Alexandra Paul, renowned for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden on "Baywatch," endured a harrowing 13-year ordeal involving a female stalker that began in December 2011. The stalker, a German woman two decades younger than Paul, initiated contact under the pretense of needing assistance for her younger brother. This encounter escalated into relentless harassment, including leaving notes and chocolates at Paul's residence.
The situation intensified when the stalker moved into a home just a block away from Paul and her husband, Ian Murray. She began following Paul to various locations, such as her gym and neighborhood trails, leading Paul to obtain multiple restraining orders. Despite these legal measures, the stalker violated the orders numerous times, including an incident where she confronted Paul in a parking garage, attempting to prevent her from leaving.
The harassment extended to Paul's family; the stalker sent defamatory messages to Paul's mother, falsely claiming to be Paul's secret lover and alleging abuse by Murray. She also targeted Murray directly, accusing him of infidelity and abuse, and later escalated to accusing him of pedophilia, which adversely affected his career as a triathlon coach. In a particularly alarming incident, the stalker attempted to run Paul off the road and, on another occasion, struck Murray with her vehicle, causing injuries. Legal actions led to the stalker's deportation, but she continued her harassment from abroad and eventually returned to the U.S., resuming her campaign against the couple.
In 2022, seeking respite, Paul and Murray relocated to a different state, adopting measures to conceal their identities. Despite these efforts, the stalker located them within six weeks and resumed her harassment. The FBI intervened, arresting her for crossing state lines to stalk, leading to her incarceration. During her imprisonment, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in July 2024 at the age of 41.
Reflecting on this prolonged ordeal, Paul expressed ongoing psychological distress and guilt, particularly regarding the impact on her husband and the initial kindness that may have been misinterpreted by the stalker.