The Netflix true crime documentary series Worst Neighbor Ever delves into the mysterious disappearance of Charles Wilding, a wealthy 70-year-old homeowner in Sherman Oaks, California. The four-part series examines how troublesome neighbors turned residents' lives into nightmares, with episode four, titled The Executor, focusing on Caroline Herrling and the missing man.
The Investigation Begins
In October 2021, LAPD Detective Mark O'Donnell received an anonymous tip expressing concern that Charles Wilding had likely died and that his identity was being used for financial fraud. O'Donnell's investigation led him to Caroline Herrling, a self-described 'litigation consultant' who claimed she was overseeing Wilding's estate. When initial leads dried up, the detective turned his attention to Herrling herself.
Caroline Herrling's Troubling Behavior
Herrling had initially moved into a townhouse complex called Beverly Glen. She appeared friendly at first, but neighbors soon noticed suspicious conduct, including missing packages, strange noises at night, drug misuse, and erratic behavior. Herrling was eventually evicted for not paying rent and moved to a property in West Hills, which she operated as a 'sober living facility.'
It emerged that Herrling had fraudulently claimed to be Charles' trustee, stealing and spending his money to purchase the home. While investigators established her involvement in his disappearance, Herrling insisted he was alive and staying with friends elsewhere.
The Breakthrough
Detectives later interviewed career criminal Jason Kroth, a convicted felon and drug dealer who was romantically involved with Herrling and held a joint bank account with her containing Charles' funds. Kroth admitted to breaking into Charles' home with the intent to steal. Inside, he discovered Charles' lifeless body on the floor, dead for some time. He contacted Herrling, who drove to the property, collected the body, and transported it to her Beverly Glen apartment.
Dismemberment and Disposal
Herrling confessed to attempting to dissolve the remains in a tub of acid. When that failed, she used a saw to dismember the bones to render the body unidentifiable. She then transported the remains to San Francisco Bay and disposed of them in the water.
Sentencing
On March 15, 2024, Herrling pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and received a 20-year prison sentence. Kroth also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, receiving a sentence of 16 years and eight months.
Worst Neighbor Ever is available on Netflix.
