In a harrowing case that mirrors the plot of a psychological thriller, American woman Samantha Stites has revealed the terrifying details of her 13-year ordeal at the hands of a relentless stalker, Christopher Thomas. Her story is now the subject of a new documentary titled Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror, available on Disney+ and Hulu.
It all began in 2011, when Samantha, then a university student in Michigan, met Thomas through a Christian youth group. After she rejected his advances, Thomas’s behaviour escalated into obsessive stalking. He began following her in public, planted a GPS tracker on her car, and sent unwanted gifts to her workplace.
Despite obtaining a six-year restraining order in 2014, the harassment resumed as soon as it expired in 2020. Thomas intensified his efforts, joining Samantha’s gym and even her football league. Unknown to her, he was secretly building a soundproof bunker, inspired by the Netflix series You.
In 2022, Thomas enacted his disturbing plan. He broke into Samantha’s home, kidnapped her, and held her captive in the bunker for 13 hours. Fearing for her life, Samantha used her training as a social worker to engage him in dialogue, ultimately convincing him to let her go. However, he released her only after subjecting her to sexual assault and extracting a promise that she would not contact the authorities.
Defying his threats, Samantha immediately sought medical attention and worked with police to locate the bunker. With overwhelming evidence, Thomas was arrested and in December 2023, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping, torture, and aggravated stalking. He was sentenced to between 40 and 60 years in prison.
Now 30, Samantha has chosen to share her experience publicly to raise awareness about the dangers of stalking and the importance of taking early threats seriously. Her story serves as a chilling reminder of how obsession can escalate into violence, and how resilience and presence of mind can be key to survival.
