Tacoma Teacher Gunned Down In Cold Blood By Obsessed Stalker

Jennifer Paulson had taken several legal steps to stop Jed Waits from stalking and harming her. But, the court order couldn’t stop Waits from hunting her down this morning and taking her life.

Paulson filed a Protection order in Pierce County District Court in September 2008. The legal document was supposed to keep Waits from contacting or coming within a thousand feet of her.
Jenny Wieland Ward who is the Executive Director for Families & Friends Of Missing Persons & Violent Crime Victims says Waits was obsessed with Paulson.
“Sounds like he was lying in waiting and just came out of nowhere and there was no time to do anything,” said Wieland Ward.

Waits was arrested last week for violating the protection order by following Paulson but posted bail and was released from jail on Monday.

Jenny Wieland Ward says a restraining order can only do so much to protect victims.

“When someone is really evil and obsessed that they are bent on harming someone and somehow they're able to do it,” said Wieland Ward.

In the protection order Paulson says:

"About once a year he would call me about 10-15 times in a day. I would not return his calls until a few days later when I thought he was in a better state."

According to the harassment order Waits was stalking Paulson at work.

"Jed is parked across the street from the school I teach at. I get out of my car. He remains in his car and watches me."

"I never told him where I work and do not know how he found out. I suspect he searched the school district website."

The infatuation turned much more serious when Waits walked into Birney Elementary in Tacoma.

"Jed walks into my school to see me and past the office. The secretary stops him. He wants to see me."

Instead of victims going into hiding Wieland Ward says it’s up to lawmakers to strengthen protection orders to stop the violence.

“The only way to change the system is by changing the laws,” said Wieland Ward.

According to the protection order Waits was not allowed to call, email, or send gifts to the 30 year old Paulson. Paulson’s family even tried to get the former National Guardsman to leave their daughter alone.

"My Dad calls him and talks to him saying that he must stay away."

Then, early this morning in the school parking lot cops says Waits gunned down Paulson.

Jenny Wieland Ward says stalking victims can increase their safety by joining the State’s Address Confidentiality Program to keep their work and home address secret. Keep a stalker log to show cops when and where you’re being followed. Have a safety bag with cash, extra keys, cell-phone, and your car full of gas. Finally, give pictures of the stalker to neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers so they can watch for them.

Victim Advocates like Wieland Ward say Paulson’s murder is a tragedy that should have been stopped.

“I'm just so sorry that this happened to her and to everyone that cared about her,” said Wieland Ward.

So, should victims arm themselves? Wieland Ward says it would be a good idea to carry pepper spray or mace just in case. A victim should carefully consider whether or not to carry a gun for protection.