The After Show: Stalking Samantha – 13 Years of Terror
Episode of 20/20 · June 15, 2026 · 24 min
Deborah Roberts and criminologist Casey Jordan discuss the Samantha Stites stalking and kidnapping case, stalker typologies, warning signs, and how victims can protect themselves.
Summary
In this 20/20 After Show episode, host Deborah Roberts spoke with criminologist and forensic psychologist Casey Jordan about the case of Samantha Stites, featured in the Hulu docuseries Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror. Stites met Christopher Thomas at church when she was 19; he pursued her for years, following her to school programs and later to Traverse City, Michigan, before breaking into her home, handcuffing her and holding her in a soundproof bunker for nearly a day. Roberts cited CDC data that roughly one in five women and one in ten men have been stalked.
Jordan described stalking as driven by fixation, obsession and pursuit of unwanted contact, and argued that women's socialization toward kindness can fuel certain stalkers. She explained that Stites obtained an unusually long six-year order of protection, which Thomas obeyed before resuming contact after it expired. Jordan outlined three stalker typologies—the incompetent suitor, the intimacy seeker and the predatory stalker—and argued that all stalking is violence, with psychological harm sometimes worse than the fear of physical attack.
Jordan said anti-stalking laws vary widely by state, are often vague and outdated regarding cyberstalking, and that the criminal justice system remains too male-dominated. Her main advice was to document everything, involve friends as witnesses, contact law enforcement early, and use resources such as the Stalking Prevention Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), RAINN, domestic violence hotlines and local empowerment centers.
Chapters
- 0:34
Introducing the Samantha Stites case
Roberts introduces the docuseries, stalking statistics from the CDC, and guest Casey Jordan.
- 2:14
How stalking starts and escalates
Jordan explains unwanted contact, the role of kindness, and why this case is classic yet extreme.
- 4:45
Meeting at church and the incompetent suitor
The pair discuss how Stites and Christopher Thomas met and the age and power dynamics involved.
- 5:55
Orders of protection
Jordan explains how Stites obtained a six-year order of protection and the limits of such orders.
- 8:24
Legal definitions of stalking
Jordan describes varying state anti-stalking laws and gaps around cyberstalking.
- 9:51
Renewed pursuit and the kidnapping
Roberts recounts Thomas following Stites to Traverse City and abducting her into a bunker.
- 13:53
Stalker typologies and violence
Jordan outlines three stalker types and argues that all stalking is violence.
- 15:57
The legal system's response
Jordan says the system has improved but remains male-dominated and that intervention is needed.
- 18:22
Red flags and documentation
Jordan lists warning signs and urges victims to tell friends, record everything and keep time-stamped evidence.
- 22:12
Resources for victims
Jordan recommends SPARC, RAINN, domestic violence hotlines and local victim advocates.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Casey Jordan
Jordan argues that women's socialized kindness can empower certain stalkers.
“you're kind. And kindness for certain stalkers throws fuel on the fire. It gives them even more power”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan says stalking is driven by fixation, obsession and the pursuit of unwanted contact.
“stalking is driven by three important things. You've got a fixation, an obsession, and the pursuit of unwanted contact”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan says Thomas began as an 'incompetent suitor' who did not see the age gap with Stites as significant.
“He started out as what we would call an incompetent suitor. Now, she was just 19, and he was about 27 when they met”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan warns that orders of protection offer limited protection because a violation can come too late.
“Orders of protection, we often say, aren't worth the paper they're written on, because by the time somebody violates the order of protection, you could be dead”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan notes that the judge granted Stites an unusually long six-year order of protection because he believed her documentation.
“the judge was so convinced in this particular case that he gave her an order of protection for six years, which is an incredibly long time”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan says state anti-stalking laws differ greatly, are often vague, and many are outdated regarding cyberstalking.
“all 50 states have some version of anti-stalking laws but they are dramatically different and sometimes they are very vague and open to interpretation”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan describes the predatory stalker as the most dangerous type, capable of abduction and murder.
“Predatory stalkers are the ones that will escalate into a physical confrontation, including abduction, kidnapping, even murder”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan argues that all stalking is violence and its psychological harm can exceed the fear of physical attack.
“The psychological and emotional violence of the stalking behavior can be even worse than the fear of physical attack”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan contends that although things have improved, the criminal justice system remains too male-dominated to fully empathize with stalking victims.
“the biggest problem, I would argue, is that the criminal justice system is still extremely male dominated”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan advises victims to tell friends and rebuff stalkers in front of witnesses, saying public humiliation can burst the stalker's bubble.
“You're afraid to humiliate them, but that humiliation very often can burst the bubble”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan's primary advice to stalking victims is to involve law enforcement early and document all evidence.
“the number one piece of advice I will give to anybody who's being stalked is document, document, document, evidence, evidence, evidence”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan recounts wearing GoPro cameras on a backpack when she feared a former student was stalking her.
“when I was afraid of one of my former students stalking me, I would wear everywhere I went, shopping, to the grocery store, whatever, a backpack”
Linked moment · 21:48Skip to 21:48 using a listen link in the info box.
Casey JordanJordan recommends cyberstalking victims screenshot contacts and send them to a dedicated email account, CCing a trusted friend, for time-stamped records.
“every time this person makes contact with you, send yourself an email and CC a trusted friend who will also have access to that account”
- Casey Jordan
Jordan calls SPARC the best online resource for stalking victims, offering education, advocacy and referrals.
“The very best online resource is called SPARC, S-P-A-R-C, and it stands for the Stalking Prevention Awareness Resource Center”
Listen from 22:21 · Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center
- Casey Jordan
Jordan argues that stalking qualifies as domestic violence even without physical attack because it is psychological violence.
“But it is domestic violence when somebody is stalking you because it's psychological violence”
People
In the conversation
- Deborah RobertsABC News correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor who conducted the episode's interviews
- Casey JordanCriminologist, forensic psychologist and host of the podcast Criminal Appeal
Discussed
- Samantha StitesMichigan social worker who was stalked for years and kidnapped by Christopher Thomas
- Christopher ThomasMan found guilty of stalking and kidnapping Samantha Stites
Topics
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From the publisher
Deborah Roberts sat with criminologist Casey Jordan to unpack the harrowing story of Samantha Stites, who was chained in a soundproof box by a man who was found guilty of stalking her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.