Ruth Finley, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, found herself at the center of a chilling case of stalking and harassment by a criminal dubbed The Poet.
The incidents, which began in the late 1970s, led to a three-year police investigation that kept the community on edge.
The ordeal started when Ruth was attacked in her home by an unknown man in 1946, leaving her with severe injuries. The perpetrator then began sending her threatening letters, demanding money and even attacking her multiple times. Ruth’s husband, Ed Finley, became concerned for her safety and reported the incidents to the police.
Despite receiving hundreds of letters and facing violent threats, Ruth continued to live in fear of The Poet’s next move. The situation escalated when she was stabbed in a mall parking lot and received disturbing items at her workplace, including a butcher knife and a red bandana.
The police, led by Chief Richard LaMunyon, worked tirelessly to track down the elusive stalker but to no avail. The situation took a bizarre turn when it was revealed that Ruth was actually The Poet. A psychiatric examination later determined that Ruth had been tormenting herself due to childhood trauma and psychiatric issues.
The case, which cost the police department over $370,000, shed light on the importance of mental health awareness and the impact of past traumas on individuals. Ruth, who passed away in 2019, shared her story in the hope of helping other survivors.
A Lifetime movie, titled The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story, is set to premiere in June 2024, starring actress Teri Hatcher as Ruth. The movie will follow Ruth and her husband’s ordeal as they navigate through the terrifying experience of being stalked by The Poet.
