News-anchor forced to quit her job by 'aggressive' cyber-stalker who is still abusing her five years on and sends emails describing items in her bedroom



Stalked: Vickie Newton has revealed a stalker forced her to leave her role as news anchor on KMOV, St Louis

A well-known news anchor has revealed she was hounded out of her job by a cyber-stalker who hacked her emails and is still sending her abusive messages.

Vickie Newton, who used to be a news presenter on KMOV (Channel 4) in St Louis, has revealed the real reason behind her decision to quit the high-profile post and move back to her hometown in Arkansas.

Over five years, Newton, who won a Regional Emmy Award for Best News Anchor, was sent abusive emails by a stalker, who she also suspects hacked both her private and work email accounts.

In July, she was forced to leave her post because of the abuse, but claims it is only getting worse now she is off-air.



The stalker even describes items in her home in messages and names members of her family, she told her own website thevillagecelebration.com .

She is also suspicious after an alarm at her home was triggered while she was out-of-town but the police didn't find any suspects at the scene.

'I don’t know who is stalking me and I don’t know what the end game is,” she tells a reporter for the website. 'Recently, some of the postings have included key words that describe rooms in my home, family members' names are included and so the level of the threat is more aggressive.'

'The web firm that hosts TheVillageCelebration is ending our affiliation because the owners say they haven’t seen this type of harassment in 15 years of business - hundreds of bizarre emails everyday,' she adds.

According to the report the stalker has described 'sterling silver picture frames in her master suite' in emails sent to Newton.

The extent of the abuse has prompted her to contact the FBI in both Arkansas and St Louis and the attorney general in Arkansas.

Fearful: Vickie Newton is still being harassed by an email stalker after leaving her high-profile presenting role in St Louis. She has received messages describing items in her home

Her family have also hired technology experts - changing their locks and installing new security systems.

'The internet allows cowards to harass and intimidate. People who would never in a million years say or do the things they do on the Internet are emboldened by the anonymity it provides,' Newton adds.

Cyber-crime: Vickie Newton has vowed not to move again after being harassed by a cyber-stalker. She is now campaigning to warn other victims of the crime

'Moving again is not going to work because I have done that once. There is nothing to do but stand and fight.'

Newton worked as an anchor on KMOV for more than 10 years.



When her departure was first announced she said she was leaving to 'be with her family and pursue other interests'.

Sean McLaughlin, KMOV Executive News Director said: 'Vickie has been a St Louis fixture for more than a decade. In that time she has made an incredible connection with the people of St Louis. She will be missed, and we wish her great success in her future endeavors.'



Dozens of fans wrote to the website expressing their disappointment when Newton's departure from KMOV was announced.

In response to the stalking article one fan, Sandra Jones added: 'You are a very kind and good person. You do not deserve this. I hope they find whoever is doing this to you.'