Netflix's true crime documentary series Worst Neighbor Ever has shed light on the mysterious disappearance of 70-year-old Charles Wilding, a reclusive and wealthy homeowner from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. The four-part series, which explores how four different neighbors turned residents' lives into nightmares, dedicates its fourth episode, titled The Executor, to Wilding's case and its connection to Caroline Herrling.
How the Investigation Began
In October 2021, Detective Mark O'Donnell of the Los Angeles Police Department received an anonymous tip concerning Charles Wilding, a man with no known family who lived alone. The caller expressed concerns that Wilding might be dead and that someone was fraudulently using his identity for financial gain. O'Donnell's investigation into the potential homicide led him to Caroline Herrling, a self-described 'litigation consultant' who claimed to be in charge of Wilding's estate. However, when leads dried up, O'Donnell turned his focus on Herrling as a suspect.
Caroline Herrling's Suspicious Behavior
Herrling initially moved into a townhouse complex in Beverly Glen, where she appeared friendly at first. Over time, neighbors reported suspicious activities, including missing packages, strange noises at night, drug abuse, and erratic behavior. After being evicted for non-payment of rent, Herrling moved to a property in West Hills, which she operated as a 'sober living facility.' Investigators discovered that she had fraudulently claimed to be Wilding's trustee and used his money to purchase the home.
Despite evidence linking Herrling to Wilding's disappearance, detectives had no idea what had happened to him. Herrling maintained that Wilding was alive and staying with friends elsewhere.
The Breakthrough: Jason Kroth's Confession
The case took a turn when detectives identified Jason Kroth, a career criminal and ex-convict who was in a romantic relationship with Herrling. Kroth was a co-account holder on one of the bank accounts containing Wilding's money. During a police interview, Kroth admitted that he had broken into Wilding's home to steal items, only to discover Wilding's dead body on the floor. He stated that Wilding had been dead for some time, with no one having reported him missing.
Kroth called Herrling, who drove to Wilding's house, collected the body, and transported it to her Beverly Glen apartment. Herrling later confessed to attempting to dissolve the remains in a tub of acid, but when that failed, she dismembered the body and disposed of the parts in San Francisco Bay.
Legal Outcomes
On March 15, 2024, Caroline Herrling pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jason 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 for streaming on Netflix.
