A man i dated for 6 months and who had a rather visible position in my community and a good reputation did a complete flip on me when i tried to break it off. He managed to lash me to his truck door and nearly whipped me into unconsciousness. Somehow i got loose, but not before he did some pretty ugly damage.
He then tracked me all over town, approached me in public, sent me emails, phoned my home endlessly and even approached my adult son with some vague innuendo. He parked across my street and watched my home, invaded my email, wrote my friends, followed me on other dates, watched from a distance, chased off men i was seeing claiming to be my husband and that i was mentally ill... threatening them if they reached for a cell phone, was found in my back yard at my bedroom window once, left notes in my mailbox, on my car windshield. He stalked me on sites like this and left comments following mine to insult and intimidate me and went from writing my obituary and emailing it to me, to begging my forgiveness and pleading to marry me. He always stopped short of much i could prove, using throw away emails, acting as if i were hysterical, that he meant me no harm. i was a nervous wreck for months, nearly two years.
The couple of times i called the police, they walked off with him arm in arm and pretty much patronized me while he laughed about it. He had info on me i still don't know how he got. i was too ashamed to tell anyone who cared about me. i have never felt so helpless or vulnerable.
And i was an advocate for victims of domestic and sexual violence for years. Imagine how humiliated i felt to be a victim myself? It just goes to show that it doesn't matter how smart one is, we all are vulnerable to the kooks of the world.
i ignored him almost the whole time, though now and then my temper would flair and i reacted... he would only get revved up and i would advise anyone stalked to never give them notice... it just fuels the fire.
One night, late, he happened on me at the grocery, and was pretty drunk. There was a mild tussle at my car and my cell phone was dead. i managed to get his and called a friend (some unknown guy, but the 1st in his address book). i told him he had five minutes and i would call the police to pick him up intoxicated in public. The "friend" arrived in 3 and he was passed out already.
i then sent him an email and though the police had been no help before, i told him i was ready to stop at NOTHING, that i had better not hear one more word. It was a chance. That kind of thing usually only inflamed him.
He eventually stopped, and it's been maybe 4 months now. i still dream, on occasion, that i am being chased, tortured, that i am dead... i wake in relief that it's over.
Unlike some, there was so much guilt in having dated him... but if he reappears, i'm ready to do what i have to. There is also guilt in allowing him to move on, maybe even move on to another woman, maybe one who won't be so lucky.
None of us deserve to live in fear and the fear is often so much worse than even the actual violence, what 'could' happen even more frightening that what did. Gentle thoughts to all who told their stories. May you all be safe and free.
Comments
that is scary, worse than any movie i have watched. real life terrorism
by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on May 26th, 2007
That is terrifying!
by Arisztid on May 26th, 2007
Oh yea, I forgot to mention that he also stalked me online by subscribing to an online RPG that I used to play, and totally ruining it for me. I quit, then went back a few years later to play again and he was STILL THERE! I had to change my character name so he wouldn't know who I was, but he tried damned hard to find out. I heard he has a kid now. I feel bad for that kid, and it's mama.
by Anonymous on May 26th, 2007
i married my stalker
by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on May 26th, 2007
whoa. Stockholm sydrome to the max.
by Anonymous on May 27th, 2007
Well, he didn't keep me in a bunker in his garage or anything.
by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on May 27th, 2007
OMG THATS SCARY!
by RavenTheRabbit on April 4th, 2008
Please tell me you pressed charges. This guy gave you mountains of evidence.
by Anonymous on March 9th, 2009
i agree with Anon above, but only to a point. When it's over it often just gets them going again, still... i think if i had had any DNA i might have used it.
by xanz on March 28th, 2009
I am going through something similar and trust me the law enforcement does not take these domestic situations seriously. Only since the early 90's has stalking actually been criminal. Otherwise it would be laughable if this person would ask for a DNA test unfortunately. Sad as it is:( My stalker just moved in my building. He's a psychopath. I also believe he B&E twice: I was home sleeping once when he broke in.. The other time I was gone. He rearranged stuff around the place.
by numfortyone on June 22nd, 2009
Move. Do whatever you can to file a restraining order. Start packing heat and pepper spray. That's straight bullshit. Get a hidden camera too. Catch him on it and his goose is cooked. Change all your locks immediately and get a burglar bar. If he tries to approach you in anyway then mace him on GP. You don't have time to figure out his trauma. DO NOT LET HIM ISOLATE YOU!
by Anonymous on June 22nd, 2009
I can't get an RO because he's on premises but I'm filing stalking charges so I have to watch my step when it comes to how I retaliate. I call 911 whenever he offends. The problem with the B&E was that I had no pictures of it. The police said I should get pics then call him. I now have a security system and a cam. I also pack pepper spray whenever I walk out my door...a policeman showed me how to hold it and shoot it. If he gets too close I will use it and call 911. Thanks for the support:)
by numfortyone on June 23rd, 2009