Kylie Bearse, a meteorologist at Denver’s KDVR Fox 31, says she’s living in fear after being stalked for years by a man who has repeatedly violated court orders meant to protect her.

A Chilling Pattern of Harassment

In a recent interview with NewsNation’s Banfield, Bearse described a chilling pattern of harassment that has spanned three years — including an encounter last month in which the 69-year-old suspect allegedly followed her home from work and blocked her inside her own garage. “The moment I saw him, when I realized it was him blocking me in, my stomach just dropped,” Bearse said. “I remember thinking, if he has a weapon, you need to get down as fast as you can.” She said she managed to close the garage door and run inside before he began ringing the doorbell.

Her Stalker Is Walking Free

The suspect, whose name has not been released publicly, was later arrested but charged only with a misdemeanor. Bearse says he was released after posting $1,500 bail — a decision that left her terrified and frustrated. “He’s violated restraining orders fifty-three times in two months,” Bearse told Banfield. “And he’s walking free. I did everything right, assuming the system was there to protect me. It’s disheartening when it doesn’t work.”

He’s Still Following Her

Despite those legal protections, Bearse says her alleged stalker continues to show up near her workplace and home. Under the terms of his release, he now wears an ankle monitor that’s supposed to alert authorities if he comes within a certain distance. But Bearse says that gives her little peace of mind. “You only get a heads-up a couple of minutes before,” she said. “If this person wanted to be violent, they could do so in that time.”

Bearse’s Story Is Unfortunately Not Rare

Experts say Bearse’s story reflects a troubling gap in how stalking cases are handled, even when victims do everything they’re supposed to do — document incidents, report violations, and seek restraining orders. Many offenders face only minor penalties unless they commit an overt act of violence. For Bearse, the experience has also exposed how public-facing jobs can make women especially vulnerable. As a local TV meteorologist, her name, appearance, and work schedule are easy to find online. Viewers know where she works and often, when she’s on the air. That visibility, she said, has made it impossible to disappear or feel safe.

Bearse Wants To Be Safe, And She Wants Accountability

In her original Instagram post, Bearse said she came forward because she wanted to “raise awareness about the gaps in our legal system” and to encourage other victims of stalking to seek help. “I’ve had to accept that there’s no perfect safety,” she wrote. “But there should be accountability. There should be laws that actually protect us.” Police in Denver have not released details about the ongoing investigation. Bearse continues to work on air — though, as she said, never without looking over her shoulder.