The Onset of Stalking

• 💡 Samantha Stites was stalked for 13 years by Christopher Thomas, an acquaintance she met at a Christian organization.
• 📌 The stalking began subtly with a rose on her car, escalating to Thomas admitting he had followed her home to know her internship location.
• 💬 Despite Samantha politely declining his advances and blocking him, Thomas continued to pursue her, showing up at her work, gym, and grocery store.

Escalation and Failed Protection

• 📈 Thomas's stalking extended to tracking her friends' cars to monitor her movements, though he claimed it was to find her.
• ⚖️ Samantha obtained a personal protection order (PO), but after it expired and she moved, a second ex parte order was denied, making her fear a court appearance with him.
• ⚠️ She chose not to pursue the second PO, concerned that angering him further could increase her danger.

Kidnapping and Imprisonment

• 🏠 Christopher Thomas kidnapped Samantha from her home on a Friday morning, binding her and placing a ball gag in her mouth.
• ⛓️ He drove her to a soundproof storage unit he had constructed, where he chained her to the wall and revealed his plan to keep her for two weeks before disposing of her body.
• 🧠 Samantha, a therapist and social worker, maintained a calm demeanor and used her professional skills to assess the situation and plan her escape.

Survival Through Negotiation

• 🗣️ Recognizing her mind was her only tool, Samantha employed psychological tactics and motivational interviewing to engage Thomas.
• ✅ She negotiated her release by promising not to report him and to be his friend, leveraging his fear of going to jail.
• 🚗 After he released her at her car, Samantha immediately contacted a coworker/neighbor (a nurse) to get to a hospital for a SANE kit and report the crime, avoiding direct police contact due to fear of being tracked.

Aftermath and Advocacy

• 🚨 Thomas was arrested, initially lying about the events, but eventually took a plea deal, admitting his actions caused severe mental pain.
• 🎗️ Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Samantha emphasizes the importance of therapy and making a "new normal" after such trauma.
• 🎤 She now speaks out to give a voice to victims, encourage reporting, and help prevent similar crimes, advising others to seek help from therapists and legal counsel.