Man sentenced to five years in Federal Prison for years of stalking and threatening Indiana couple
Patrick Kearney, 41, of Glenview, Illinois, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of stalking, one count of transmitting threats via interstate commerce, and two counts of making harassing telephone calls. According to court documents, beginning in September of 2019, and continuing through October 4, 2022, Patrick Kearney engaged in a targeted campaign of stalking, intimidation, and harassment directed towards Victims 1 and 2.
Kearney met Victim 1 in the early 2000s, when they both attended the same university. Kearney pursued a relationship with Victim 1 by trying to walk with her after class, meeting her at her dorm, calling the dorm phone, and leaving mail at her dorm mailbox. Victim 1 did not reciprocate interest in a relationship with Kearney. Victim 1 graduated from college, married her husband, Victim 2, and had not seen Kearney since.
In September of 2019, Kearney began sending Victim 1 anonymous handwritten letters to her home in Indiana, mostly stating that Victim 1 should have died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The letters typically included pictures or drawings of the World Trade Center burning. Kearney sent approximately 23 handwritten letters to Victim 1 between September of 2019 and September of 2022, all including similar abusive language and most referencing September 11, 2001. In addition to sending letters, Kearney also began repeatedly calling Victim 1’s cell phone at all hours, leaving threatening voicemails and using different phone numbers to avoid being blocked.
On February 22, 2022, Kearney mailed a package from Arizona to Victim 1’s home. The package contained Raid roach bait and a handwritten note stating, “Here is some poison for you and give the rest to your idiot boyfriend!”
On May 16, 2022, Kearney mailed Victims 1 and 2 a package from Arizona that contained Combat cockroach poison. The package included a note stating that the couple should eat the poison.
On July 11, 2022, at approximately 5:04 am, Kearney called Victim 2 and left a voicemail threatening that “you and her (Victim 1) should be shot in the f****** head.”
As the victims were planning their wedding in 2022, they created a website that included wedding registry information. Kearney began leaving voicemails for Victims 1 and 2 impersonating customer service representatives from Crate & Barrel and Target and threatened to show up at the wedding and ruin it.
Between October of 2019 and September of 2022, Kearney placed approximately 357 phone calls to Victim 1’s cell phone and left over 120 voicemails. Between May of 2022 and August of 2022, Kearney placed approximately 47 phone calls to Victim 2’s cell phone and left at least 35 voicemails.
“This serious federal prison sentence is an appropriate consequence for the defendant’s years’ long campaign of cruel threats and harassment. He chose to terrorize an innocent couple and rob them of safety and peace—driven by his toxic mix of entitlement and resentment,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
Opening Soon: United Way Free Community Tax Services Sites in Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties
Tax season is nearly here and United Way of South Central Indiana, along with community partners, will be hosting free in-person and online tax preparation as part of their 2024 Free Community Tax Service.
Starting Monday, January 29th, IRS-certified volunteers will serve clients at nine in-person sites in Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties. Hoosiers making less than $60,000 annually can receive help filing their federal and Indiana state tax returns for free. In-person sites are currently accepting appointments.
Tax preparation is provided free of charge and volunteers work one-on-one with community members to ensure they receive 100% of their refund, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if eligible. Additionally, area residents with a combined Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $79,000 or less can file online for free from the comfort of their homes or anywhere with an internet connection.
Visit www.unitedwaysci.org/FreeTaxes for information regarding both in-person and online tax preparation options.
In the 2023 tax season, the Free Community Tax Service program brought together 54 volunteers to help local residents file 865 federal returns, saving clients as much as $395,305 in tax preparation fees and bringing back more than $980,004 in refunds and credits. United Way managed 7 full-service tax sites, and AARP managed 2 sites. Clients reported using those funds and the $172,562 in EITC to pay for food, clothing, bills, and rent, and to put toward savings. Working families received $209,308 in child tax credits. The Free Community Tax Service helps many seniors in our community, who make up approximately 67% of the clientele.
Attorney General’s Office warns Hoosier families of recent cyber kidnapping schemes
After recent, heartbreaking cyber kidnapping stories have surfaced in the U.S., Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita pushes regular Hoosier families to beware of false ransom threats.
Cyber kidnapping occurs when victims are tricked into paying a ransom fee to free a loved one who they believe has been threatened with violence or death. In reality, cyber kidnappers have not actually kidnapped anyone, but they have instead obtained a photo of the alleged person alone in a secluded area.
The worrisome photos are used to create the illusion that an individual has been kidnapped and needs immediate aid. After the family members or friends receive this information, they are asked to wire ransom money immediately. According to the FBI, these cases are extremely difficult to investigate since the calls typically come from outside of the country. This crime often occurs when family members are unable to track the location of the person, contact them, or verify their safety.
“Do not hesitate to contact our office if you suspect or witness this type of crime,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Our Consumer Protection Division is dedicated to helping Hoosiers when they’re faced with these devastating situations. When your loved one is being threatened, it is your natural instinct to jump to their aid, but we also need to be informed of the newest scams.”
The AG suggests the following:
- Beware of incoming calls coming from an outside area code, sometimes from Puerto Rico with area codes (787), (939) and (856).
- Beware of calls that do not come from the alleged kidnapped victim’s phone.
- Beware of callers who go to great lengths to keep you on the phone.
- Beware of callers who prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim.
- Beware of ransom money that is only accepted via wire transfer service.
If you receive a phone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a kidnapped victim, the following should be considered:
- Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
- If the callers don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or describe the vehicle the victim drives, if applicable.
- Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if he/she speaks.
- Attempt to call, text, or contact the alleged victim via social media. Request that the victim call back from his or her cell phone.
- While staying on the line with the alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone.
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need additional time to meet their demands.
- Don’t directly challenge or argue with the caller. Keep your voice low and steady.
- Request the alleged kidnapper allow the victim to call you back from his/her cell phone.
- At the earliest opportunity, notify your local police department.
For more information, visit indianaconsumer.com or call (800) 382-5516.
Applications open for the IAC Arts Project Support Grant program
Arts Project Support, a core grant program of the Indiana Arts Commission, provides funding to 501c3 nonprofits, units of government, and schools to support arts projects that occur during the grant period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Some examples of eligible projects include a one-time art event, a single performance, an exhibition, an educational workshop, or series of related arts activities such as art classes or training sessions that are open to the public whether free or for a fee. The purpose of the program is to provide broad access to arts opportunities throughout the state.
Applicants may request up to $4,000 to support their project, and there is no match requirement. Applications are due March 7, 2024. Learn more about Arts Project Support grants.
This Week in Hoosier History
1978 – The state was paralyzed by a snowstorm that became known as the “Blizzard of ’78.” Winds gusted to 55 mph with snow depths of 20 inches. It is often cited as one of the most severe blizzards in US history. The third lowest non-tropical atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the mainland United States occurred as the storm passed over Mount Clemens, Michigan, where barometer readings fell to 956.0 mb (28.23 inHg) on January 26.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson