The wife of a New York University doctor is facing charges of stalking her husband and threatening to shoot his mistress. According to news reports, New Jersey resident Amy Goldenberg is in the process of divorcing her husband, Dr. Ronald Goldenberg. She has been arrested four times and charged with an array of harassment and stalking charges, including cyberstalking.
What is stalking?
According to the New York State office of the Attorney General, stalking is defined as a series of unwanted, uninvited and often escalating behaviors directed at an individual with the intention of causing fear. Stalking includes behaviors such as:
Stalking is not restricted to one gender; one in 12 women and one in 45 men are stalked in their lifetime. Stalking and domestic violence often intersect. One-third of both male and female victims report being stalked by a current or former intimate partner. Due to the escalating nature of stalking, many of these cases end in attempted violence and threats of violence. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, 76 percent of murder victims and 85 percent of murder-attempt victims had been previously stalked by the intimate partner.
How should I respond?
If your current or former spouse or intimate partner is stalking you, it is best not to respond at all. Alert authorities and keep a record of the stalking or harassment behaviors. If you believe your life is in danger, seek an order of protection from the court. If you are related to the stalker by blood or marriage or you share a child with the stalker you can seek protection from either the criminal court or family court systems, or both.
Stalking can quickly escalate from a threat of violence to an act of violence. Seek the advice of a Buffalo area attorney who can help you protect yourself and your children from danger.