Stalking Samantha: Inside 13 Years of Terror on Hulu

Samantha Stites met Christopher Thomas Bunker as a college student—a brief, unremarkable encounter. What followed was a 13-year nightmare that would reshape her life and become the subject of *Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror*, a three-episode documentary series now streaming on Hulu and available on Disney+ in regions where Hulu is bundled.

Produced by ABC News Studios and premiering August 19, 2025, the series documents the relentless pursuit of a Michigan woman by a man who appeared repeatedly in her everyday life. Bunker showed up at her workplace, her gym, and her grocery store—not to engage in conversation, but to watch and follow her. Despite telling him directly to leave her alone, the stalking persisted for over a decade.

What makes this case particularly disturbing is the reported influence of popular culture. According to Stites, Bunker drew inspiration from *You*, the Netflix psychological thriller centered on a stalker-protagonist. Stites has stated that her captor believed the TV show's depiction "validated" his behavior, and he thought that such stalking could lead to relationships forming between pursuer and victim—a dangerous misinterpretation of fictional narrative.

The stalking escalated to abduction. In the early morning hours, Bunker kidnapped Stites from her own home. He had prepared a soundproof storage unit as a makeshift bunker, complete with soundproofed walls designed to muffle screams. Inside, he held her in a soundproof box, chained and unable to call for help. During her captivity, she was sexually assaulted.

What prevented a potentially fatal outcome was Stites' ability to persuade her captor to release her. Her survival—and her decision to tell her story—has since become a platform for advocacy. She founded Beekeepers Advocacy, an educational initiative designed to help others recognize the warning signs of stalking and understand how to respond effectively.