Stalked

Ryan Widmer is on the eve of his fourth murder trial and a couple nights ago a show aired on stalkers. The connection? He might’ve gotten off without his engaging a stalker, or someone who appears to have some of the traits. Jennifer Crew may prove to be his undoing.

Stalkers don’t have to be of a romantic nature (http://www.flayme.com/stalker/) and can exercise their vendettas against celebrities, companies, organizations, etc., as would seem to be the case with Jared Loughner. It’s unclear if there was a romantic relationship, if any at all, or something else. In the age of the web, relationships (or imagined ones) can be established on line. And, the demented can camp on their targets’ web pages instead of skulking in the bushes outside homes or places of work.

The reports are that the woman sought out Widmer after seeing him on television. So, you have a woman pursuing a convicted (save for a technicality) murderer she doesn’t know. This has red flags all over it. What made Widmer think it would be a good idea to get tangled up with the likes of her? It would later come out that she works at a strip club and her therapist says you can believe little that comes out of her mouth. Color us surprised.

How could he have predicted her spiteful behavior? Easy. The unbalanced are unbalanced by definition and have little choice but to act accordingly. The question isn’t how he could’ve foreseen she would do something crazy. It’s how could he not have seen it coming? He wouldn’t even have to make a slip like the alleged confession phone call (which appears not to be verifiable). These people fabricate their own realities.

On the other hand, the prosecutors have maybe one more bite at the apple. Would you hang it on a person with a history of aberrant behavior?

That may be the escape hatch that enables Widmer to escape the guilty conviction. But, engaging her cost him the additional trial ordeal and expense.