Landlord Kills Two Teens Over a Parking Spot

It's a cold, blustering night in Bitaford, Maine. And there's trouble brewing over on Sikokis Road. And it's a go around 617 PM, 19-year-old Derek Thompson called Bitaford police and reported that his landlord, 74-year-old James Pock, was "freaking out" on him and his family. Officers Edward Dexter and Jacob Walter Beak are dispatched to the scene. When they pull up, Derek, his mother, 44-year-old Susan Johnson and Derek's 18-year-old girlfriend Olivia Welch are waiting for them. Officers learn James and his wife reside in the Maine House. And Derek, Susan and Susan's 6-year-old son live in an apartment between the Maine House and the garage. Susan says they moved in this past October, and within weeks, James started hounding them particularly, Derek. In the video, which Susan filmed on her cell phone during tonight's confrontation, James appears enraged. Derek describes how James' hostile and bizarre behavior escalated to actual threats against their lives. Derek insists that whenever his girlfriend Olivia visits, she parks her car in one of their designated spots or on their side of the driveway. But Olivia says no matter where she parks, James accuses them of violating his rules. Derek tells officers about another incident where James crossed the line. According to Olivia, even James' wife, Armit, has acknowledged he takes things too far. But Susan believes their ongoing parking dispute isn't the only thing that set James off tonight. Susan says neither she nor Derek could make the meeting. So Susan left a note on James' door this morning explaining their schedule conflicts. But that only seems to have made things worse. As they head over to the main house, Officer Walter Beek asks Officer Dexter if he should remain on the scene. Officer Walter Beek leaves and Officer Dexter speaks with James and his wife, Armit, to get their side of the story. At first, Armit does all of the talking. According to Armit, Derek's girlfriend Olivia has been living in the apartment too, which is another violation of their rental agreement. So, we have a similar issue between you guys. There's nothing that we can do about that. Suddenly, James speaks up. He insists it was Derek who provoked their fight when he gave him the middle finger. I can see that it's disrespectful to you and I understand that, but you can't threaten to physically hurt him, you can't threaten to shoot him, you can't do those things. If you threaten to shoot them, they're going to take you to court and I'm going to give you a summons to go to court for criminal threatening. You cannot threaten them, I guess you guys are smacking, but you can't tell them that. What you need to do is turn around and come inside and you need to go through the civil process of guiding them evict it's a difficult process, you have to go through the courts to get them evicted, it's going to be difficult and you guys need to be patient. The bottom line is that you cannot threaten them, if they're outside shoveling, leave them alone, do it through the courts, that's your best bet is to do it through the courts. No, you can't even do that good or it's too hot, I can't do a thing about it. I can't do a thing about it. Officer Dexter tries to reason with James. What I suggest tonight is stay in my house. Yeah, if you want to go to shovel, do it when they're not there, okay. Thank you. And I can show you if you could shuffle, do it slowly. there inside, okay? If they want to come outside, don't say anything to them, just ignore them. Put the blinders on, do your thing, let them do their thing." But James refuses to calm down. "I got another loose. I can get me over here. You do have a lot to lose, sir. You have this house, you have your wife, you have your dog, you have your vehicles, you don't want any of that." "But you do, so keep that in mind. You have a lot to lose. You don't want to have to deal with that. Just ignore them. Don't let it get to you." "You got me named. I don't have any right. It's very frustrating. I understand that." "Thank you." "I'm sorry, ma'am. I wish I had more answers for you." "I don't want to see the loose paper. I don't want to see the loose paper. I don't have to lose." Before he leaves, officer Dexter issues James a final warning. "You don't keep your distance from them. No, no, I have to worry about that. Keep your distance from them. I want to tell them to keep your distance from you." He delivers another warning to Susan and Derek too. "He's obviously extremely upset about the second car and whatnot, okay? Use caution. Your outfit shall, when he comes out, come in time." But at 6.54 p.m., less than five minutes after officer Dexter leaves, Susan calls 911. officers race back to the scene. When they arrive, they find Susan on the floor of her apartment. She's still alive, but she's suffering from two gunshot wounds. Her six-year-old son is unharmed. But tragically, it's too late for Derek and Olivia. Police find their lifeless bodies behind the Christmas tree. They have both been shot to death. Officers immediately remove Susan's youngest son from the scene, and paramedics arrive to transport her to the hospital for treatment. Before they leave, Susan identifies the shooter, as James Pock. At the same time, James' wife, Armit, calls 911. She says James has barricaded himself inside their house, and he's walking around with a gun. "Where is he? He's in the living room. Tell him to please the gun down." "You can get through. They're not gonna kill me, Jim. They're not gonna kill anybody." "We just want him to put the gun down." A police sergeant gets on the line and asks to speak with James. "What do you want from me?" "I want you to let your wife go outside." "Jim, what I really want you to do is I want you to put the gun down and go outside." "That's what I really want you to do." But James refuses. "Everything's too late." "Everything's too late, Jim. What do you mean by that? Tell me what you mean." "I shot him off." "Okay. How many people?" "Three." "I can't take that kid. Him and his mother has grown for neck and the neck and the neck and the neck and the neck." "You know that cop can't take my behalf than I'll go." "I say, when you read, you're gonna be bloody nice." "I told her that cop would ever come out." "I told him that he don't take me too serious." "Hey, Jim." I know you're angry. I know there's a lot of stuff. I don't give a damn put me jailed. I don't give a stab of dying here anyway. I think you do care. I think you do care. I don't give a no way. I want to buy two anyway. I want to buy. Jim, what I'd like for you to do right now is to put the gun down and to walk outside. There'll be policemen outside and I want you to walk out and follow the policemen's instructions. A lot has gone on right now is a lot that's happened. But we need right now we need I need to make sure that you're going to be okay. And I want you to go outside. Around 10 p.m. after several hours of standoff James decides he's had enough. You come out. I leave with my gun. Yes, you leave your gun. Go to the front door. Open the door and keep your hands out in front of you. Over your head and come out. And I will come there and meet you. And he surrenders to police. As he's handcuffed police detect the heavy smell of alcohol on his breath. At the police station James is given a breathalyzer test. The test results show his blood alcohol level is.15 nearly double the legal driving limit. Back at the crime scene inside James's house police find multiple guns including the murder weapon. They also find open cans of beer. And an eviction notice signed by James and his wife. James Pock is charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated attempted murder. The next day he makes a full confession. But he defends his actions telling detectives that he felt disrespected by the victims and that officer Dexter was more concerned about their rights than his. As word of the senseless tragedy spreads around town family and friends gather to remember Derek and Olivia. Derek is remembered as a devoted son and brother who loved cars motorcycles and the outdoors. And Olivia's loved ones describe the aspiring nurse as a bright light who always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. In June of 2014 their killer James Pock pleads not guilty to all charges by reason of insanity but in February of 2016 he changes his mind and pleads guilty to all charges. A judge sentences him to life plus 30 years in prison. Afterwards Susan Johnson says quote it's something I think about every day. It's something I don't think I'll ever get passed or forget. In 2017 Susan and Olivia's mother Jocelyn Welch file a civil complaint against the city of Bitiford its police chief and Bitiford police officer Edward Dexter. At the heart of their complaint lie accusations of negligence. They claim that despite James's explicit threats that night officer Dexter never inquired or checked to see if he had a gun. They argue this made him and the Bitiford police department liable for Derek and Olivia's deaths. But the case is eventually dismissed. In 2024 Maine's Department of Corrections announces that James Pock has died in prison. He was 86 years old. But for Derek and Olivia's family and friends his death can never erase the pain and heartache he left behind. [Music]