Women are significantly more likely to be victims of stalking. Approximately 1 in 3 women have experienced stalking at some point in their lives, c
Women are significantly more likely to be victims of stalking.
Approximately 1 in 3 women have experienced stalking at some point in their lives, compared to 1 in 6 men.
The majority of stalkers are male. Studies indicate that approximately 80-90% of stalking perpetrators are male,
and 67% of female victims were stalked by a male
Kerri Shanelle Harris, 31, was a Black female professional working as a Quality Assurance Manager at a Cargill facility in DeKalb County, Georgia. A Memphis, Tennessee native, she had moved to the Atlanta area in 2006 to advance her career. By mid-2008, Kerri had earned a master’s degree and was up for a major promotion at Cargill – a testament to her ambition and talent. “She wanted to help people,” her mother recalled, describing Kerri as kind-hearted and driven.
The Fatal Incident on the Job
On June 26, 2008, Kerri Harris was brutally murdered at her workplace. Around lunchtime that day, a coworker – 39-year-old Craig Armstead – attacked Kerri in her office with a large butcher knife. Armstead had been hovering in wait; as soon as Kerri returned from a meeting, he ambushed her from behind and stabbed her multiple times in the back and neck. The first blow pierced her heart, killing her almost immediately. In fact, colleagues who heard Kerri’s screams and rushed over found the knife still lodged in her neck. Kerri died at the scene before help could arrive. Armstead was seen fleeing the office and was apprehended by police a short time later.
Harassment and Missed Warnings
This horrific workplace murder did not come without warning signs. Craig Armstead was obsessed with Kerri and had repeatedly harassed her in the months leading up to the attack. He showered her with unwanted gifts (home-baked treats, gadgets, etc.) and inappropriate advances, which Kerri firmly rejected and reported to management. Shockingly, her complaints were downplayed – one HR manager even suggested it would “be easier for her to accept the gift” rather than disciplining Armstead.
Just hours before the murder, a serious red flag emerged: Kerri and a female co-worker (a close friend) discovered a hidden video camera concealed in a women’s restroom at the facility. They immediately reported it to Human Resources, and police were called in to investigate. It was quickly suspected (and later confirmed) that Armstead had planted the secret camera to spy on female employees. Realizing he was about to be exposed for this crime – on top of Kerri’s very public rejection of him – Armstead grew increasingly agitated that morning. He armed himself with a knife from the company’s test kitchen and decided to take lethal action before police could implicate him. Tragically, Kerri was the target of his rage.
The Perpetrator’s Violent Past
One of the most disturbing aspects of the case is that Craig Armstead was a convicted killer on parole at the time he worked with Kerri. Years earlier, in 1990, Armstead had murdered a former girlfriend in New Jersey – brutally beating her with a hammer and strangling her to death. He was convicted of manslaughter in 1992 (after pleading insanity) and served only about five years in prison. After his release in 1999, Armstead moved to Georgia.
In 2000, he was convicted of a felony peeping tom offense for spying on a woman in a restroom stall, for which he served another one-year sentence. Despite this alarming criminal history, Armstead was hired by Cargill and worked alongside unwitting colleagues – none of whom were informed of his violent past.
Kerri’s family and friends have strongly criticized the company’s failure to screen out or warn about Armstead. “This company had information that could have protected my daughter,” Kerri’s mother, Marcle Wicks, said after the murder. The family noted that Armstead’s record – a prior homicide and sexual voyeurism offense – should have raised serious red flags. “Not only should Cargill have fired Armstead after Harris’ complaints, but they should never have hired him in the first place,” one family member said, emphasizing the company’s negligence.
In the wake of the tragedy, Kerri’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cargill, arguing that proper background checks and responsive action on Kerri’s reports of harassment could have prevented the murder.
Legal Outcome
Craig Armstead was swiftly charged for Kerri’s murder and related crimes. His trial took place in DeKalb County in August 2010 Armstead’s defense team attempted to argue that he was not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming he was under a “delusional compulsion” at the time of the killing. However, the jury rejected this argument.
After several days of testimony, Armstead was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and 18 counts of unlawful eavesdropping/surveillance for the secret restroom camera footage.
The judge imposed a life sentence for the murder, plus an additional 65 years for the other offenses. As a result, Craig Armstead – by then in his early 50s – will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. He is currently incarcerated in a Georgia state prison (Augusta State Medical Prison) and will never be eligible for parole under the terms of his life sentence.
Those who knew Kerri remember her as an accomplished, warm, and positive person whose life was on a brilliant trajectory. “She was smart and ambitious, with a smile that lit up a room,” one family member said.
The senseless nature of her death has moved her loved ones to advocate for better workplace safety policies, stronger background check procedures, and employee rights to know if a violent felon is in their midst.
Kerri Harris’s story stands as a tragic example of how a lack of information and action can have deadly consequences – and her family hopes that sharing her story will prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Male agitation—especially in someone already showing signs of emotional instability—can be a red flag for escalating violence. While not every agitated male will become violent, in the context of an unstable or abusive individual, certain forms of agitation can signal rising risk.
Here are key red flags that often accompany rising agitation and may precede violence:
⚠️ Behavioral Red Flags:
Sudden mood swings or explosive anger over small issues
Pacing, clenched fists, jaw tightening, or loud voice escalation
Blaming others for their emotions or problems
Controlling behavior that becomes more aggressive when challenged
Destruction of property or threats (even if “joking”)
Increased jealousy, possessiveness, or surveillance behaviors
Saying things like “You made me do this” or “If you hadn’t done that…”
🔥 In an abusive context, these behaviors can mean:
An attempt to re-establish control after feeling challenged
A sign that their internal escalation is nearing a violent outburst
A setup for blaming you afterward (“I was just upset—you pushed me”)
🛡️ What to Do:
Trust your instincts—if it feels unsafe, it likely is.
Create distance if possible, or seek help discreetly.
Document behaviors if you’re in a position to do so safely.
Reminder:
If you’re asking this question, your concern is valid. Agitation in someone unstable is not just a bad mood—it can be a warning. You deserve to live without fear.
