MEMPHIS, TN – A creepy stalker with a criminal history has Mud Island residents on edge. Witnesses say the suspicious man chases women as they jog or walk their dogs in the park but not enough women have come forward to enable cops to make an arrest. The Harbor Town Association released a news letter this weekend warning people to be careful but most of the women abc24 news spoke with, had no idea this was happening.
"That kind of makes me a little nervous,” said a resident Cindy Bitters.
"Yea that's pretty scary," said a jogger Jessica Taylor.
The past several weeks, witnesses say a mysterious man has been lurking in Mud Island. According to the Harbor Town Association, the stalker roams around late mornings, watches women, blocks their path, and ends up chasing them especially when they're alone.
"There's always something going on somewhere in Memphis but you think Mud Island is pretty safe down here,” said Bitters.
"You certainly don't expect it but no one is really immune to that type of thing,” said another jogger Jordan Holte.
The women who've spotted him are too scared to come forward. One victim hired a private investigator. That investigator says the man was convicted of murder in Texas 11 years ago for strangling a woman.
"It's a shame you have to be aware of everything that's going around you especially a woman,” said Holte.
The Harbor Town Association manager says the man is behind bars for an unrelated charge but is expected to be released in the next few weeks.
“I will definitely be more on the lookout," said Bitters.
"My mom always told me you have to be aware of your surroundings everywhere you are but especially when you're running, you're vulnerable,” said Holte.
Witnesses describe the mystery man as a 35-year old African American, his height 5'8”, and weighs about 170 pounds. He has long hair with loose corn rows and wears yellow rubber ties. He has a mustache and a goatee.
