Stranger Stalking
PREDATORS CLASSIFICATION: Stranger Stalking PREDATORS CLASSIFICATION: Celebrity Stalkers Stalking Information Forms of Stalking What is Stalking?
PREDATORS CLASSIFICATION: Stranger Stalking
This category of stalking involves an offender who has no known prior relationship to the victim and includes five types of stalkers:
Stranger-power/anger stalkers are primarily men who look for random victims to control, intimidate, and harm. The Internet is quickly becoming a popular tool for such offenders. These men exhibit antisocial characteristics and, as a result of their own lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, they hunt for proxy victims upon which to vent their anger. In times of economic hardship such men turn to others upon which to place blame. Neo-Nazis, skinheads, right-wing extremists, men marginalized by society, and sexists all want to vent their rage and frustrations. The Internet is proving to be an excellent tool for harassing others and spreading their messages of hate toward minorities and women. Much of what appears in e-mail as threats tends to be cathartic and goes no further in stalking escalation. However, these offenders are not passive and are known for their boldness in striking out at random victims. The Internet is another way for them to band together for those wanting to affiliate. Other power/anger stalkers prefer anonymity and will send repeated messages of hate to public officials, minorities, and women. In most cases the messages tend to be cathartic and end quickly. Those who pursue sending threatening e-mails should be considered extremely dangerous.
Stranger-obsessional stalkers are individuals who suffer from a variety of psychological disorders including paranoid schizophrenia, and bipolar and dissociative disorders. They generally should be considered dangerous because of their level of unpredictability. The object of their attachment is a stranger.
Obsessionals attach because they have come to learn or believe something about another person or organization that may be completely false but that acts as a catalyst for the attachment. The Internet is attractive to obsessionals because it allows them unlimited access to their victims. Often, obsessionals will use additional means to reach their victims.
Stranger-nuisance stalkers tend to be loners looking for opportunities to connect with others in some medium. They range from teens to middle-aged men who frequently use the Internet to meet and harass victims. They enjoy the sense of freedom they have in hacking into victim's e-mails, tampering with Web pages and sending obscene messages. They are offenders who derive satisfaction from honing their computer skills and demonstrating their prowess. The stalking usually is short in duration and low in intensity.
Stranger-sexual predator stalkers are some of the most dangerous offenders known to our criminal justice system. They include rapists, pedophiles, child molesters, and paraphiliacs. They are dangerous because the outcome is frequently the actual sexual assault of a victim or psychological sexual violence of a victim. The Internet is a perfect medium for sexual predators to solicit potential victims and do it with relative impunity. Offenders frequently have criminal histories, display various psychopathic characteristics, act alone, and become very adept at using tools such as the Internet to find victims.
Stranger-erotomaniac is a stalker who attaches himself or herself to another person because this stalker believes that person wants and is in love with him or her. The victims are usually persons of public prominence. The offenders are often irrational and obsessive in their stalking behaviors. Women are more likely to become involved in such stalking cases. In cases where the offenders are schizophrenic, psychotic, or suffering from a delusional state, there have been several instances when the stalking turned physically violent. In such cases the offenders are more likely to be males than females.
Source: Dr. Eric Hickey
PREDATORS CLASSIFICATION: Celebrity Stalkers
Celebrity stalking is common in today's society. Some individuals become attached to a famous celebrity and fantasize that they are having a relationship with him or her. They stalk the celebrity, and in some cases the results have been deadly. Rebecca Schaeffer, a television actress in the 80s, was stalked by a mentally ill fan who tracked and shot her. Olivia Newton John was stalked by a fan who sent her 30,000 notes. David Letterman was stalked by a mentally ill woman who, on several occasions, broke into his house, and told her friends that Letterman was in love with her. She eventually grew tired of stalking him and killed herself by jumping in front of a train.
Television news anchors frequently become the target for stalkers. These television personalities are on the air every day and quickly become a part of the viewer's lives.
Source: Dr. Eric Hickey
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