EVA LARUE

Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress Eva LaRue endured a harrowing 12-year ordeal of stalking that profoundly affected every aspect of her and her daughter’s lives. Her stalker subjected her to relentless harassment, sending depraved, threatening, and obsessive letters not only to LaRue but also to her loved ones. The campaign of terror began in 2002, as she rose to stardom on CSI: Miami.

Although the stalker served three years in jail and is now on probation with a restraining order, LaRue and her daughter continue to live under the shadow of constant vigilance and fear. The Paramount+ documentary, My Nightmare Stalker, explores the devastating mental abuse inflicted from afar.

Throughout her ordeal, LaRue faced the frustrating reality that stalking is often a “crimeless crime.” Law enforcement, constrained by legal limitations, could do little until a physical crime occurred—even as the emotional and psychological toll on LaRue and her family mounted. She lived with the knowledge that stalking frequently escalates to more serious crimes, forcing public figures like her to take extraordinary precautions: mapping police stations, checking around and under the car daily, and teaching her daughter to be perpetually cautious.

“I remember once when Eva and I were talking on the couch, and the doorbell rang. Kaya, who was about seven, ran to answer it, and Eva quickly followed, unsure who was there. After the neighbor left, Eva was distraught, and Kaya didn’t understand why. That was the first time I really saw her fear. I had been the one forwarding the awful letters, but I hadn’t felt her fear myself. In that moment, I realized how dangerous things could have been, and for the first time, I truly understood what she was going through.” – Anthony Turk, longtime publicist and friend

The trauma was not only emotional but also physical. LaRue experienced hair loss, developed severe anxiety, and suffered health complications as a result of relentless psychological stress. Her daughter lost much of her childhood to fear, and their daily lives were shaped by routines designed for survival. The stalker’s identity remained uncertain, keeping LaRue and her team on edge. LaRue recalls, “At one point, we thought it was the landscaper or the neighbor. We had no name or face to this entity.”

LaRue’s faith was a significant tool in helping her cope, guiding her through dark moments and allowing her to find gratitude and joy despite the constant threat. She leaned on her Baha’i beliefs, seeking spiritual tools and guidance to protect herself and her daughter, Kaya.

Even after the stalker’s imprisonment, the fear persisted. LaRue describes her reality as a “life of vigilance,” acknowledging that while her stalker’s jail time was finite, the impact on her family is lifelong. Her story underscores the urgent need for stronger anti-stalking laws, better victim support, and greater societal awareness of the seriousness of stalking.

Practical advice also proved essential: LaRue learned to purchase homes under an LLC for privacy, to document everything, and to seek support from organizations like SPARC, which trains first responders and provides resources for victims. LaRue hopes to amplify awareness of the severity of stalking and its connection to mental health issues.

Despite everything, LaRue and her daughter have rebuilt their lives, emerging stronger and more resilient. By sharing her experience, she hopes to help others—reminding them that they are not alone, that their instincts are valid, and that survival and healing are possible, even in the long shadow of trauma.

You can watch the two-part documentary on Paramount+.

If you or someone you know is being stalked, please head to www.stalkingawareness.org