Latest news with #StalkingtheStars
Buzz Feed
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"He Started Sending Pictures Of My House": Ashanti Recalls Being Harassed By Convicted Stalker For Years
Ashanti opened up about the "unsettling" experience she had with a now-convicted stalker who'd been harassing her for years. In "Stalking the Stars," the latest and final episode of Investigation Discovery's docuseries Hollywood Demons, the singer recounted the "unsettling" encounters that ultimately changed her life. "I have some of the most amazing fans in the world, so I always try to be gracious, I always try to be courteous," Ashanti said per Entertainment Weekly. "But it does get a bit invasive." She remembered receiving messages from an unknown man who craved to "be together." She stated, "In 2009, I was actually playing Dorothy in The Wiz on Broadway, and my mom was getting these pictures, texts." According to EW, the docuseries also mentioned that the man, whose identity was unknown at the time, commented on her romantic relationship with Nelly and her various live performances, and even asked to be invited to her home. "It makes you feel a little scared. This is a red line being crossed. Obviously, my family along with me, it's kind of affecting everyone. They didn't ask to be a part of this." "[The messages got] progressively turned into something deadly. He started sending pictures of my car, parked in the front of the theater. He started sending pictures of my house, aerial shots, shots of the front door. This is serious serious now. We made the decision, me, my parents, my family, to kind of get the law involved." "I was doing a show in Chicago, and he felt like I locked eyes with him, and that was his open door," she added. Police later arrested an Indiana man named Devar Hurd, and he was sentenced to two years in prison in 2009 at Rikers. Devar reported sent countless sexually explicit messages, including photos of his genitals, to the singer's mom and manager, Tina Douglass, with hopes that the messages would get back to Ashanti. "In my situation, he was convicted, and we were hoping and praying that it was done. We felt that that was going to be it," Ashanti continued. "But unfortunately, it kind of kept going on and on." Despite Ashanti and her family being issued a no-contact order from the courts, Devar continued to break it after he was released. He sent more messages, photos, and even harassed Ashanti and her family via social media. Because that directly violated the no-contact order, Devar was arrested for stalking and aggravated harassment, and went back to trial in 2014. This time, he opted to represent himself. "It's really weird. It's kinda like, to get what you want done, he gets what he wants, which is to be in your presence," she added. Due to a juror getting sick, it was eventually labeled a mistrial. But in 2016, Devar was convicted of a felony second-degree stalking charge, but was released just one year later. The John Tucker Must Die star said the ordeal "changed my unsettling, it's disheartening, and it makes you question who's the victim. The feeling is hope that the rehabilitation happens, hope that he gets the message, and hoping that everything is done."
Perth Now
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Ashanti 'changed' by stalking
Ashanti has admitted being stalked for years "changed [her] life". The 'Baby' singer was subjected to unwanted attention from Devar Hurd, who stood trial for stalking her four times between 2009 and 2016, and she has reflected on the "unsettling" experience, admitting she has "hope" that it is now behind her. She said on 'Stalking the Stars', the latest episode of the Investigation Discovery docuseries 'Hollywood Demons': "It changed my life... it's unsettling, it's disheartening, and it makes you question who's the victim. "The feeling is hope that the rehabilitation happens, hope that he gets the message, and hoping that everything is done." The 44-year-old star always tries to be "gracious" with fans but sometimes the attention can be "invasive". She said: "I have some of the most amazing fans in the world, so I always try to be gracious, I always try to be courteous, but it does get a bit invasive. "In 2009, I was actually playing Dorothy in 'The Wiz' on Broadway, and my mom was getting these pictures, texts." The then-unknown man expressed his desire for he and Ashanti to "be together", sought an invitation to her home, commented on her various live performances and criticised her relationship with Nelly. She said: "It makes you feel a little scared. This is a red line being crossed. Obviously, my family along with me, it's kind of affecting everyone. They didn't ask to be a part of this." The messages "progressively turned into something deadly." She continued: "He started sending pictures of my car, parked in the front of the theatre. He started sending pictures of my house, aerial shots, shots of the front door. "[I thought] 'Okay. This is serious serious now...' We made the decision, me, my parents, my family, to kind of get the law involved." Hurd was arrested later that year and sentenced to two years in prison for sending unwanted sexual messages and stalking, but was released the following year. Ashanti reflected: "In my situation, he was convicted, and we were hoping and praying that it was done. We felt that that was going to be it. But unfortunately, it kind of kept going on and on." The man defied the no contact order in place to protect the singer and her family, sending pictures he had taken at an event with her sister Kenashia Douglas and sent a string of social media messages in 2014. As a result, he was arrested again for stalking and aggravated harassment, and went back on trial. and opted to represent himself, which meant he could cross-examine Ashanti himself. She said: "It's really weird. It's kinda like, to get what you want done, he gets what he wants, which is to be in your presence." A juror took ill, which led to a mistrial, but Hurd was eventually convicted for a second time in 2016 and jailed for four years. He was allowed out of prison a year later.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'I want to rape Taylor Swift': Fan who threatened to kill Travis Kelce's beau Taylor Swift details chilling letters in new documentary
A new documentary reveals disturbing letters from Taylor Swift's stalker, Eric Swarbrick, exposing his obsessive mindset (Getty Images) Disturbing new details have surfaced regarding the case of Eric Swarbrick , the man who sent threatening letters to Taylor Swift between 2016 and 2018. These letters, over 40 in total, were chilling in nature and escalated from expressions of infatuation to explicit threats of violence. Eric's brother, Matthew Swarbrick, recently shed light on his sibling's mental deterioration and the terrifying content of the letters in an episode of the documentary series Hollywood Demons . Inside the disturbing letters that led to Taylor Swift's stalker's arrest Eric Swarbrick, once a sociable and well-liked student, began to exhibit increasingly erratic and delusional behavior during his college years. His isolation grew, and so did the disturbing content of the letters. What began as strange and obsessive admiration eventually morphed into alarming threats, including explicit references to rape and murder. In one letter, Eric wrote, 'I want to rape Taylor Swift. This is why I hate Taylor herself … This is how I know I am Taylor's soulmate.' Another letter escalated further, with Eric threatening, 'I will not hesitate to kill her … and there's nothing you, your lawyers, or the law will be about to do about it. Remember who I am.' These threats were not taken lightly. In 2018, following the increasingly violent nature of the letters, Taylor Swift was granted a restraining order against Eric Swarbrick. The authorities responded quickly, and Eric was arrested by federal agents. His actions led to a 30-month prison sentence, after which he was subjected to psychiatric treatment. The case has been a stark reminder of the dangers that celebrities face from obsessive fans. Despite his prison sentence and subsequent psychiatric care, Eric's mental state remained a point of concern. Matthew Swarbrick spoke at length about his brother's decline, explaining how Eric's behavior became more extreme over time. His brother's transformation from an outgoing, friendly young man to someone obsessed with violent fantasies was both unsettling and tragic. Matthew's testimony helped shed light on the dangerous obsession that took root in Eric's mind, which culminated in his fanatical pursuit of Taylor Swift. The chilling nature of Eric's threats highlights the ongoing challenges that celebrities face when dealing with stalkers and obsessive fans. Taylor Swift has been particularly vulnerable, as she has faced multiple stalking incidents throughout her career. In addition to the threats from Eric Swarbrick, Taylor has had to navigate harassment from other individuals as well. It underscores the broader issue of celebrity stalking , which has raised serious concerns about safety and personal security. Also Read: Is Travis Kelce nudging Taylor Swift toward a Kansas City move—Is it love or leverage? The documentary episode, titled Stalking the Stars, delves into the case in greater detail and examines the broader phenomenon of celebrity stalking. It is set to air on April 28 on Investigation Discovery and Max. The episode brings attention to the dark side of fame, where the lines between admiration and obsession can quickly blur, posing a serious threat to the well-being of public figures.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Justin Bieber subject of horrifying plot by convicted murderer who planned to kidnap, castrate and kill the star
A former corrections officer has recounted the terrifying plot in which a convicted murderer hoped to kidnap Justin Bieber before castrating and killing him. Jailed killer Dana Martin, who has a tattoo of the star on his leg, pled guilty to criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder after he recruited two men to kidnap the singer along with his bodyguard and two other victims. At the time of the foiled 2012 plan, Martin was an inmate at a prison in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was already serving two life sentences for the 2000 rape and murder DeAndra Florucci, who was just 15 when he ended her life. Sergeant Edgar Pinon recalled coming face to face with the twisted defendant in Investigation Discovery's upcoming Hollywood Demons episode Stalking the Stars. He revealed that Martin had a 'hit list' that included 18-year-old Justin, and how he roped in Mark Staake and Staake's nephew Tanner Ruane to help carry out the crime. 'One morning, he wanted to speak to me personally, in private,' Sergeant Pinon said. 'Right away, he started talking about his tattoo of Justin Bieber. And he went on and on about how he had tried making contact with Justin Bieber. 'He had arranged for two people to travel to the East Coast and he gave them a hit list.' Martin's two hit men, however, were caught by cops on November 19, 2012, when they attempted to cross into Vermont after taking the wrong road and ending up in Canada. 'Their vehicle was searched, and they were able to find shears and neckties,' Pinon explained. 'Those were the tools necessary to commit the crimes.' In a taped recording of his interrogation, Martin is heard saying: 'There's these people that I wanted to get killed. 'What we wanted to do for possible notoriety which was you know kidnapping him. The point of this whole thing was killing Justin Bieber.' The killer went on to add: 'I'm a nobody in prison. 'I want Justin Bieber to know who I am. It's crazy, isn't it?' Sergeant Pinon believes that Martin didn't really want Justin dead – and instead believes he wanted infamy. 'In my opinion, I don't think Dana wanted to murder Bieber because if he did, he can't get any more music from him, no more news on what's going on with him,' he said. 'My impression is that Dana wanted Justin Bieber to know who he was.' According to police, Martin hatched the grisly plot because he felt Justin had snubbed his efforts to contact him, having sent him handwritten letters. Dana Martin pled guilty to criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder. The other two men pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Staake and Ruane were allegedly poised to strike while the Canadian singer was in New York for a performance at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2012.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Obsessive' Miley Cyrus fan's chilling warning during arrest revealed in horrifying new documentary
's alleged stalker issued a chilling warning before he was arrested for attempting to get close to the singer – telling cops that 'no one will be able to keep us apart.' Mark McLeod was arrested twice in the summer of 2009 after trying to find the Hannah Montana star as she filmed The Last Song, prompting her to file a temporary restraining order against him. But he was never convicted of stalking her. The Party in the USA singer was just 16 at the time of the incident, whereas McLeod was 53. The latest episode of Investigation Discovery's Hollywood Demons series, Stalking the Stars, details the events that led up to him being apprehended. Miley, now 32, had been filming her movie The Last Song in Savannah, Georgia, when McLeod allegedly attempted to contact her on set, just weeks after he was arrested at the same site for trying to breach a security cordon. After his second arrest, McLeod told police that he was engaged to the teenage star. He also claimed she had accepted his marriage proposal 18 months ago and that her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, approved of their relationship. McLeod's sister Larilyn Adair shared details of her brother's infatuation and revealed the events of his second arrest. 'He went back in the middle of the night, he felt like she knew approximately where she might be staying,' she recalled. 'He was knocking on doors trying to find out where she was and somebody called security. 'He was arrested and this time he was charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, and stalking.' Culture Writer Scaachi Koul added: 'He tells the police that he has been watching Miley from the street. 'He's seen her on the balcony of his hotel, and he tells the police that no one will be able to keep them apart. 'Mark also promised the arresting officer that he would get an invitation to his and Miley's wedding.' Larilyn insisted that she didn't notice any 'red flags' in her brother until he revealed he wanted to marry Miley, some months before. 'Mark has always been into music,' she shared. 'He was in a fan base chatroom with someone he thought was Miley. 'And, somewhere along the line, he was really thinking he was talking to her, which we know he probably was not. It was an infatuation with her music and with her.' She continued: 'Mark was stubborn, and you couldn't change his mine. If he believed that was talking to him. So, he decided to go to a pawn shop, pawned his favorite guitar, got a ring and sent it in the mail. 'It alarmed me, but at that point I didn't realize the extent of his desire to be with her or try to get close to her.' Larilyn said that her brother's friends told her that he had followed Miley to several of her concerts. 'He stayed in his car and that he would go to campgrounds and take showers,' she said. But his infatuation grew when Miley glanced at him during one of her performances, prompting him to try and gain access to her tour bus. 'I believe there was a concert where she came close to the stage and was singing with her mic and looking at the people in the crowd,' she said. 'Mark was in the crowd, and she made eye contact with him. I'm sure that she was excited that she did that, so he decided to go and try get on the tour bus. 'They called security, and he was asked to leave. And then there was another concert where he tried to get on the tour bus again and he said that Billy Ray happened to walk by and he said, 'how are you doing man? I'm praying for you'.' As his obsession continued to grow, McLeod decided to follow Miley to her book signing in New York City. There, he was filmed by news reporters as he was first in line. 'I'm a little bit nervous,' he told reporters at the time. 'It's the first time I've ever been face to face with her.' His sister added: 'He goes into the book signing and proposes and he later to told me that she says: I'm flattered thank you so much for the flowers, and she signs his book, and he goes away.' Three months later, and McLeod followed Miley to the set of The Last Song, would later be arrested for stalking. McLeod pled guilty to resisting police outside the set of the film and prosecutors agreed to drop charges that he tried to stalk the teen pop star.
