Stalking, a form of abuse and control, is a leading indicator of future domestic and sexual abuse. 

It’s also among one of the least reported crimes, even in Warren County. 

The Record publishes crime reports each week from the Warrenton Police Department and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department. Each week the reports show at least one incident of alleged domestic abuse, and often more than one. 

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said law enforcement officers rarely answer calls related to stalking, but he knows stalking occurs. 

“There is no doubt, from my perspective, this is an under-reported offense,” said Harrison, adding that people have many reasons not to report it. For one, he said, “I don’t think people are fully aware that this is a criminal act.” 

Stalking is generally described as a person who performs acts against another that incite fear or intimidation. Stalking is unwanted attention via text messages, email, phone calls, “visits” at home, work or public spaces, tracking whereabouts, and sometimes threats.  

Harrison said, “People need to know it’s a crime and they don’t have to put up with it.” 

Rosie Jones is a program manager at Turning Point Advocacy Services. The organization is home-based in Warrenton and serves five counties. Turning Point provides emergency shelter to individuals and families escaping abuse. The noprofit organization provides court advocacy, crisis intervention, counseling and a 24/7 hotline (866-456-1186). 

Jones said 80 percent of Turning Point’s clients have been stalked. 

In her research, nationwide, one woman in six is stalked in her lifetime and one man in 19 is stalked in his lifetime. 

While “stalker” conjures up images of a stranger creeping around in the night, Jones said statistics show the most common stalker is actually a former or current partner of the person being stalked.  

“Stalkers are people who seek to exercise a greater amount of power and control over another,” said Jones. “Stalkers may feel entitled to controlling their victims, as though it is a right in the relationship, when it’s actually a violation of personhood, respect and trust.” 

Classic and contemporary movies, books and songs tell stories of romantic pursuits. Usually it’s a man trying to woo a woman and she is uninterested. By the time the movie ends, they are a couple, proving time and again that men are supposed to pursue aggressively.  

“In our society, some of those stalking behaviors are considered romantic, but when you incite fear, that’s not romantic,” Jones said. “We have to ask ourselves what we’re teaching about love.” 

While stalking behavior ends in happily ever after in the movies, Jones said, “Stalking is often an early indicator of other forms of violence.”

Jones said 76 percent of women who were murdered had been stalked by the person who killed them. About 85 percent of women who survived an attempted murder had been stalked by their attackers. 

Jones said being stalked changes people. There is a sense of constant pressure, loss of control, feeling watched and fear of retaliation. Jones said stalking victims commonly suffer some level of paranoia or symptoms of PTSD. 

“If you have someone in your life being stalked, lend support. Listen. Don’t blame the victim,” Jones said. 

Missouri law states that officers may arrest anyone committing stalking acts without a warrant. Some classes of stalking crimes are misdemeanors while others are felonies. 

Harrison said stalking cases are not easy to make without clear evidence. But by reporting every incident and having photos, videos, screen shots, etc., to share with police and prosecutors, evidence will show a pattern of behavior that can build a strong case.  

“There might not be enough on that first call for law enforcement to take (legal) action, but that call will build that history,” Harrison said. 

One call just might stop everything. Harrison said one visit from an officer is all the intervention that someone might need to truly understand their attention is unwanted.