Woman jailed, accused of stalking Panthers quarterback/NC
Woman jailed, accused of stalking Panthers quarterback
Deborah Voit
The 6NEWS Investigators uncovered details of a convicted stalker in jail, accused of trying to get to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. The alleged stalker managed to get so close to Delhomme that he is worried his family might be next.
Thousands of fans who watched the game Sunday night at Bank of America Stadium and at home on television have no idea what Delhomme has been through the past couple weeks.
The 6NEWS Investigators have the court records, the police reports and the whole story about a convicted stalker accused of targeting the Panthers quarterback.
On the field, Delhomme is used to being chased around by opposing defenses. But off the field, he wasn't ready for early morning and late night phone calls and door-to-door searches for his room at the team hotel.
When asked about his run-in recently with an overzealous fan, Delhomme said, “I have no comment."
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The overzealous fan Delhomme doesn't want to talk about is Deborah Voit. She is a twice convicted stalker who's been in the Mecklenburg County Jail at least 11 times in the past year. She has been arrested for trespassing, harassing phone calls and violating court orders to stay away.
The 6NEWS Investigators also tracked down some of Voit's former victims.
"It was just craziness after craziness," said stalker victim Michael Berry.
Berry and other stalker victims describe Voit as clever and relentless.
One victim who did not want to be identified said, “To the victim, you begin to feel rage. You begin to feel enraged that the system can not stop it. There is nothing in place to stop it."
And what about the state probation office that's supposed to be supervising Voit?
"You're being supervised closely, but we are not with you 24/7," said Phyllis Bridges, probation district manager.
Voit's latest trip to the jail, this time on charges of stalking Delhomme, comes after what team and police sources describe as a nearly week long series of events that left the Panthers quarterback fearful for his own safety, and his family's safety.
Friday, October 6, two days before the Cleveland game, Delhomme told police Voit came to Bank of America Stadium, got past security, and followed him onto the practice field. Team sources say Voit also handed coach John Fox a letter for Delhomme.
Saturday, October 7, team sources tell 6NEWS Voit showed up this time at the Westin Hotel. She again made her way past security to the floors where the team stays. Sources said she went room to room, knocking on Panther players' doors, looking for Delhomme's room and later called his room at least twice.
Sunday, October 8, on game day against the Browns, police sources say Voit called Delhomme at his hotel room at least five times, starting at 7:45 a.m. before the team breakfast.
On Monday and Tuesday after the Cleveland game, police sources tell 6NEWS there were up to a dozen more calls of Voit phoning Delhomme's parents and other family members hundreds of miles away in Louisiana, looking for the quarterback's cell phone number in Charlotte.
Finally on Wednesday, October 11 team sources tell 6NEWS Voit parked her car at a Third Ward restaurant next to the Panthers practice field and tried to get past security again. This time she was arrested for trespassing, and felony stalking. Court records show Delhomme wants Voit prosecuted.
"You know, there is a fine line. There are some fans who really want to get close," said Delhomme.
Voit's other victims offered Delhomme a little friendly advice.
"Just walk the other way. I mean get out of there,” one victim said. “Don't give her any way to contact you because she will use it."
Team sources also tell 6NEWS that the Panthers have also asked a Mecklenburg County judge for a no contact order against Voit.
Voit, meanwhile, is still in the Mecklenburg County Jail after two court appearances this week and another one scheduled for next month.
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