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.

Before her abduction, Stites had sought legal protection. She filed for a Personal Protection Order (PPO) in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The court denied her request—a decision that underscores the challenges victims face in obtaining restraining orders and raises questions about how law enforcement evaluates stalking threats.

Bunker eventually pled guilty in court, acknowledging his crimes. The legal resolution, however, cannot undo the years of fear and the trauma of captivity.

For international viewers unfamiliar with Stites' case, the series offers a deeply personal account. Rather than relying solely on investigators or external narration, *Stalking Samantha* centers Stites herself as the primary storyteller, allowing audiences to hear directly from someone who endured this prolonged terror and emerged to rebuild her life.

The documentary arrives at a moment when stalking cases—both offline and online—continue to affect thousands. By bringing Stites' experience to a global audience, ABC News Studios contributes to a broader conversation about recognizing predatory behavior, supporting survivors, and understanding how entertainment media can be misappropriated to justify harmful actions.

*Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror* is available to stream on Hulu, with all three episodes released simultaneously.

## Sources

- https://www.hulu.com/series/stalking-samantha-13-years-of-terror-4f4280ca-ad11-46d2-ac17-efd6c8c79e2c - https://wwmt.com/news/state/samanthas-tale-michigan-womans-story-of-surviving-13-years-of-stalking-now-on-hulu-samantha-stites-christopher-thomas-bunker-stalking-samantha-13-years-of-terror - https://abc7ny.com/post/tv-show-inspired-true-crime-case-highlighted-abc-news-studios-docu-series-stalking-samantha/17550753/ - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stalking_samantha_13_years_of_terror/s01