When college freshman Samantha Stites met Christopher Thomas in 2011, his initial charm soon spiraled into a dangerous obsession.
From Awkward Encounter to Obsession
Stites, now 33, first crossed paths with Thomas while both were students. At first, she found him “awkward,” but things took a darker turn when he became fixated on her. Despite her constant rejections, Thomas bombarded her with messages and unwanted attention.
By 2014, Stites had secured a six-year personal protection order (PPO) to keep him away. But when it expired, the harassment resumed.
The Abduction
In 2022, Thomas’s obsession reached its peak. He kidnapped Stites and imprisoned her in a soundproof underground bunker he had constructed and stocked with supplies, reportedly inspired by the Netflix series You, according to ABC News.
For 13 terrifying hours, Stites remained trapped, uncertain if she would make it out alive.
A Life-Saving Strategy
Drawing on her background as a social worker, Stites decided to stay calm and engage him in conversation. Noticing his fear of prison, she promised not to involve the police if he let her go. To gain his trust further, she pretended to be open to a relationship.
Thomas agreed to release her—but only if she slept with him. Feeling she had no choice, Stites consented, later recounting on Good Morning America:
“I said, ‘You promise me Christopher, that if I sleep with you, you will let me out tonight.’ He looked me in the eyes and shook my hand.”
Aftermath
Thomas returned her home, where she immediately sought medical attention, collected evidence of the assault, and assisted police in finding the bunker. Within 48 hours, he was arrested.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to kidnapping, torture, and aggravated stalking, receiving a 40- to 60-year sentence. Prosecutors dropped the sexual assault charge as part of the plea deal.
Reflecting on her survival, Stites credits her training:
“As social workers, we take courses on crisis intervention. My education and training definitely contributed to quick thinking and knowing what I should do.”