The convicted stalker who has struck fear into the hearts of celebrities Madonna and Hallie Berry has been arrested and returned to the medical facility from which he had escaped. While that risky situation has evolved in Southern California in recent days, stalkers have been arrested in Wichita Falls, Texas and successfully prosecuted by the Wichita County District Attorney's Office.
Robert Hoskins, who was convicted of stalking Madonna after a jury trial in 1996, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison. But he's back.
Supposedly safely ensconced in a medical facility he escaped and headed for Madonna and Hallie Berry.
Those who are victims of stalkers in Wichita Falls may call the District Attorney's Office at 940-766-8113 to request either help or advice.
Maureen Shelton is District Attorney and has led vigorous prosecution of stalkers and rapists during her term as head of the office.
One of the things that makes stalkers so dangerous is their persistence. In the case of Hoskins, a 10-year prison sentence has not deterred his determination to get to Madonna and now also actress Hallie Berry.
Ms. Berry is so concerned she recently requested permission from a judge to allow her to move to France with her child. She is separated from the child's father.
Madonna has done everything a stalking victim can do by testifying against him in court before the jury which convicted him. She reportedly was reluctant to testify against him because it required her to be in the same courtroom with him. In this latest episode he was arrested in Long Beach, California.
Hoskins had told people he would either marry the singer or slash her throat from ear to ear.
During his tiral she said she suffered nightmares about him chasing her.
After he competed his 10-year prison sentence he had a run-in with police which led him to being placed in the Metropolitan State Hospital.
Hoskins, 54, more recently threatened to slit Hallie Berry's throat.
Prior to his original arrest in 1995, Hoskins repeatedly trespassed on her property in efforts to contact her. He once came to within 10 feet of the pop star only to be turned away.
Eight months after he was arrested he went to trial.
He maintained his obsession while serving his prison sentence.
Stalkers are frequently dangerous, according to experts. They can commit serious bodily injury or even murder.
People who are victims of stalkers should contact experts for advice on how to handle them.
90% of stalkers are men. The movie "Fatal Attraction" which starred Michael Douglas and Glenn Close was about a woman stalker. Ms. Close portrayed a woman obcessed with Douglas's character. The movie was very disturbing and opened the eyes of many people to the dangers stalking victims face. In the movie, Douglas had a brief extra marital relationship with Ms. Close's character. But, in many cases the victims of stalkers don't even know their stalkers.
Stalking is often used by perpetrators of domestic violence to keep their partners under control.
The Justice Department estimated one and a half million people are victims of stalkers every year.
Stalker Mark Chapman murdered John Lennon making the point that stalkers are not always members of the opposite sex than their victims.
The stalker of Peggy Lennon(one of the Lennon sisters who sang on the Lawrence Welk Show) hunted down and killed her father.
The concern about stalkers is that even after they complete a prison sentence, they may still be obsessed with their victims and still stalk them.
Readers who believe they are in imminent danger from a stalker should dial 9-1-1 for immediate response from law enforcement.
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