Naman Shrestha
In ABC’s ‘Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror,’ the primary focus is on the obsessive stalking of Samantha Stites carried out by Christopher Thomas for more than a decade. The three-part documentary series explores the traumatic experiences of Samantha, who was abducted by Christopher in 2022. Featuring in the docuseries, she gives her firsthand account of everything that she went through, including the time she spent several hours inside a confined space. The documentary series also features Samantha’s loved ones, who talk about their version of events.
Samantha Stites Was Abducted From Her House After Over a Decade of Stalking
In 2011, Samantha Stites first crossed paths with her senior, Christopher Thomas, at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He reportedly bombarded her with text messages asking her out on dates on multiple occasions. When things got out of hand, she applied for a Personal Protection Order (PPO). Right after the expiration of the PPO in 2020, Christopher started following her everywhere, including her soccer games, the grocery store, and bars. When she applied for another PPO, it was denied. In the fall of 2022, he abducted her from her house in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and kept her hostage at a custom-built torture chamber inside his remote storage unit.
Samantha reportedly got locked inside for nearly 13 hours and was only let go in exchange for having sex with Christopher, her captor, who was later arrested for kidnapping, torture, and aggravated stalking. A couple of years later, in 2024, he stood trial for his crimes. During his sentencing hearing, Samantha gave a detailed victim impact statement. She stated, “So much of the focus has been on these awful things that he did, and you know, the charges against him were horrific, and what he did was horrific. Standing here today, I don’t know that a lot of people would be in my position, and I really think it comes down to luck and the Lord and I feel very fortunate to have used my education and the skills that I had to navigate that time that he had me chained to the wall.”
Samantha is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Advocate For Abuse Survivors Today
Having an innate passion for social work, Samantha Stites majored in the same at Grand Valley State University. After graduation, she enrolled in the University of Kansas, where she pursued a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. For the first four years of her professional career, she worked as a server at Riverwalk Grill. In October 2011, Samantha began working as a part-time Office Assistant at Kirkhof College of Nursing. Meanwhile, she was also employed at Right Tree Summer Adventures as a Youth Counselor. For a few months, she also interned as a Volunteer & Screening Coordinator at North End Community Ministry. Another part-time job of hers was at Rye Leawood as a Server & Trainer. For about a year between 2018 and 2019, she also interned at Resolve – Counseling & Wellness as a Master’s Level Therapist.
After a short stint at The Salvation Army as the Case Manager – PRN, she became associated with Bethany Christian Services, where she was employed as a Foster Care Licensing Specialist. Since 2020, Samantha has been working at Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, first as a care coordinator and now as a social worker. She also established Beekeepers Advocacy, which is focused on the protection of victims of abduction, domestic violence, and stalking. Through her organization, she advocates for policy change and improving the education for social workers. Samantha also regularly speaks about her personal experiences of surviving a traumatic kidnapping to survivor groups, panels, and the general public.
Samantha Stites Draws Strength From Her Loving Family and Friends
While Christopher Thomas is serving his time behind bars, Samantha Stites continues to grapple with the psychological trauma of the harrowing ordeal he put her through for over a decade. Yet, the Elk Rapids, Michigan, native has come a long way. She has not let it dampen her spirit and has channeled her strength into building a future on her own terms. Through determination and resilience, the Grand Valley State University graduate has embraced the new chapter of her life and is totally focused on growth and healing. However, she is not alone in this journey, as she is surrounded by the unwavering support and love of her family and friends every step of the way.
Samantha is grateful for the encouragement and support from her people, who continue to lift her up when the weight of her past feels heavy. From what we can tell, she is the closest with her girlfriends, Chari Hayden and Robin Trierweiler, who have stood beside each other through life’s many ups and downs. In fact, the trio celebrated the union of Chari with the love of her life at her wedding in August 2025. Furthermore, Samantha also can’t do without the comforting cuddle sessions with her furry companion of nearly 17 years, Murphy. Alongside being a dog mom, she is also a doting cat mother to Mara.
Samantha is an athletic individual who is passionate about several sports, such as soccer and basketball. To satiate her adrenaline rush, she often embarks on backpacking adventures, hiking trips, or skiing with Murphy or her friends. In her downtime, the resident of Traverse City, Michigan, enjoys hanging out with her friends, catching up on life updates, or simply sharing comfortable silences with each other. Family is an integral part of Samantha’s world, and she makes sure to take time out of her busy schedule, especially during the holidays, to spend some quality time with her family. While some days are still tougher than the rest, Samantha is confident that she will get through with the steadfast spirit of her loved ones.
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