator: JENNIFER PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND DEGREE ARSON.
ON MAY 10, 2012 SHE RECEIVES
A 10 YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE
AND IS ORDERED TO UNDERGO
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I COULD HAVE
DONE DIFFERENTLY.
I NEVER THOUGHT MY BEST FRIEND
WOULD BECOME MY ENEMY.
I DIDN'T THINK
THAT ANYONE'S BEST FRIEND
COULD EVER DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
BECOME BEST FRIENDS...
WE TOLD EACH OTHER
THAT WE LOVED EACH OTHER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL SEETHING RESENTMENTS
IGNITE A DANGEROUS CONFLICT.
I KNEW RIGHT AWAY
IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
THEY WERE GETTING
CRAZIER AND CRAZIER.
YOU WANT TO START? GAME ON.
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE...
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NIKKI RASMUSSEN
AND JENNIFER HARRIS MEET
WHILE WORKING AT A GAS STATION
CONVENIENCE STORE
JUST OUTSIDE
OF DES MOINES, IOWA.
THEY ARE BOTH 21 YEARS OLD.
NIKKI IS QUIET AND SHY,
BUT SHE HAS A BIG HEART.
Holdefer: NIKKI IS
GENEROSITY TO THE EXTREME,
AND WOULD DO
ALMOST ANYTHING FOR YOU.
Narrator: JENNIFER
IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
SHE'S FUNNY AND LOVES TO BE
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
Nikki:
JEN WAS VERY OUTGOING.
SHE DEFINITELY HAD
A LOT OF ENERGY
AND WAS A VERY FUN PERSON
TO BE AROUND.
JENNIFER BROUGHT OUT
A LITTLE BIT OF A FUNNER,
CRAZIER SIDE OF NIKKI.
Nikki:
JEN AND I WERE LIKE OPPOSITES.
WE JUST HIT IT OFF AS FRIENDS.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG,
THEY BECOME BEST FRIENDS.
JENNIFER ADMIRES
NIKKI'S DOWN-TO-EARTH
AND PRACTICAL NATURE.
AND SHE QUICKLY COMES
TO RELY ON HER
FOR GUIDANCE
AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
JEN LIKED TO ASK ME FOR ADVICE.
SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF ME
AS HER GOOD CONSCIENCE.
Narrator: NIKKI
IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL
WHEN IT COMES
TO JENNIFER'S SON, MATTHEW.
Nikki: SHE'S RAISING
HER SON BY HERSELF.
JEN STRUGGLED EMOTIONALLY,
BEING A SINGLE PARENT.
Narrator:
NIKKI AND JENNIFER
THINK THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE
FOR EACH OTHER,
THROUGH THICK AND THIN.
WE TOLD EACH OTHER
THAT WE LOVED EACH OTHER.
Narrator: BUT LITTLE
DO EITHER OF THEM KNOW,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS HEADED
FOR A DANGEROUS CONFRONTATION.
AND WHEN IT DOES COME,
IT'S EXPLOSIVE.
AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF FRIENDSHIP,
JENNIFER AND NIKKI
ARE STILL CLOSE.
BUT THEIR LIVES HAVE STARTED
TO MOVE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
NIKKI IS NOW A DEVOTED WIFE
TO HER HUSBAND, JIM,
AND A LOVING MOTHER
TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
NAMED KATELYN.
SHE HAS A JOB AS AN ACCOUNTANT,
AND A STABLE HOME LIFE.
Nikki:
MY PRIORITIES CHANGED.
I FELT LIKE I HAD TO BE
A MORE RESPONSIBLE PERSON.
Narrator: NIKKI'S LONGTIME
BEST FRIEND JENNIFER
IS WORKING
AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
BUT HER WILD LIFESTYLE COULDN'T
BE MORE DIFFERENT THAN NIKKI'S.
Nikki:
JEN WAS PRETTY CRAZY.
SHE WAS DRINKING A LOT,
BRAGGING ABOUT HER DRINKING
AND HOW MANY BOTTLES OF WINE
SHE'D HAD THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Narrator:
ALONG WITH JENNIFER'S DRINKING
COMES A CONSTANT STREAM
OF BOYFRIENDS.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR LOVE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE,
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE, PROBABLY,
WAS GOING ABOUT IT
THE SMARTEST WAY.
Narrator:
NIKKI IS DISTURBED
BY HER BEST FRIEND'S
RECKLESS BEHAVIOR.
WHAT SHE ONCE SAW
AS OUTGOING AND FUN-LOVING
NOW SEEMS IRRESPONSIBLE
AND IMMATURE.
AND SHE IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE EFFECT
JENNIFER'S UNSAVORY LIFESTYLE
MIGHT HAVE ON HER SON MATTHEW,
WHO IS NOW 9-YEARS-OLD.
Nikki: I THINK HER SON
WAS DEFINITELY AFFECTED
BY ALL THE MEN
COMING IN AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
THERE ONE DAY AND GONE THE NEXT.
Narrator:
NIKKI TRIES TO HELP
AS SHE WATCHES JENNIFER'S LIFE
MOVE DANGEROUSLY CLOSER
TO THE EDGE.
I KIND OF WANTED TO HAVE
A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
Nikki:
I ALWAYS TOLD HER HOW I FELT.
I FELT THAT SHE NEEDED
TO DRINK LESS.
I FELT THAT SHE NEEDED
TO FIND ONE PERSON.
I THINK IT'S TIME
YOU SLOW DOWN.
STOP HAVING MEN
COMING IN AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
Narrator: BUT OVER TIME,
JENNIFER STARTS TO THINK NIKKI
IS JUST BEING BOSSY.
I DO SPEND PLENTY OF TIME
WITH MY SON!
AND WHEN NIKKI REALIZES
THAT HER HEARTFELT ADVICE
IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS,
SHE QUICKLY GROWS IRRITATED.
Nikki:
IT JUST PUSHED ME AWAY,
JUST MADE ME NOT WANT
TO BE AROUND HER.
Holdefer: WITH JEN,
IT WAS JUST NONSTOP DRAMA.
THERE WAS JUST A LOT
OF CONTROVERSY AND CRAZINESS
SURROUNDING HER.
NIKKI WANTED TO GET AWAY
FROM THAT KIND OF THING.
Narrator:
JENNIFER'S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
BEGINS TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDS.
JEN AND I
STARTED GROWING APART.
STILL FRIENDS, BUT NOT
HANGING OUT ALL THE TIME.
I FELT THE DISTANCE
GROWING BETWEEN US.
Narrator: AND WITHOUT NIKKI
THERE FOR CONSTANT SUPPORT,
JENNIFER BECOMES
INCREASINGLY UNHINGED.
JEN DID HAVE MOOD SWINGS.
THERE WERE TIMES
WHERE SHE'D BE REALLY DOWN.
Narrator:
BUT NIKKI COULD NEVER IMAGINE
WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
HER FRIEND'S MIND.
ONE DAY, IN THE FALL OF 2011,
JENNIFER GOES TO AN EXTREME.
SHE HAS A HYSTERICAL
BREAKDOWN AT WORK
AND SUDDENLY DRIVES OFF
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
AND WHEN JEN GOT HOME,
SHE PULLED HER CAR
IN THE GARAGE.
Narrator:
JENNIFER CLOSES THE GARAGE DOOR,
BUT SHE DOESN'T
GET OUT OF HER CAR.
SHE LEFT HER CAR RUNNING
AND LOCKED HERSELF IN.
Narrator: JENNIFER TRIES
TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE --
THE ULTIMATE ACT OF DESPERATION.
BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO HER,
A CONCERNED COWORKER
HAS FOLLOWED HER HOME.
WHEN JENNIFER
DOESN'T LEAVE THE GARAGE,
SHE FEARS THE WORST
AND CALLS 9-1-1.
POLICE RACE TO JENNIFER'S HOUSE
AND PULL HER FROM HER CAR
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Nikki:
JEN WAS VERY LUCKY.
I FELT BAD FOR HER.
NIKKI WAS MORE AND MORE WORRIED
ABOUT HER MENTAL STATE.
Narrator: NIKKI IS RELIEVED
THAT JENNIFER IS UNHARMED.
BUT NEITHER OF THEM REALIZE
THAT JENNIFER'S
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
IS ONLY THE START
OF A TERRIFYING CHAIN OF EVENTS.
IT TURNED INTO A GAME
OF CAT-AND-MOUSE
BETWEEN JEN AND NIKKI.
Nikki: I WAS SCARED.
IT WOULDN'T COME INTO MY MIND
THAT ANYONE WOULD ACTUALLY DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S SCARY. VERY, VERY SCARY.
I WAS STARTING
TO FEEL THREATENED.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN JENNIFER AND NIKKI
IN RECENT MONTHS,
NIKKI IS HORRIFIED, BUT RELIEVED
WHEN HER BEST FRIEND
OF NEARLY 10 YEARS
SURVIVES A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
JENNIFER IS ADMITTED INTO
A MENTAL HOSPITAL IN DES MOINES.
Nikki:
I WAS NOT SURPRISED,
WITH HER ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
AND HER DRINKING,
I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS PROBABLY
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.
Narrator: FROM HER HOSPITAL BED,
JENNIFER REACHES OUT TO NIKKI --
THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS
BEEN THERE FOR HER IN THE PAST.
BUT THIS TIME, JENNIFER MAKES
A SURPRISING REQUEST.
Holdefer:
JEN REACHED OUT TO NIKKI
TO ASK HER TO PLAN
A 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY.
Narrator: JENNIFER CAN'T ACCESS
FACEBOOK FROM THE HOSPITAL,
SO SHE ASKS NIKKI TO SEND OUT
THE INVITATIONS ON HER BEHALF.
JEN WANTED A LOT OF BOOZE
AND FUN AND CRAZINESS.
Narrator: NIKKI IS UPSET
THAT JENNIFER IS MORE FOCUSED
ON A PARTY THAN HER RECOVERY.
NIKKI FELT CONFLICTED
BECAUSE JEN'S GOT
MORE PROBLEMS THAN A MATH BOOK,
AND HER 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY
SHOULD BE
THE LEAST OF HER WORRIES.
Narrator: BUT AGAINST HER BETTER
JUDGEMENT, NIKKI AGREES TO HELP.
I AGREED TO DO THIS
JUST BECAUSE I FELT
SORRY FOR HER.
Narrator:
LITTLE DOES NIKKI KNOW
THAT HER ACTIONS WILL SET OFF
A FRIGHTENING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
THAT NO ONE
COULD HAVE PREDICTED.
BY THE TIME JENNIFER
IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL,
NIKKI HAS RELUCTANTLY SENT OUT
THE PARTY INVITATIONS.
I PROBABLY INVITED,
MAYBE, 20 TO 30 PEOPLE.
Narrator: THE BIRTHDAY BASH
IS SCHEDULED
FOR THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY.
JENNIFER IS RIGHT BACK
TO HER PARTYING WAYS.
AND FOR HER, THE BIG NIGHT
CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH,
BUT HER EXCITEMENT
IS SHORT LIVED.
WHEN JENNIFER CHECKS FACEBOOK,
SHE IS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT
THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE
ARE COMING TO HER PARTY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T
GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
THERE'S, LIKE,
NO ONE COMING.
JEN SAID THE PARTY WASN'T
GOING TO BE ANY FUN --
NOBODY WAS COMING.
JEN FELT THAT IT WAS NIKKI'S
FAULT FOR THE POOR TURNOUT.
Narrator: BUT NIKKI FEELS
SHE HAS BENT OVER BACKWARDS
FOR HER FRIEND.
I THINK NIKKI GOT UPSET.
AND SHE THOUGHT, "HEY, I MEAN,
I'M DOING THESE THINGS FOR YOU.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
DO IT YOURSELF."
Nikki: I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT SHE WAS TRYING
TO PIN THIS ON ME.
Narrator: THEN JENNIFER SAYS
IF NO ONE'S COMING,
SHE'LL GO OUT
AND FIND HER OWN PARTY.
ON TOP OF THAT, SHE SHARES
A DISTURBING PLAN WITH NIKKI.
JEN TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD
PUT MATTHEW TO BED,
AND THEN SHE WOULD BE ABLE
TO GO OUT TO THE BARS.
I'LL GET TRASHED
BY MYSELF.
I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I'M A MOTHER,
AND I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK
THAT LEAVING YOUR 9-YEAR-OLD SON
HOME ALONE
WHILE YOU'RE OUT AT THE BAR
IS APPROPRIATE.
I CALLED HER OUT ON IT.
I TOLD HER,
"JEN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT."
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS SICK OF NIKKI
TELLING HER
HOW TO LIVE HER LIFE.
Nikki: JENNIFER WAS MAD.
SHE MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT ME
SOUNDING JUST LIKE HER MOTHER,
AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"JEN, I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO BE
COMING TO YOUR PARTY."
Narrator: NIKKI ANGRILY
HANGS UP ON HER FRIEND.
BUT IT'S FAR FROM OVER
FOR JENNIFER.
WHEN NIKKI REFUSES
TO COME TO HER PARTY,
JENNIFER FEELS LIKE
IT'S A STAB IN THE BACK.
WHEN NIKKI SAID SHE WASN'T
COMING TO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY,
JEN JUST COMPLETELY LOST IT.
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
ALL OF JENNIFER AND NIKKI'S
FRUSTRATIONS COME TO A HEAD.
THAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT
IN THE FRIENDSHIP.
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS INFURIATED
AND SHE LASHES OUT AT NIKKI
IN A SHOCKING WAY --
ON THE INTERNET
FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
LATER THAT DAY,
WHEN NIKKI LOGS ON TO FACEBOOK,
SHE SEES A POST FROM JENNIFER
THAT CATCHES HER
COMPLETELY OFF-GUARD.
JEN HAD POSTED A COMMENT SAYING,
"ISN'T IT [BLEEP] UP
"THAT THE PERSON WHO'S THROWING
YOU YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY
DECIDES THAT THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO SHOW UP."
Narrator: NIKKI IS HORRIFIED
WHEN SHE REALIZES THAT JENNIFER
IS TALKING ABOUT HER.
BUT ALL SHE CAN DO
IS WATCH HELPLESSLY
AS OTHERS START ACCUSING HER
OF LETTING HER FRIEND DOWN.
IT HURT ME,
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE PEOPLE
ARE BELIEVING WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
THEY'RE TAKING JEN'S SIDE.
Narrator: A FURIOUS NIKKI
IS QUICK TO RETALIATE,
FIRING OFF AN ANGRY POST
OF HER OWN ON JENNIFER'S WALL.
I WAS VERY UPSET,
AND I DID POST SOMETHING
ALONG THE LINES
OF, "WHAT'S MORE [BLEEP] UP?
"ME NOT COMING TO THE PARTY,
"OR HER LEAVING
HER 9-YEAR-OLD SON HOME ALONE
WHILE SHE'S OUT DRINKING?"
Narrator:
NIKKI HITS A RAW NERVE.
NOW BOTH FRIENDS
ARE SEETHING WITH RAGE,
AND EVENTS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE
AN ALARMING AND DANGEROUS TURN.
THEY WERE TERRIFIED.
Nikki: I WAS SHOCKED.
I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WOULD EVER
DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO ME --
EVER.
Narrator:
BEST FRIENDS NIKKI AND JENNIFER
ARE LOCKED IN A BITTER FEUD
ON FACEBOOK,
AND THEIR ONLINE BATTLE
IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE
INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR.
JENNIFER BELIEVES
THAT NIKKI DELIBERATELY RUINED
HER BIRTHDAY PARTY
AND PUBLICLY HUMILIATED HER.
NOW IT'S PAYBACK TIME.
JEN'S MELTDOWN
WAS NOTHING SHORT OF NUCLEAR.
Narrator: JENNIFER'S TARGET?
NIKKI'S MARRIAGE.
SHE WAS SAYING THAT I WAS USING
A FAKE FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
TO MEET MEN.
OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S A BIG ACCUSATION,
THAT A MARRIED WOMAN
WOULD TRY TO MEET OTHER MEN.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET
MY HUSBAND MAD AT ME.
Narrator: FORTUNATELY,
JIM DOESN'T BELIEVE JENNIFER.
I WROTE OFF THOSE MESSAGES
AS NONSENSE.
Narrator: BUT HE IS FURIOUS
THAT JENNIFER'S ATTACKS ON NIKKI
WILL STOP AT NOTHING.
THAT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC.
I FELT ANGRY.
Narrator: AND FOR NIKKI,
THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
THAT, PRETTY MUCH,
WAS THE LINE IN THE SAND FOR ME,
AND SHE CROSSED IT.
AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN I
BLOCKED AND UNFRIENDED JEN.
BY UNFRIENDING JEN ON FACEBOOK,
I THINK NIKKI SENT JEN
A PRETTY CLEAR MESSAGE --
"LEAVE ME ALONE.
I'M DONE WITH YOU.
I DON'T WANT
TO KNOW YOU ANYMORE."
Narrator: JUST LIKE THAT,
AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIP,
NIKKI DOESN'T
JUST UNFRIEND JENNIFER,
SHE CUTS HER OUT OF HER LIFE.
Holdefer: JEN WAS FURIOUS.
VERY, VERY, VERY ANGRY.
Narrator:
IN JENNIFER'S MIND,
NIKKI HAS JUST COMMITTED
THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
AT THAT MOMENT, JENNIFER VOWS
REVENGE AT ANY COST.
Nikki:
I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM JEN
SAYING, "YOU WANT TO START
[BLEEP] GAME ON."
Narrator:
THOUGH NIKKI IS SHAKEN,
SHE TRIES TO PUT THE DISTURBING
MESSAGE OUT OF HER MIND.
BUT THE MESSAGES CONTINUE,
AND THEY GROW MORE VICIOUS.
Holdefer: THERE WERE INCREASING
TEXT MESSAGES DURING THE DAY.
JEN STARTED WRITING
VERY THREATENING THINGS.
I DIDN'T RESPOND BACK TO HER.
I DIDN'T TEXT HER.
I DIDN'T CALL HER.
I DIDN'T TRY TO COME
INTO CONTACT WITH HER AT ALL.
Narrator: WHEN NIKKI IGNORES
JENNIFER'S MESSAGES,
IT ONLY EGGS HER ON.
SHE WAS SAYING THAT SHE WAS
GOING TO COME AND BEAT ME UP.
SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
PUNCHING HER FACE IN,
AND "I CAN'T WANT TO SEE
THE LOOK ON HER FACE."
THEY WERE GETTING
CRAZIER AND CRAZIER.
Narrator:
NIKKI IS PARALYZED WITH FEAR.
HER EX-BEST-FRIEND, WHO SHE
USED TO SHARE EVERYTHING WITH,
IS HELL-BENT
ON GETTING BACK AT HER.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT NIKKI.
SHE WAS CRYING.
SHE WAS VERY UPSET.
Narrator:
THEN, ON OCTOBER 26th,
JENNIFER SENDS
YET ANOTHER MESSAGE.
AND THIS ONE IS
THE MOST CHILLING OF THEM ALL.
SHE SAID I WASN'T GOING TO
HAVE LEGS TO STAND ON
OR A HOUSE TO LIVE IN.
IT SCARED ME.
I WAS VERY WORRIED THAT SHE
MIGHT ACT UPON HER THREATS,
BUT THERE WASN'T
ANYTHING I COULD DO.
Narrator: NOW IT'S CLEAR
THAT JENNIFER
IS OUT FOR REVENGE,
AND NOTHING CAN STOP HER.
AND WHAT SHE HAS PLANNED
FOR NIKKI NEXT IS SHEER TERROR.
I WAS SCARED.
IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.
MY FIRST INSTINCT
WAS TO CALL 9-1-1.
Narrator: NIKKI AND JENNIFER'S
DECADE-LONG FRIENDSHIP
HAS IMPLODED.
AND UNBEKNOWNST TO NIKKI,
JENNIFER IS PUSHING HER REVENGE
TO THE EXTREME.
Nikki:
I WENT OUT RIGHT BEFORE BED
AND SHUT THE GARAGE DOOR,
WENT INSIDE, WENT TO BED.
Narrator:
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ON THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 27, 2011,
AND NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
ARE FAST ASLEEP.
I WAS SLEEPING SOUNDLY
THAT NIGHT,
BUT I WOKE UP
TO A LOUD POPPING NOISE.
Narrator: ALARMED, NIKKI
GETS UP, GOES TO THE WINDOW,
AND IS STRUCK WITH TERROR
AND DISBELIEF AT WHAT SHE SEES.
I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW --
SAW FIRE.
Narrator: PANIC STRICKEN,
SHE IMMEDIATELY WAKES JIM.
I COULDN'T EVEN SEE MY GARAGE.
IT WAS JUST BARRELS OF SMOKE
AND FIRE COMING OUT OF IT.
Narrator: TO THEIR HORROR,
THE ENTIRE GARAGE
IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES,
AND THE RAGING FIRE IS NOW
SPREADING RAPIDLY TO THE HOUSE.
Nikki:
WHEN I SAW THE FIRE,
I GRABBED THE PHONE,
CALLED 9-1-1.
I RAN TO THE BEDROOM.
I WOKE KATELYN UP.
Jim:
NIKKI YANKED HER OUT OF BED.
I WAS SCARED.
I JUST WANTED
TO GET KATELYN AND GET NIKKI
AND GET THEM OUT.
THERE WAS SO MUCH ADRENALINE,
I DON'T REALLY -- I JUST ACTED.
Narrator:
THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE
IS STRAIGHT TOWARDS
THE ROARING FLAMES.
THE HEAT WAS SO BAD,
YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT
RIGHT WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR.
THEY HAD TO RUN
RIGHT THROUGH THE FIRE.
THEY WERE TERRIFIED.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
MAKE IT OUT ALIVE
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Nikki: WE GOT OUT TO THE STREET
AND IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.
THERE WAS, I THINK,
FIVE FIRE TRUCKS
ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF WE DIDN'T WAKE UP.
I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT WE
GOT OUT ALIVE AND UNHURT.
Narrator:
FINALLY, THE FIREFIGHTERS
MANAGE TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE
AND REVEAL
THE TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION.
Jim: WE LOST
EVERYTHING IN THE GARAGE,
INCLUDING MY CAR, NIKKI'S CAR,
KATELYN'S BIKE.
IT COOKED.
IT COOKED EVERYTHING IN THERE.
GONE -- ALL OF IT.
Narrator: THE FLAMES CAUSED
SEVERE DESTRUCTION
TO THEIR HOME.
Nikki: I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LONG
BEFORE THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
THE WHOLE BACK SIDE OF MY HOUSE
AND THE WHOLE SIDE OF MY HOUSE
WERE COMPLETELY MELTED OFF.
TWO WINDOWS WERE BROKE
FROM THE HEAT.
Narrator: FOUR NEIGHBORING HOMES
ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE.
THEN, AS THE SMOKE CLEARS,
REALITY SINKS IN.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE SMOLDERING
RUBBLE OF MY GARAGE.
IT TOOK ME ABOUT 30 SECONDS
TO REALIZE IT WAS JEN.
SHE KNEW IT WAS JEN,
I KNEW IT WAS JEN.
Nikki: I KNEW RIGHT AWAY
IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
WHEN THE POLICE CAME,
I TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY.
THEY DID ASK IF THERE WAS
ANYBODY THAT MEANS TO HURT US,
AND WE JUST DIDN'T HESITATE
A MOMENT -- "JENNIFER HARRIS."
Narrator:
AFTER NIKKI SHARES
JENNIFER'S TEXT MESSAGES
AND FACEBOOK POSTS WITH POLICE,
THEY TRACK HER DOWN AND BRING
HER IN FOR QUESTIONING.
UNDER INTENSE CROSS-EXAMINATION,
SHE CONFESSES
TO SETTING THE FIRE.
Nikki:
THE GARAGE WAS UNLOCKED
AND JEN ENTERED THE GARAGE
WITH A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER,
OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO MY CAR
AND THREW THE LIT ROLL
OF TOILET PAPER ONTO THE SEAT.
AND THEN SHE LEFT.
Holdefer:
JENNIFER FELT THAT NIKKI
HAD BETRAYED HER AS A FRIEND.
SHE WANTED
TO BURN HER LIFE DOWN,
AND THAT'S WHAT SHE TRIED TO DO.
I WAS SHOCKED.
I COULD NEVER IMAGINE ANYONE
WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THAT TO ME -- EVER.
Narrator: NIKKI AND JENNIFER
WERE BEST FRIENDS
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS,
UNTIL A BITTER FEUD
PROVOKES AN ACT
OF LIFE-THREATENING VIOLENCE.
I DON'T THINK
NIKKI WOULD HAVE GUESSED
THAT HER BEST FRIEND
WOULD BURN HER GARAGE DOWN.
Narrator: NIKKI AND HER FAMILY
ARE STILL AT A LOSS
TO EXPLAIN WHY SOMEONE
THEY THOUGHT WAS HER BEST FRIEND
WOULD WANT TO DESTROY HER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I STILL DON'T TO THIS DAY.
Narrator: JENNIFER PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND DEGREE ARSON.
ON MAY 10, 2012 SHE RECEIVES
A 10 YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE
AND IS ORDERED TO UNDERGO
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I COULD HAVE
DONE DIFFERENTLY.
I NEVER THOUGHT MY BEST FRIEND
WOULD BECOME MY ENEMY.
I DIDN'T THINK
THAT ANYONE'S BEST FRIEND
COULD EVER DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.