In the quiet community of Mount Sterling, Kentucky, a long-simmering dispute between neighbors erupted into a tragic act of violence that claimed the life of 47-year-old David Nathaniel Scott. On the evening of May 26, 2018, the ongoing animosity between Scott and his neighbor, Frances Zaayer, reached a fatal conclusion. The disagreement, which had reportedly been escalating for about a year, turned deadly when Zaayer allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding Scott and critically injuring his
wife, Shawna.
David Scott, a deputy jailer at the Montgomery County Regional Jail, was a respected member of his community. His sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through the town, leaving behind his wife and two daughters. Friends and community members remembered Scott as a kind and humble man.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement authorities arrested Frances Zaayer. She was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary. Reports from the investigation indicated that the conflict between the neighbors had included a prior allegation of assault by Scott's wife against Zaayer. On the day of the fatal encounter, it was also alleged that Zaayer had fired a weapon at another individual before turning her attention to the Scotts. Zaayer was taken into custody and held at the Powell County Detention Center.
