Molly McLaren, a 23-year-old woman, died after being brutally stabbed 75 times by her ex-boyfriend Joshua Stimpson, following a stalking campaign. Molly, who was described as ‘beautiful and intelligent’, had her whole life ahead of her before matching with Stimpson on Tinder, which led to a series of horrific events culminating in her tragic death. Her story is now the subject of a Channel 5 documentary series called Stalked: Murder In Slow Motion.
After matching on Tinder, Molly and Stimpson entered into a relationship. However, things took a dark turn as Stimpson began exhibiting controlling behavior which caused strain in their relationship. Molly described him as ‘childish’ and said she felt like she was ‘constantly treading on eggshells’ around him. When Molly broke up with him during a night out, Stimpson’s behavior became aggressive and he started posting insulting messages on Facebook, causing distress to Molly and her friends. She reported the abuse to the police, but Stimpson continued his harassment through WhatsApp which left Molly terrified for her safety.
Despite blocking Stimpson from her social media accounts, Molly was unaware that he had recruited another girl to spy on her every move and report back to him. Stimpson then carried out a chilling stalking campaign, showing up at places where Molly was and posing a threat to her safety. Despite her friends warning her to stay away from him, Molly was caught off guard when Stimpson followed her to the gym and brutally attacked her in a frenzied stabbing, resulting in her tragic death.
During the attack, a brave dog walker tried to intervene, but Stimpson showed no signs of stopping. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years. Molly’s family started a charity in her name, The Molly McLaren Foundation, to raise awareness about online stalking. They highlighted the need for more resources and support for victims of stalking and praised the efforts of those who tried to help Molly during the attack. Stimpson’s cruel and calculated act of violence was condemned by the judge, who highlighted the danger he poses to other women in the future.
The tragic case of Molly McLaren sheds light on the devastating impact of stalking and intimate partner violence. Despite seeking help from the authorities and taking precautions to protect herself, Molly fell victim to a premeditated and violent attack by her ex-boyfriend. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of taking stalking and abusive behavior seriously and the need for better protection and support for victims. The documentary series detailing her story aims to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
