Please keep sharing others stalking stories – the awareness they bring will eventually bring much needed change!

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Like yesterday, for today’s blog I decided to just post a few of the emails I have received from other stalking victims again (these all came in last October & November) – all of these emails have made us more aware of the plight of other stalking victims, so I feel that all of these stories can do the same for others…what we can learn from these experiences can help us change the way things are done in the future.

This reader wrote in last October:

First, I wanted to say what an amazing thing it is that you are doing by sharing your story!  I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this has been for you, but you are raising awareness for something so terrible! Thank you for that!

I just read yesterday’s blog where you mentioned a phone number, and how it was a 904 number, and then he posted a different number on his FB… This reminded me of a situation with an ex-boyfriend about a year and a half ago.

He would text & call me non-stop, paying no attention to my multiple requests asking him to stop. (I was told to ask him to stop so that I had proof that I was not ‘asking’ for him to text or call). I finally decided to change my phone number (which apparently costs $) to get it to stop, but somehow he managed to get the number.. I guess that people I thought were ‘friends’ didn’t care to respect my wishes not to give him my number. I then found out that AT&T offered parental controls / smart limits for wireless. For $4.99/mo I could add this to my plan so I would be able to block a ‘limited’ amount of numbers, and I remember thinking there was no price for the peace of mind I would get from not receiving these calls & texts anymore. Well, that didn’t last long – the iphone has some silly little app (I wish I knew what it was called) that he was able to download and make calls from, but it would not show the call from his actual registered cell #. I would never answer any number I didn’t know, but he would always leave a message or a text, so I knew it was him. I looked the numbers up on the reverse look up and they would be registered to various states all over the U.S.  I called the phone company very evidently upset, and they had no solutions to the problem other than to change my number again (and this time they offered to do it at no charge). I remember feeling so upset that I had to keep changing things in my life just to avoid him. The harassing started in MO when I lived with my parents, and then I moved out of state soon after. I was told that in order to try to get any charges placed I would have to file where it all started. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I did change my number that last time and to my knowledge he still doesn’t have it, neither do a lot of people from my past, but I just don’t want to risk him having the chance to get it. I’ll occasionally get messages from him on FB because he creates new profiles and somehow gets through, but I ignore them.

I read your story, and feel horrible for Morgan. I feel as though I know her just through reading this, and it breaks my heart that she was left feeling so unprotected by the people in her community that are put in place for our protection. It seems that quite often the criminal/suspect has more rights/protection than the victim and that HAS to change.

I’m not sure if sharing my story about the “app” will help you, but I do hope you can catch this creep!

And another that wrote in last October:

Hi there 🙂  Your story and situation has touched me big time. I was stalked once by an ex boyfriend who I later found out was Schizophrenic. That was the scariest year of my life. The worst part was that no one warned me or told me about his condition (including his own mother). He was on medication for years I guess, and grew accustomed to the person he was while on the meds. When I met him he showed no signs of sickness or being unwell.  After a few months he stopped taking his meds, and broke up with me only to severely stalk me at my residence and my job. Everywhere I went, there he was. After a year of living in fear with no cooperation from authorities or anyone, he  finally slipped up with someone else, and ended up being put away. That was 2 years ago. Since then I have gotten engaged, and now live with my Fiancé in England. Any who, I see a lot of myself in Morgan (except I’m 9 years older) and I have been so moved by you and your family. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.

And in response to the handful of people out there on the Internet trying to stir up trouble in order to defend the suspect, she also said:

People who try to dissect things to that extreme are obviously up to no good. Can’t wait for the day that they feel dumb when the truth comes out. <3

And yet another story also sent in October:

I was born and have grown up in the Roaring Fork Valley for the past 23 years. My little brother, went to school with Morgan, and I know so many of the people that knew her.

She touched so many lives in a truly incredible way; I wish I could have known her.

I cannot begin to express my deepest regrets and condolences for what has happened to your beautiful daughter. No one deserves to meet their end at the hand of someone so cruel and empty.

I have followed your blog since late July, but have never quite had the courage to say anything. However, a couple of weeks ago, I was followed home, verbally threatened and have since seen the same man three or four times around my workplace, and bus stop. There is “nothing the police can do”, but to be honest, I don’t know that I ever had faith that they would.

It is sad to know that we can’t turn to the people who are meant to protect us when we need them the most. But as a result, people come out of the shadows to show and give support beyond anything imaginable. This is our world and, unfortunately, we must take it back from the people who are destroying it. You and Morgan have given me the strength, courage and confidence to fight back, and for that I am truly grateful.

I can only imagine a fraction of the terror you and your family have experienced, but please know that if there is ever anything I can do – or contribute to – I am and always will be here for Morgan and for you.  With so much love.

And here is another email sent to us in November:

First I’m very sorry for your loss, next in 1996 a so called friend had started befriending me I was using drugs then, but long story short this so called friend I let in my home he had me pinned, and was going to inject me with an overdose of meth – thank God my roommate walked in just in time.  Turned out this guy was stalking me for someone else and was told to kill me… IT DOES HAPPEN so do not stop looking into your daughters death it sounds fishy to me to, and after living through my own nightmare don’t let anyone tell you that this could not happen, as i know for a fact it can and has.

And again, another email that came in to us in November:

I commented earlier, right after seeing the Dr. Phil show. I was about to leave for work and didn’t have a lot of time. You are so gracious to thank Dr. Phil after being on the show. It was good that you got to share your story, or I would have never known. But, honestly, that is all the thanks Dr. Phil deserves. He tried to make you look like a bad person. He implied your daughter used alcohol and drugs. If she did, would that justify what happened to her? Of all the people supporting your blog, he found and AIRED one critic. He barely asked the other people any questions that would explain their relationship to your family.

I am a 41 years old teacher. I was stalked and my entire family was terrorized when I was 23 years old. It went on for a year, until one female judge finally got the case in her court and put my stalker away for a year. For one year of punishment, I have a lifetime of emotional damage. You and your family need justice AND psychological healing. Dr. Phil did not appear to offer you either one. Your airing is and was the last time I watched his show.