A Florida man is facing cyberstalking and computer-related charges after he allegedly stole a teddy bear containing his ex-girlfriend's dead son's ashes and sent her threatening messages when their brief relationship ended, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Justin Fountain, 31, was arrested and booked into the Flagler County Jail.
Background
According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim told deputies she recently moved from Virginia to Florida and met Fountain online after just a few weeks of dating. The relationship quickly soured when Fountain became verbally aggressive and attempted to control her everyday life, officials said. She ended things and asked him to return a spare key to her hotel room in Palm Coast.
Fountain allegedly refused to accept the rejection. He showed up at her workplace unannounced, parked outside her hotel, followed her to Culver's restaurant, and later appeared at the beach where she had gone with a friend. While there, she received alerts about someone accessing her social media accounts; she immediately suspected Fountain, believing he had obtained her passwords when he grabbed her phone while she slept.
When the victim returned to her hotel room, she discovered that the teddy bear containing her son's ashes was missing. During the ordeal, Fountain allegedly sent a series of threatening text messages. 'You need to answer my calls if you know what's good,' one read. Another said, 'I'm going to destroy you.' He also wrote, 'Five seconds and I'm gonna set this teddy bear on fire.'
Fountain was reportedly unhappy that the victim went to police. He allegedly claimed he had told authorities about outstanding warrants she had from Virginia, telling her, 'They're on their way to get you.' In total, deputies say Fountain called her roughly 60 times from multiple phone numbers and sent more than 50 text messages.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Fountain but were aided in his capture when he sent texts containing photos that revealed his GPS location. Deputies arrested him without incident.
'I can't think of a more despicable person that would do that,' Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly told local NBC affiliate WESH, referring to the theft of the ashes.
The Charges
Fountain is charged with cyberstalking, illegal use of a tracking device and accessing a computer without authority, court records show. He remains held at the Flagler County Jail on a $61,000 bond.
Key Takeaways
- Fountain allegedly stole a teddy bear containing his ex-girlfriend's deceased son's ashes after she ended their brief relationship.
- He faces charges including cyberstalking and illegal use of a tracking device.
- Deputies arrested him after he inadvertently shared his location via text message photos.
What's Next
Fountain's next court date is scheduled for Sept. 1. He remains in custody at the Flagler County Jail pending further proceedings.