by Tracy Heath

Created on: February 24, 2010   Last Updated: February 27, 2010

How to:

I have been the victim of a stalker since last year. The local police have been of no help. I have had to move 3 times in 6 months. This is soo expensive, scary, and exhausting. My stalker has done this to 2 other girlfriends and been charged and done time in jail.

But, those incidents were in another state, and the judge in my county and state will not grant me even a restraining order. He states there is lack of physical evidence. The judge didn't even call any of my witnesses or take into account the statute that was enacted in Florida, October of 2008, stating that a person charged with stalking or violence in their past and does it to another in the future that the new person has the right to a restraining order. My stalker has 4 criminal counts that he was found guilty of! He broke in his ex-girlfriend's house, beat her and her new boyfriend up (assault and battery), and copped an intent to terrorize charge. Hello? I can't get a restraining order without hiring an attorney? This has already cost me lost work, anxiety, and having to move often because he spies on me!

I have never experienced anything so tormenting in my entire life. I literally may have to do a name and social security change and move thousands of miles away. I feel that this is so unfair. The statistics state that most stalkers are ex-boyfriends of women. I believe that because this issue does not affect as many men as women, that it is not taken as seriously as it should be.

My city is run by a bunch of good ole' boys. For Christ's sake our old Sheriff is under indictment for all kinds of things, our new Chief of Police bribed a witness already. What and the hell are we supposed to do. I went to a women's shelter. Nightmare! I have RA and the staff didn't even know what that was. The stress of an incident last August threw me into a complete flare-up. I was sitting on my balcony with my daughter and had a red dot from the scope of a rifle on me! Yes, my stalker has weapons! Long-range assault rifles.

What do I do? That is what I ask myself everyday? Move? Again? Hide out?

Stressed in Sarasota 

Learn more about this author, Tracy Heath.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.