Stalking [View all]

[H2O Man]

“Stalking someone you had a past with is nothing but self-torture and people who love themselves don't hurt themselves.”
― Sarvesh Jain


"Stalking" is apparently an issue in the Idaho case. Cell phone records indicate that the killer had been in the neighborhood near the victims' house at least twelve times leading up to the murders, was nearby at the time of the crime, and returned again approximately five hours later. There were also previous reports that one of the victims thought she was being stalked. As a result, some experts from various fields have stated it is likely the murderer had encountered one or more of his victims in the past.

Since stalking is an all too common problem -- usually involving a man stalking a woman -- I thought I'd provide some information on the three primary types of stalking. These are distinct from a junior high student with a crush on a girl, lacking the confidence to approach her to attempt to strike up a conversation, and instead following from a distance. Yet, this might be considered a 4th type, at the lowest end of the risk scale.

The next type, which often results in police and/or mental health interventions, involves the guy who just cannot accept that "she" broke up with him. This can be in the context of dating, living together, or married couples. Generally, the guy thinks that if she will only listen to him beg for another chance, thinngs will work out just dandy.

Next, we find the type where the man seeks to intimidate the women. Like the last example, this fellow wants to be seen. But he is looking to scare the woman he is stalking. He fully intends for his action to be viewed as threatening. In general, we can identify the increasing dangers that each one poses. This in no sense means there are not violent junior high students, or guys who think, "If I can't have her, no one can." But intimifation stalkers are more prone to doing anything from violating orders of protection, popping car tires, or physical assaults.

The last type is what took place in Idaho. It is known as predatory stalking. While it may involve someone who thought, for example, his prey insulted him somewhere that she may not be aware of, it is frequently a complete stranger. The only connection exists exclusively between the stalker's ears. By no coincidence, this type has a close relationship with cases or rape and/or murder. The BTK killer comes to mind.

Predatory stalkers are best understood as very much like other animals that stalk prey. One could view them as similar to both felidae and lizards. Indeed, it appears that in these men, their "lizard brain" is calling many of their behaviors. More, they tend to increase their staking behaviors over time.

Thus, some experts expect that the Idaho murderer's defense team will argue that his DNA could have been found as a result of his attending a party there. I'd say perhaps in their opening or closing statements, but it seems unlikely they will find anyone who would testify to that. Including him.

Although it is extremely unlikely we will ever know, one thing that the evidence seems to point to is that he had snuck into the house previously, when everyone was sleeping. The timing of his cell phone pings show he was in the neighborhood late at night on several occasions. Just as the Manson family engaged in "creepy crawling," for example, late night break-ins are not uncommon before this time of murder.