a day ago
Woman allegedly married ex-boyfriend without his consent, police say
Woman allegedly married ex-boyfriend without his consent, police say
A central Texas woman is facing a stalking charge and has been ordered to stay away from her ex-boyfriend after authorities say she married him without his consent and then left a copy of the marriage certificate at his home.
Kristin Marie Spearman, 36, was arrested and charged with third degree felony stalking, the Beverly Hills Police Department in Texas said in a news release.
As of Wednesday, June 18, Spearman has been released on bond and an emergency protective order was put into place, according to Beverly Hills Police Chief Kory Martin.
"Making sure this situation does not escalate has been a primary focus," Martin said in a statement on June 18.
USA TODAY has reached out to the McLennan County District Attorney's Office to see if the reverend involved will face charges. It was not immediately clear on June 18 if Spearman has legal representation.
Police said she got a local reverend to sign the marriage license, which she then filed with the local clerk's office. The reverend involved is fully cooperating with law enforcement and "has expressed his sincere remorse for the occurrence," Martin said.
"To assist with public knowledge regarding this, we never discuss assumed or pending charges prior to their execution," Martin said.
Here's how the case has developed so far.
'Congrats, maybe call your wife'
The victim, a 42-year-old man, contacted Beverly Hills police in Texas on June 13, police said in the news release. He said he had been away and when he returned home, he found a Bath & Body Works gift bag with products inside.
According to a complaint obtained by USA TODAY, there were two documents inside the bag, including:
A picture of his ex-girlfriend, Spearman, holding a marriage certificate showing the pair had been married.
A certified and embossed copy of the marriage license, which had been filed with the county clerk's office.
There was also a tag that read "Congrats, maybe call your wife," according to the complaint.
The man said he had been in a relationship with the victim and the couple took steps to get a marriage license in June 2025, per the complaint. The pair then got into an argument and the man ended his relationship with Spearman, told her to stop contacting him, and changed his number.
Spearman allegedly got the local reverend on June 13 "to certify the victim and Kristin in the Holy Union of Matrimony," according to police. The man wasn't at the ceremony and didn't know it was happening, police said. Spearman then went to the county clerk's office and filed for a certificate of official marriage.
Police still collecting information
Spearman was arrested at her home near Hewitt, about 10 miles southwest of Waco. She was taken to the McLennan County Jail and then released.
As of June 18, police are still collecting information. Spearman's ex-boyfriend has had to "take a lot of steps to fix the problem along with costs," Martin said.
The Beverly Hills Police Department said it is working with the McLennan County District Attorney's Office to see if any other laws were broken.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
