A young woman's harrowing decade-long ordeal with a stalker unfolds, igniting conversations about privacy and safety in today's world. The unsettling narrative begins with mysterious pranks and escalates to threats during wedding preparations. Unrecognized warning signs reveal a shocking betrayal by a trusted figure, intertwining personal trauma with broader societal implications. The complexities of stalking behavior are discussed, shedding light on psychological motivations and the importance of supporting victims and their families.
47:06
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Sarah Garone's decade-long stalking ordeal revealed the chilling manipulation by her stepfather, highlighting the hidden dangers within familial relationships.
Sarah's journey emphasizes the importance of community support and advocacy for stalking victims, particularly in the context of the Me Too movement.
Deep dives
The Start of a Stalking Nightmare
In the early 1990s, Sarah Garone's life took a dark turn when she began receiving disturbing mail at only 14 years old. Instead of acceptance letters for cheerleading, she found envelopes containing photocopied pornography addressed to her from her school. This shocking incident prompted her family to involve the police, but despite their efforts and Sarah's journaling to process her emotions, no suspect was identified. As years passed, Sarah hoped to move on, but her stalker continued to torment her with more unsettling mail, including messages that hinted at a dangerous obsession.
A Sinister Connection Revealed
As Sarah transitioned to college life in Chicago, the stalking took a new turn with peculiar emails full of intimate details about her and her fiancé beginning to surface. This escalated into receiving sexualized items shipped to her home, leading to the revelation that someone had hacked her email. Anthony, Sarah's fiancé, traced the intrusive emails back to her hometown, raising concerns that her stalker had not only reemerged but had evolved as well. The situation intensified as Sarah discovered break-ins into her home where personal belongings, including her journals and underwear, began to go missing.
The Shocking Identity of the Stalker
The investigation into Sarah's stalking reached a chilling conclusion when it was revealed that her stalker was, in fact, her stepfather, Gary. This revelation came after years of manipulation, wherein he had portrayed himself as a protective figure while secretly perpetrating psychological and emotional torment. Through a series of missteps, including incriminating mail linked to both him and the bizarre gifts sent to Sarah, the police could finally connect the dots. Ultimately, Gary confessed to his actions but only after his wife had to simulate ignorance to draw him in and ensure that he faced the consequences of his stalking behavior.
Aftermath and the Importance of Awareness
Following Gary's arrest, he was charged with multiple offenses, including harassment and attempted exploitation of a minor, leading to a 20-year prison sentence. Despite the resolution of her case, Sarah struggled to find support from her community and church, feeling isolated and dismissed due to the trauma she experienced. Over time, however, and particularly with the rise of the Me Too movement, Sarah found both healing and a new platform to share her story, advocating for greater awareness of stalking and its impact on victims. She now focuses on her family and career while continuing to emphasize the need for understanding and support for those affected by similar traumas.
Ep 204: A young woman is stalked for over a decade. But when the stalker’s identity comes to light, it will wreck everything she’s ever known
This is the Sarah Garone story.
Sources for Today's Episode:
An episode of Evil Lives Here
The Washington Post
The Today Show
An Episode of Criminal podcast
Sponsors:
(thanks for using our promo codes, it really does help the show!)
Chewy.com
Chewyhas everything I need to keep my pet healthy and happy. Chewy is helping take the stress out of the holidays. Take advantage of amazing holiday savings and shop my personal favorites at Chewy.com/women.
Credits:
Written and Hosted by Amy Shlosberg and Meghan Sacks
Produced by James Varga
Audio Editor, Jose Alfonzo
Script Editor, Abagail Belcastro
Music by Dessert Media
Show your Support:
The easiest way you can support us is by leaving a review, telling your friends, sharing on social media or by sending us a note. We love to hear from our audience!
You can also support the show through the following ways:
Patron - ad-free shows starting at $2 a month, or upgrade to get an extra episode every month, exclusive AMAs with the hosts, lecture series on criminal justice, our true crime book club, and more! Check out our Patreon page for more info: https://www.patreon.com/womenandcrime
Apple Subscriptions - Exclusive episodes and ad-free regular stories are now available through Apple’s podcast app for only $4.99 a month.
If you or someone you know is in a crisis situation, or a victim of domestic, or other violence, there are many organizations that can offer support or help you in your specific situation.