If you think you are currently being stalked – this is a good resource for information

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This is from http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/help-for-victims

Things you can do

Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. There are no guarantees that what works for one person will work for another, yet you can take steps to increase your safety.

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  • Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are.
  • Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about suicide or murder, or when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
  • Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, or a domestic violence or rape crisis program. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, weigh options such as seeking a protection order, and refer you to other services.
  • Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay, and having a friend or relative go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the stalker shows up at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell people how they can help you. Click here to learn more about safety plans.
  • Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
  • Keep evidence of the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, write down the time, date, and place. Keep emails, text messages, phone messages, letters, or notes. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries the stalker causes. Ask witnesses to write down what they saw. Click here to download a stalking incident and behavior log.
  • Contact the police. Every state has stalking laws. The stalker may also have broken other laws by doing things like assaulting you or stealing or destroying your property.
  • Consider getting a court order that tells the stalker to stay away from you.
  • Tell family, friends, roommates, and co-workers about the stalking and seek their support.
  • Tell security staff at your job or school. Ask them to help watch out for your safety.

If someone you know is being stalked

  • Listen.
  • Show support.
  • Don’t blame the victim for the crime.
  • Remember that every situation is different, and allow the person being stalked to make choices about how to handle it.
  • Find someone you can talk to about the situation.
  • Take steps to ensure your own safety.

14 thoughts on “If you think you are currently being stalked – this is a good resource for information”

  2. Hi Toni, I have been reading your blog for several weeks and I am completely absorbed with this story for many reasons. The way you are telling it is compelling and has me coming back daily to see what will happen. I only wish that it did not end badly and that it were not true. I have such an admiration for Morgan and feel like I have come to know her a bit. I even thought I saw her in a restaurant last night. That is amazing that you have been able to make her real enough for me to do a “double take” and think I recognized someone I know. I admire how creative and talented and kind she was. Something else I feel I need to mention is that I think you and Steve did an absolutely amazing job of doing everything in your power to care for her and keep her safe. It makes me feel sad to hear your guilt in your words, but I know there is probably nothing anyone could ever say to make you feel any differently, but I hope that you see there is no way you could have predicted this tragedy or the compounding injustice of the mishandling of the entire investigation.

    I have several thoughts today. 1) I would like to sign the petition but do not want to enter my address. Do you know if this is possible? 2) I am sickened that these girls were also involved. I feel like the man who stalked Morgan was probably, as you say, a sociopath, and while this does not excuse his behavior, it does in some way explain it. I am guessing the girls are just regular people, but chose to help cover up for and support this heinous “project” of his. It makes me sick that they did not have anything better or more productive to do with their time than to harm someone else. I can’t believe one of them is a parent herself and I fear for people who can be this hateful.

    Thank you for your blog and congratulations on its success. I hope that it is investigated properly and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

    • This is what they say on Change.org in answer to your question to hide your address:

      Is my address included in a petition?

      Customer Support
      posted this on June 21, 2010 10:45 am
      inShare

      Petitions that get sent to U.S. federal elected officials (the President, U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives) will include your address. This is simply to confirm that you are one of their constituents. Your address is never made public.

      Also, this is what I see when the petition gets a signature so I don’t even get an address:

      Toni,

      You just got G——- to sign this petition: Colorado State Governor John Hickenlooper: We want Morgan Ingram’s felony stalking investigation reopened.

      Every person you add is a huge step toward winning this campaign. Each new supporter is another person who will spread the word, get their friends to sign, and bring the campaign closer to victory.

  4. It has been a horror story for us since August 2, 2011 and it doesn’t seem like there is an end in sight. But we will keep fighting for justice no matter how long it takes.

  5. this isn’t just a stalking…..it seems alot of bullying going on too, like taunting etc. I dont know but I’m thinking more charges to more ppl than murder and stalking? Cant they get into trouble for helping? Accessorers or something?

  6. After seeing that girl on the video and feeling that ? Was always in on it. But, What overwhelmed me today is this would explain why she wasnt sexually assaulted.

  7. That’s true – only problem with that are there are ways to be sexually assaulted and it’s not obvious to you when you just look at the body fully clothed, and Morgan never had a rape kit done and I don’t believe the substance of tiny speaks (seen under the black light from the first responding officer) that appeared all over her chest were ever tested.

  8. I am appalled that the authorities didn’t do a rape kit on her and didn’t test the substance they found on her under the black light! That just doesn’t even make sense to me, and I don’t see how anyone can fail to see how much LE messed up on this. Just thinking about all the potential evidence that was overlooked and lost because of this. Wow. What a heartbreaking shame.

  9. I have been having stalker issues and this blog totally helps me to know what to do in those cases. Gifts have been left, they knock at my door for a long time late at night. I live alone, so I have been hyperparanoid about it all. Thanks so much for bringing more info to the world. I love you and I am so thankful for your love for your daughter.

  10. Hello, never commented but seen your story on Dr. Phil.. I was just wondering if you were able to go through a cell phone or records and if she had any social media accounts that you were able to go through to look for messages from people that may have came in that 4 month period? I hope her case is re-opened, justice has not been served here.. Sorry for your loss.

    • We were and we did and we found some very interesting things. Can’t talk about them right now but I think there are some people that should be very worried at this point. I do believe her case will be opened soon…soon still takes a while but I do believe by the end of December I should have some good news to share. Take care and thanks for supporting us.

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