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Woman Arrested For Cyberstalking Well-Known Author

Posted: 4:38 pm EDT June 2, 2005Updated: 6:53 am EDT June 3, 2005

A Seminole County woman is under arrest, accused of cyberstalking a well-known author. Investigators say she sent hundreds of emails over the past two years, some of them threatening.

Debby Wilbanks

Dead of Night, Tampa Burn and Everglades are some of the famous mystery novels Randy Wayne White wrote. White's books have made it on the New York Times bestseller list.

"People would got to the website and discuss his books and says he's a great writer or a bum or whatever they want to say," explained Judge Tony Johnson.

Randy Wayne White

Johnson is a friend of White's and says the author enjoyed getting feedback from his readers, but he says one fan went too far. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrested Debby Wilbanks for cyberstalking.

"They would occur in batches with many, many emails, sometimes with different names," explained Johnson. "It was a like, it was almost like someone was obsessed with this."

The author says Wilbanks' emails included phrases like "I adore you," "I've been hired to investigate you," and "I hate you." Deputies say Wilbanks allegedly sent hundreds of emails to White in a two-year span.

"Had begun to be threatening and made threat to his family members," Johnson said.

Wilbank's daughter said the allegations are untrue. She claims White was stalking her mother.

"He was trying to sell his book or something. She said, 'Leave me alone,' but he kept on coming back to her," Wilbank's daughter said.

The author said he is happy Wilbanks was arrested. However, Wilbank's daughter says her mother would never hurt anyone.

"She was really upset. She was good person. She doesn't do anything bad. She's never been arrested," commented Wilbank's daughter.

White says he has never tried to stalk Wilbanks and is confidant Wilbanks will be found at fault.

Wilbanks is currently in the Seminole County jail.
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