The Return of the Stalker part 20

Rick and Tanya Fernandez of Peoria, Arizona, entered a felony-diversion program in February 2024 instead of standing trial on charges of harassing a Phoenix pediatric doctor. Then copies of a book called Layers of Attack landed on the desks of executives at her hospital. The book is credited to a mysterious author named "Rachel Cholla," tells the Fernandezes' story from Rick's point of view, and uses the real names of Dr. Gressman and her husband. Javier follows Phoenix Police Detective Anthony Hardina as he traces the Cholla PO box and email account back to Rick, while new police reports from the Fernandezes' son, Blake, accuse Dr. Gressman's husband of crimes. Plus, an unexpected email from the Fernandezes' adult daughter.

Correction: An earlier version of these notes, and parts of this episode's audio, described the Fernandezes' arrangement as a "plea deal" and said they were "on probation." Neither is accurate. Court records show Rick and Tanya Fernandez pleaded not guilty and entered the Maricopa County Attorney's Felony Diversion Program, a deferred-prosecution program, in February 2024. PRETEND corrected this in "The Stalker Correction" (Oct. 3, 2024).

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