INVESTIGATIVE: One stalking victim’s mother speaks after man kills woman, sets himself on fire

Stalking is often dismissed as “harassment” or brushed off as “creepy behavior.” But for many girls and women, it is much more than that — it’s a deeply traumatic violation of dignity, privacy, and safety.

What the Numbers Say

• In 2019, about 1.3 % of U.S. residents aged 16 or older — roughly 3.4 million people — experienced stalking in a 12-month period. Bureau of Justice Statistics+1

• In that same year, females (1.8%) experienced stalking more than twice as often as males (0.8%) in that age group. Bureau of Justice Statistics+1

• Studies show that lifetime prevalence is far higher — meaning many women carry the scars of stalking experiences from their past. CDC+1

Why It Matters for Girls & Young Women

• A large portion of stalking begins when victims are young — under age 25. CDC+1

• For girls, the message is clear: boundaries matter. Adults and institutions must protect spaces where girls change, rest, study, live — not expose them to surveillance, unwanted presence, or violation. Laws must catch up and then get ahead of violent offenders.

• Stalking isn’t just a “relationship issue.” It often reflects a broader pattern of power, control, and disregard for female safety. When a girl is followed, watched, or monitored — her body becomes public property rather than protected domain.

What to Watch For

• Repeated unwanted contact: phone, text, social media, in person.

• Monitoring, tracking, showing up where the girl doesn’t expect the person.

• Fear, anxiety, disrupted sleep or daily life because of someone else’s persistent behavior.

• The victim feeling unsafe in her own space — home, school, camp, locker-room.

What We Can Do

• Teach girls that their right to privacy and safety is non-negotiable.

• Advocate for changing spaces, private areas, safe exits in schools/camps.

• Push for institutional policies that recognize stalking as a serious safety issue (not just “drama”).

• Equip Survivors with language: “I am being watched. I am being followed. My space is being invaded.”

• Emphasize that reporting matters — but many victims do not report: less than one-third reported to police in the 2019 survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics+1

Final Word

Stalking is not just a chore to endure or a harmless obsession.
It is a violation of dignity.
It is a grave threat to a girl’s right to feel safe in her body, her space, her life.
And it demands our full attention.

Sources

• CDC: “Stalking” overview by the Intimate Partner Violence Prevention branch. CDC

• BJS: Stalking Victimization, 2019 report. Bureau of Justice Statistics+1

• CDC NISVS: Data on stalking and stalking victimization. CDC+1

May young Stasy Charles now have rest and peace.