'Twin angel soul mate': Idaho man faces cyberstalking charge in connection with Mass. educator
Edward John Kay, 53, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of cyberstalking, Foley's office said in a statement. Kay was arrested in Rigby, Idaho, and is expected to appear in a federal court in Idaho on Friday, then appear in a Boston federal courthouse at a later date.
A professor at a Massachusetts university extension school received a message from Kay on Jan. 20, according to a criminal complaint. Kay introduced himself and asked to call the professor before the first lecture on Jan. 29. They arranged a Zoom call and spoke for 40 minutes.
'During the call, Kay appeared manic, displayed an agitated need to speak, stated he wanted to teach the victim 'so many new things,' and expressed a desire to have a deeper connection with the victim,' the court filing read. 'The victim got the impression that Kay's feelings for her were romantic in nature. It was clear to the victim that Kay had already done extensive research on her prior to this phone call. The victim described the call as unsettling.'
Kay took part in the first lecture over Zoom on Jan. 29 and was an active participant, but the professor noticed Kay made exasperated faces when she did not call on him, the court documents read. After class, Kay expressed his discontent over not being called and not liking the class structure, rather wishing there was more one-on-one time with the professor.
She became uncomfortable when Kay talked about his background in web security, 'because she believed that it meant KAY would have the knowledge and skills to obtain personal information about her that was available on the internet, if he had not already done so,' the documents stated.
On Jan. 30, Kay emailed the professor asking for another virtual office visit to give her feedback on the class and talk about extra credit opportunities, according to the court filing. The next day, she replied back and said they would have a 20-minute virtual discussion in two weeks, but he replied that he was not sure if the class structure was right for him and suggested he would leave the class.
'I wouldn't take a withdrawal lightly,' Kay told her, according to court documents. 'I have a real difficult choice here. I realize that there will be many things I lose in doing so... I lose ever knowing you, in any way...'
Kay emailed her twice on Feb. 2 about dropping out of the class, court documents stated. He told her that while he wanted her as a teacher, he wanted her as a friend, 'or even as a therapist, even more.' A friend told Kay that he had a 'brain crush' on his professor.
'It just would be a living hell to sit through class with that little interaction with you,' Kay wrote, according to court documents. 'I really, truly mean that… You are such a rare, unusual creature for me to run into in my current world right now. I adore my life partner, and she is supremely intelligent, but I crave more diverse, personal, intellectual, meaningful interaction than just with her… I wanted so much to make a difference in your life."
The professor thought the message was strange and sexual in nature, but was relieved Kay dropped from her class, the criminal complaint read. She was also disturbed at another point in his message where Kay referred to her 3-year-old son.
On Feb. 4, one day after she was notified that he dropped her course, the professor received a request from Kay to connect on LinkedIn, according to court documents. On Feb. 5, he emailed her about how 'our connection, however brief, mattered a lot to me.'
Between Feb. 5 and March 21, Kay did not reach out to the professor, but she was nervous that he would send her something again, the court documents stated. But on March 21, he sent an email asking for a Zoom call to get closure.
'I lost the ability to keep myself composed with a person I see as being so incredibly magnificent,' Kay wrote, according to the complaint. 'I emotionally bled all over my interaction with you…The fact that you had that much power over me is not something I am used to experiencing from someone… It should be blatantly obvious that I personally like you. Your intuition should have clearly told you that… I know how busy you are with a full-time job, teaching with [U]ES, [first name of the victim's son], and so many other things…'
The professor thought he was 'becoming delusional' and was alarmed that he suggested joining one of her classes again, the complaint read.
Kay then emailed the university's dean's office and accused the professor of negligence and causing him severe psychological harm, the documents stated. The professor then reported Kay to the university police.
Kay messaged the professor on LinkedIn where he professed his love for her and described 'a paranormal encounter he had in a graveyard near his apartment in Berlin, Germany,' the court filing read.
'I miss you-truly, deeply- with all of my heart and soul,' Kay wrote to the professor, according to court records. 'That day I saw you on Zoom…You were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Not just appearance. Everything. Your presence. Your mind. Your light. To gain you… and then to lose you like that? It devastated me.'
Scared that Kay would become violent toward her, the professor emailed him and asked Kay to not reach out to her anymore, court documents stated. He then started detailing his grievances toward the university on his LinkedIn page.
The professor then received a long message on Facebook from a person who said they were Kay's life partner, court documents stated. The person said Kay had access to several weapons, was bipolar and was 'obsessed' with two other women. Kay considered the professor to be his 'twin angel soul mate.'
Kay returned to emailing the university, at one point adding the professor and said she 'knows what is coming,' court documents stated. The university then informed Kay that he could no longer enroll in their courses.
Kay continued to email her, even wrote a poem she believed was about her, court documents read. After he bought a plane ticket to Boston Logan International Airport, with no return ticket, university police issued a cease and desist order to Kay so that he would stop contacting the professor.
The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
More local crime stories
Migrant father pleads guilty to rape after teen daughter's pregnancy
Ex-Stoughton town employee sentenced to prison for tampering drinking water
Bridgewater women to face charges after leaving dogs in hot car, police say
Mass. man drunken drove, sped at over 100 mph prior to crash in N.H., police say
Two women charged with animal cruelty after dogs die in hot car in Bridgewater
Read the original article on MassLive.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Law experts, observers raise questions as Ontario adds virtual courtroom restrictions
Ontario's lower courts are introducing restrictions on who can attend proceedings virtually after what they describe as an escalation of interruptions, a move that law experts and observers say raises questions about transparency. The Ontario Court of Justice released a new policy last week that would stop observers from accessing court proceedings online unless they receive authorization from the judge or justice of peace overseeing the case. Those interested in attending court cases are encouraged to show up in person, the policy says. It does not apply to proceedings at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The lower court attributes the move to a rise in deliberate disruptions of court proceedings referred to as 'Zoom bombings,' which is when participants disturb a virtual call with inappropriate content or messages. 'These disruptions are an impermissible attack on the integrity of the justice system and the administration of justice,' an interim policy notice said, adding that they often cause delays and can have negative effects for participants, court staff and jurists. Boris Bytensky, president of the Criminal Lawyers' Association, says changes to the observer policy were needed because of the 'despicable acts of disruption' caused by certain attendees in virtual courts. 'This is the only way to ensure that proceedings that are conducted by Zoom and bring the significant benefits to the system and to the parties that virtual proceedings offer are free from any unacceptable interference,' Bytensky said in an emailed statement. But some experts warn that the policy could be a step back when it comes to openness. Virtual court hearings on Zoom were first adopted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic so court processes could continue amid government-mandated physical distancing rules. The continued use of videoconferencing technology in courtrooms since then has created a level of access people now expect, complicating the decision to change the policy, said Teresa Scassa, law professor at the University of Ottawa. 'At this point, the meaning of open courts or what is an open court has changed, and now you're taking away something that's there,' she said in an interview. While the new policy says physical attendance is still on the table, that is not an option for everyone, Scassa said. People with disabilities, those who don't drive and anyone who lives far away from courts do not always have the option to attend in person, she said. 'I have some sympathy for the challenges the courts are dealing with. But I do have some questions about whether the route that they've chosen is really the route that best respects the open court principles,' said Scassa. A small number of court proceedings only take place virtually. To observe these cases, the court says people need to request permission by emailing the court's communications officer — the same contact that media use to request access to virtual proceedings. Scassa said she has questions about how judges will decide who should and shouldn't get access: 'Does everybody get permission? Who gets denied permission? Is there some hierarchy?' The Ontario Court of Justice did not respond to a request for more information about the authorization process before deadline. Avid court observer Jenny Pelland said the court's new policy isn't surprising, as they've witnessed Zoom bombings many times over the past few years, especially in high-profile cases. 'I've seen some where it's been very graphic,' Pelland said in an interview, adding that the disruptions often display violent or pornographic content. Since the observer policy was announced, Pelland said courts have already been applying the rules differently, with some posting notices in the Zoom waiting room that public access is banned and others allowing access but requiring attendees to provide their full legal name or have their camera turned off. Such differences are not novel, with Pelland saying they've noticed limitations on access even in cases when they reached out to a judge or court clerk for permission in advance. 'For some courts in Ottawa, it's been almost impossible to log in for the past few months,' Pelland said. 'Some judges don't allow observers at all and it's not something new.' Alyssa King, associate professor of law at Queen's University, said understaffing is already a concern in Ontario courts, and adding more administrative burden for judges will cause inconsistencies in the way policies are applied across the province. 'It's not because anybody is acting in bad faith or trying to prevent the public from accessing the court,' she said. 'But they are people with a big workload and sometimes very high stress decisions that they need to make quickly … so any time you add to what they have to do administratively, that's tough.' A different process is still followed to allow access to virtual courts for victims and complainants. The court says they should get in touch with their local Crown attorney's office or victim witness assistance program. Jasminder Sekhon, director of community engagement, EDI and policy at Victim Services Toronto, said the court should consider updating its policies on that process to make sure it is more accessible and survivor-informed. 'Not just the victims should be able to apply, but also people should be able to apply on their behalf,' Sekhon said, adding that people who support survivors should also be considered to receive virtual access. For Linda McCurdy, a criminal defence lawyer based in Windsor, Ont., adding an extra step to prevent disruptions is a good way to preserve the integrity of the courts. 'I barely notice people in the court, but you really notice people on Zoom when they're doing stuff,' said McCurdy, adding that people tend to forget about formalities when calling in from their own homes. 'If you want to come and watch the proceedings, come to the court, come sit in the court. That's the way it's always been.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Driver who caused death of young mother who was knocked off e-bike is jailed
A driver who admitted causing the death of a young mother who was knocked off the back of an electric motorbike ridden by her boyfriend has been jailed for more than five years. Keaton Muldoon, 23, was acquitted after a trial at Derby Crown Court of murdering 25-year-old Alana Armstrong and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay, who had his right leg amputated 15cm above the knee after the crash on November 26 last year. Before the trial began, Muldoon, of Tuckers Lane in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified. Muldoon, who the court heard was a drug dealer, told the jury of 11 women and one man during the trial that he 'did not know' he had hit anyone while driving his Land Rover Discovery on the evening of November 26 last year, and thought he had overtaken Mr Newton-Kay's bike at a passing point. The prosecution alleged that Muldoon 'pursued' the couple, and another electric bike ridden by a friend of Mr Newton-Kay, after they stopped near the defendant's 4×4 at a lay-by and shined their lights inside the vehicle. The defendant told the court he feared he was going to be robbed but did not 'chase' the Sur-Ron off-road bike for more than a mile from the lay-by in Sampsons Lane, Pleasley. In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecution counsel Sally Howes KC on Friday, Mr Newton-Kay said 'nothing feels right' without his partner, adding: 'I can't see a future without her in it. 'My life has been turned upside down. I have lost my leg and the love of my life by the age of 23.' In another statement, Ms Armstrong's mother said she was a 'kind-hearted soul' who wanted the best for everyone she cared about. She said: 'I have lost my baby… As a family, we feel tormented that she has lost her life because of someone else's actions.' Defending Muldoon, Adrian Langdale KC said the defendant was 'extremely young' at the time of the incident but had written a 'mature' letter to Judge Shaun Smith KC highlighting his remorse for what happened. Judge Smith imposed a sentence of five years and three months for causing the death of Ms Armstrong, with concurrent sentences of 27 months for injuring Mr Newton-Kay and one month for driving whilst disqualified. He banned him from driving for 12 and a half years and said he must serve at least half of his sentence before he can be released on extended licence. He said he could not be sure that Muldoon's vehicle made contact with Mr Newton-Kay's bike, but he was satisfied that it was the defendant's dangerous driving that made the bike lose control. He said: 'You were irritated by what happened and decided you were going to teach them a lesson by frightening them. 'What you did was, on more than occasion, got close to one or more of the e-bikes to frighten them. 'It was not only dangerous, but carried the real risk of a collision or cause one of them to lose control, leading to potentially tragic consequences. 'I take the view that each decision you took that night was conscious and deliberate. You knew exactly what you were doing.' Despite this, the judge accepted Muldoon had not intended to cause death or injury that evening. He said: 'You didn't set out that night to injure or kill someone. You are, I accept, truly remorseful.' He added: 'There is no price of a human life, but neither can sentence be measured by revenge. 'It cannot return Alana to those who love her or return Mr Newton-Kay to full health. 'Those who know and love Alana have been utterly crushed and devastated.'
NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
Live updates: DOJ to continue interview with Epstein partner Ghislaine Maxwell; Trump heads to Scotland
The Justice Department is seeking the release of grand jury transcripts from the Jeffrey Epstein case. President Donald Trump visits the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP Updated July 25, 2025, 7:20 AM EDT It was late afternoon on the last Friday in June, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon was in his office in Tampa, Florida, interviewing a victim for an upcoming trial via Zoom. Alongside a special agent, Gordon was preparing the victim to be a witness in a Justice Department case against a lawyer who the Justice Department alleged had been scamming clients. There was a knock at the door, Gordon later told NBC News, and he didn't answer; at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida, there was a culture of not just popping in when the door is closed. But the door popped open, and there stood the office manager, ashen-faced. The office manager is in charge of security, and Gordon thought for a moment that something might have happened to his family. Gordon muted the Zoom call, and the office manager handed him a piece of paper. It was a one-page letter signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. He'd been terminated from federal service. 'No explanation. No advance warning. No description of what the cause was,' Gordon said in an interview. 'Now, I knew why. I knew it had to be my Jan. 6 work.' Gordon had been senior trial counsel in the Capitol Siege Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, which prosecuted alleged rioters involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. His title reflected some of the high-profile cases he'd taken on during the Jan. 6 investigation and the role he played in helping other federal prosecutors. At the time of his firing, Gordon had long been working on other cases back home in Florida. He had recently been assigned to co-lead a case against two people accused of stealing more than $100 million from a medical trust for people with disabilities, as well as injured workers and retirees. Just two days before he was fired, he'd received an 'outstanding' rating on his performance review. Now, along with two other recently fired Justice Department employees, Gordon is pushing back, suing the Trump administration late Thursday over their dismissals. The suit argues that the normal procedures federal employees are expected to go through to address their grievances — the Merit Systems Protection Board — are fundamentally broken because of the Trump administration's actions. Read the full story here. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., today announced an immigration bill that would broaden pathways to obtain legal status and citizenship for longtime residents of the U.S, including Dreamers, highly skilled workers and asylum seekers. The bill, called the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, would make immigrants who have been living in the United States continuously for at least seven years eligible for permanent legal status. This would update an existing statute that was last amended in 1986, which set the cut off date for eligibility at 1972. It would also provide a pathway for Dreamers, asylum-seekers and high-skilled workers with H-1B Visas to obtain green cards. Padilla first introduced the bill in 2022 but it never got passed the Judiciary committee. A version was introduced in the House by Rep. Zoe Lofgren and similarly languished in committee. Both versions will be reintroduced on Monday, Padilla said. 'We believe this is the first step,' he said, adding that changing public opinion is the key ingredient this time. According to a recent Gallup poll, 79% of Americans say immigration is a good thing compared to 64% in 2024. Support for allowing undocumented immigrants to become U.S. citizens has increased to 78% compared to 70% last year. 'What we're seeing in practice is not what people signed up for,' he said of Trump's immigration directives. 'The overreach, how extreme and cruel the administration has become about immigration enforcement, has shifted public opinion about Donald Trump and his policies.' Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said last night that he plans to continue his conversation with Epstein's longtime accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell today. The two spoke for several hours yesterday as the administration seeks to probe Maxwell for additional information about Epstein's case. Attorney General Pam Bondi chose Blanche to speak with Maxwell in an attempt to 'pursue justice' after a decision by the Justice Department to no longer release information from the federal investigation into Epstein roiled Trump's base. 'President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,' Bondi said this week on X.
