Netflix’sWorst Roommate Evercertainly lives up to its name, and the episode featuring Tammy Fritz is one of the show’s most shocking.Worst Roommate Everis a chilling true-crime docuseries where roommate relationships turn ugly… and illegal. Specifically, the show follows true accounts of roommates with malicious and sometimes violent intentions as they turn their victims' lives into nightmares. Premiering in 2022,Worst Roommate Everis a welcome addition to Netflix’s line-up oftop-notch true-crime shows, garnering critical acclaim and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Some of themost gruesome confrontations onWorst Roommate Everinclude K. C. Joyand Jamison Bachman, but the story of Tammy Fritz and James Bowden may have them beaten. They were featured in season 2, episode 3, “Burning Down the House”, and their story is extraordinary. Although their relationship was never romantic, the two of them shared a close sibling-like bond, which made their fates even more chilling. While in Fort Carson, Colorado, James met and befriended Tammy’s husband, Rich, in the military, which is where his misfortune began.
Tammy Fritz’s Background Explained
Her Husband Died Under Mysterious Circumstances Though She Was Never Investigated
Rich Fritz died in 2001 at the age of 28, and his death was considered suspicious because he had no major health issues. He was also cremated at Tammy’s request, despite him mentioning he wanted to be buried. Since Rich was in the military, Tammy collected $150,000 in benefits when he died, and made even more money, as she took out a life insurance policy just weeks before his passing. However, Tammy has never been investigated in connection to Rich’s death due to lack of proof (viaMovieweb).
Soon after Rich’s death, Tammy and her son, Christian, found themselves with no one to take care of them. James Bowden and Rich were so close that, upon Rich’s death, James decided to leave the military.Since he didn’t have any other prospects and was inseparable from her husband,Tammy offered James a place to stay.
Tammy Fritz & James Bowden’s Falling Out
Bowden Moves Out After Suspecting Fritz Of Drugging Him
In December 2001, James moved in with Fritz and Christian. Although Fritz and Bowden’s relationship was never sexual, Bowden considered himself a part of their family. Bowden and Christian soon became close, asBowden served as Christian’s surrogate father. Fritz also accommodated Bowden financially.
Things took a turn whenFritz and Bowden went out drinking one night. Bowden remembered that he felt much more impaired compared to the amount of alcohol he consumed.The following morning, Bowden woke up and could not move. He went to the hospital, where his test results came back inconclusive. The incident was enough for Bowden to grow suspicious. He moved out of Fritz’s home in February2006 (viaDistractify).
Did Fritz Attempt To Murder Bowden?
She Made Multiple Attempts & Enlisted The Help Of Friends
In 2009, times were rough for Tammy and Christian, as she hadbeen using drugs heavily and also had previous run-ins with the law.Fritz was accused of and being investigated for identity theft, credit card fraud, and check fraudand was being investigated for those crimes.
Meanwhile, Bowden was gearing up to return home to Alaska, move in with his parents, and go back to school.Before Bowden was set to leave town, Tammy invited him out for one last get-together. Two of her friends, Michelle Kay Heaston and Sean Richard Lagoe, who were dating at the time, also attended the gathering.
Meanwhile, Bowden’s mother hadn’t heard from her son despite calling him multiple times. She asked the property manager of his complex to check on him. The managerfound Bowden unconscious in his bed. Allegedly, sometime after the gathering, Tammy’s friends, Heaston and Lagoe, snuck into Bowden’s home and beat him with baseball bats.
Later,Fritz confessed she was behind Bowden’s attempted murder. She admitted to taking out a life insurance policy for Bowden back in 2005 when they were living together. Fritz had asked Heaston and Lagoe to kill Bowden so that she could collect the life insurance policy payout upon Bowden’s death (viaDenver Gazette).
Fritz hadtried to end Bowden’s life multiple timesbefore the near-death beating. She had tried to poison him when they went out drinking. And, as the episode title “Burning Down the House” suggests, it came to light that Fritz tried to burn their house down. Bowden remembers waking up to a small fire in the house (viaWomen and Home).
Where Is Fritz Now?
Fritz Was Sentenced To 48 Years In Prison
In May 2015,Tammy Fritz was sentenced to48 years in prison. She was convicted on multiple counts, including attempted first-degree murder, solicitation of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Her accomplices, Heaston and Lagoe, didn’t go to trial as both accepted plea deals. Heaston was sentenced to 15 years in prison for first-degree burglary involving assault or menacing. Lagoe is currently serving a 26-year sentence on similar charges (viaThe Cinemaholic).
Christian said Bowden was “the closest thing I felt like I had to my dad.”
Fritz’s son, Christian, keeps limited contact with his mother from prison and is reluctant to reconnect with her, especially because he has a family of his own. However, Christian and Bowen remain close, even to this day.Christian told filmmakers thathis relationship with Bowden is special. He said Bowden was “the closest thing I felt like I had to my dad”. Fritz is still serving her prison sentence today at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility.
Worst Roommate Ever
Worst Roommate Ever is a Netflix original documentary series detailing different people’s horrific experiences with strange roommates. The series focuses on five different cases, from a serial squatter who drives tenants out of their homes to a serial killing grandma who kills people that stay at her house. The mini-series premiered on Netflix in 2022.
