Emeritus Professor Paul E. Mullen: Understanding Predatory Stalking

Professor Paul E. Mullen is an internationally renowned forensic psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. He is Emeritus Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Monash University and served as Foundation Clinical Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.

His extensive clinical and research work has explored the relationship between mental disorders and criminal behaviour, stalking, the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse, jealousy, and persistent grievance-driven behaviour.

Understanding Predatory Stalking

In their 1999 paper, “Study of Stalkers,” Mullen and his colleagues identified five types of stalkers: rejected, intimacy-seeking, incompetent, resentful, and predatory.

The researchers described predatory stalkers as individuals preparing for a sexual attack. Their behaviour may involve gathering information about a victim, rehearsing an intended assault through fantasy, and deriving gratification from a sense of power over the person they are targeting.

Although predatory stalkers represented a small group in this study, the researchers emphasised the importance of recognising their potential for sexual violence. They also noted that victims may have little clear warning: they may feel frightened or watched without being certain they are being followed. The paper described predatory stalking as primarily a criminal justice concern, with treatment of associated sexual disorders potentially relevant to reducing repeat offending.

How This Relates to Morgan’s Stalking

During Morgan’s stalking, we experienced incidents that included tapping on windows at night, someone calling out while remaining hidden, and items being moved inside our home. To us, these incidents created a terrifying sense that someone was watching her and could invade the places where she should have felt safest.

Based on what our family witnessed and documented, we believe multiple people were involved. Over those four months, the stalking escalated. Our family maintains that it culminated in Morgan’s violent sexual assault and murder.

In the final week before Morgan’s death, the detective investigating her stalking, Rob Glassmire, told us that the situation was escalating. According to our recollection, he also informed the people under investigation that he planned to assemble the evidence, videotape Morgan’s statement, and would likely make an arrest the following week.

Looking back, I am deeply concerned that communicating those plans may have increased the danger to Morgan. We understood that an investigation was moving forward, but we did not understand what that warning might mean for her immediate safety.

I cannot know precisely how those individuals interpreted the warning or what role it played in subsequent events. What I do know is that Morgan needed protection as the stalking escalated, and our family did not understand the full extent of the danger she faced.

Morgan’s story is why I continue to advocate for greater awareness of stalking, better recognition of escalating behaviour, and responses that place the victim’s immediate safety at the centre of every decision.

Research reference: Mullen, P. E., Pathé, M., Purcell, R., & Stuart, G. W. (1999). “Study of Stalkers.” American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(8), 1244–1249.