Kylie Bearse, a meteorologist at FOX 31 in Denver, has been subjected to a distressing three-year stalking ordeal, forcing her to move following a recent incident where a 69-year-old man, who has repeatedly violated restraining orders, appeared at her home. Bearse, 36, has found herself in a nightmare scenario after the stalker re-emerged in September, allegedly following her home from work and attempting to ring her doorbell.
Bearse filed a temporary restraining order against the man in September 2023, claiming he had violated previous orders over 50 times. She had previously secured a permanent restraining order in January 2023 after enduring six months of alleged harassment. Following a lengthy silence of 18 months, the situation escalated again when the stalker trapped her in her garage, prompting her to escape through the back door with her dog and call the police.
When law enforcement arrived, the man was still present in his truck outside her residence and was arrested on charges of felony stalking. However, those charges were later reduced to a misdemeanor for violating a protection order, and he was released on a $1,500 bond shortly after his arrest. Bearse expressed her deep concern over the legal system’s handling of the case, noting that she feels unprotected and unsafe after his release.
The emotional toll of the situation has been severe for Bearse, who described a complete shift in her sense of safety. In a heartfelt social media video, she highlighted the inadequacies of the legal response to her situation, pointing out that the prosecutor deemed the situation did not classify as felony stalking due to the time elapsed since the last contact.
Bearse emphasized that the definition of “repeated” under Colorado law lacks a definitive timeline, and she believes her stalker’s ongoing behavior warranted more serious legal repercussions. She hopes sharing her story will raise awareness about stalking and the system’s failures, aiming to ensure that no other woman has to endure the fear and uncertainty she has experienced.
Highlighting the need for legal reform, Bearse has called on lawmakers to take stalking crimes seriously and emphasized the dangers posed to others if changes are not made. Her courageous stand serves to shed light on this critical issue, advocating for a safer environment for all women.