Watch CBS News

Woman Charged With Stalking Cubs' Theo Epstein, Bought Son A Gift

UPDATED: 7/17/2012 - 4:25 p.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Massachusetts woman is being held on $75,000 bond after being charged with stalking Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein.

Kathleen Kearney, 44, from Canton, Mass., was arrested on Monday night and charged with two felony counts of stalking, police said.

Kearney was arrested shortly before 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Addison Street, a few blocks from Epstein's home, where he lives with his wife and son.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports Cook County prosecutors don't know just why Kearney was fixated on Epstein, but she allegedly told prosecutors that, when he was running the Boston Red Sox, she twice went to Fenway Park to try to meet Epstein.

She also visited a Boston home where she thought Epstein lived, and wrote him letters that went unanswered.

But on Monday, nine months after Epstein came to Chicago to run the Cubs, Kearney allegedly made another run at him.

While still in Massachusetts, she Googled his new home address, then went to Logan Airport in Boston, and boarded a fight for a place she'd never been: Chicago.

At O'Hare International Airport, she rented a red Ford Mustang convertible, and – using a GPS device, drove to Epstein's $3 million dollar Lakeview mansion.`

Proseuctors said, when Epstein's wife Marie answered the door, Kearney introduced herself, saying, "Hi, I'm Kathy. You must be Marie."

Kearney also told Mrs. Epstein that she had brought a gift for the Epsteins' young son: a backpack, and a birthday banner.

But, after a few minutes, Epstein's wife became suspicious and fearful for her safety.

Kearney then left and went to Wrigley Field, searching for Epstein, to no avail.

Then she returned to Epstein's home that evening, and waited outside the house. When Theo Epstein arrived, she shouted his name, but he didn't respond. He ignored her, walked inside, and alerted police again.

Minutes later, Kearney was arrested in the 1400 block of West Addison Street.

Kearney has no criminal record, made no threats, and caused no harm to Epstein or his family.

She told her public defender she's a Harvard graduate, who formerly worked as a librarian at a Boston culinary school. She's been ordered to have no contact with Epstein or his family.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.