Daniel Christopher Pray, a former janitor at Century College in Minnesota, plead guilty to stalking and making terroristic threats to several former co-workers. While awaiting sentencing, Pray was released on $100,000 bail. The kicker–he homeless! Someone explain to me how a “homeless” man is able to get that much cash; and why would any judge release this a stalker, who made homicidal threats against his victims, on bail KNOWING that homeless offenders are very hard to monitor (Pray should have at least been put on electronic monitoring).. Since losing his job at Century, Pray has no ties to the community and his anger has probably escalated. Pray clearly is a danger, and never should have been released. I sincerely hope the victims (and their families) are getting help, and making a safety plan.
The criminal complaints charge Pray with leave two threatening voice mail messages to two Century employees last spring. Pray went on to threaten and harass another two employees. The voice messages included threatening to shoot and harm a victim and her family members. Pray is suspected of throwing a cup at another employee’s vehicle and leaving food in her mailbox. Pray threw eggs at one victim’s home, and threw food at another victim’s home. Pray was also spotted roaming around Lakeview Cemetary (across the street from Century College…I would have security patrol the semi wooded cemetary and grounds to see if he is living there, or continuing to stalk his victims).
Pray was charged last May with making therrorist threats and plead guilty on those charges in August 2011. Pray was again arrested at Century on Sept. 20th, 2011 and admitted to making threatening phone calls to stab the primary victim.
Stalking, Harassment and Terrorist Threats are a serious crime that causes a great amount of fear, stress and harm to the victim.
To give you a small idea of what the victims may be experiencing:
-Fear,
-Anxiety/Anxiety Attacks,
-Depression,
-Hypervigilance (on constant alert, startling at small sounds, racing heart, etc),
-Withdrawl/Isolation from normal activities(afraid to leave their home, afraid to return to work, afraid to be alone, fear of not knowing what will happen next, fear stalker is still after them, etc),
-Nightmares
-Reliving these horrible events in vivid flashbacks.
Stalking leaves a devastating emotional/psychological toll on the victim that continues long after the stalking ends (if it does). These are REAL threats and should not be taken lightly! Studies show that convicted stalkers re-offend at an alarming rate of 80%.
Some Facts on Stalking:
* More than 1 million women and almost 400,000 men are stalked every year in the U.S.
* 76% of female murder victims had been stalked. 67% had been physically abused by their intimate partner.
* 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner. 31% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also sexually assaulted by that partner.
* Half of all victims reported their stalking to the police. About one- quarter of the women obtained a restraining order–a far greater proportion than men. Eighty percent of all restraining orders were violated by the assailant. About 24 percent of female victims who reported stalking to the police (compared to 19 percent of male victims) said their cases were prosecuted. Of the cases where criminal charges were filed, 54 percent resulted in a conviction. About 63 percent of convictions resulted in jail time
Source: “Ex-Century College janitor charged with stalking, threats” by Kristine Goodrich. White Bear/Vadnais Heights Press, Wednesday Nov. 9, 2011. Page 3A. www.presspubs.com
AARVARC Stalking Statistics: http://www.aardvarc.org/stalking/statistics.shtml
Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project- Click on this link to download a log to document stalking incidents, for information on how professionals can be educated about stalking and victim response, safety planning and resouces:http://www.bwlap.org/stalking
Stalking Resource Center (Program of National Center for Victims of Crime). Includes support for victims, facts about stalking and resources:http://www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_statistics195
Stalking Victimes Sanctuary (Support, Survival Tips, Coping Tips, Resources and More):
http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm
