How is stalking defined legally in Missouri?

In Missouri, stalking is legally defined as engaging in a course of conduct that causes a person to feel frightened, intimidated, threatened, or harassed. This encompasses behaviors such as repeated following, observing, or contacting a person in a manner that instills a sense of fear or distress. The key element is that the actions must be persistent and directed at the victim to create a credible threat or sense of danger.

While persistent unwanted communication might be a component of stalking, it is not alone sufficient for a legal definition. Similarly, pursuing a personal relationship can be misconstrued as stalking behavior, but it lacks the legal qualifiers of intimidation and fear. Anonymous threats, while potentially alarming, do not encompass the broader pattern of behavior typically associated with stalking, which is characterized by repetition and persistence aimed at a specific individual. The focus on repeated actions towards a victim emphasizes the intrusive nature of stalking, thereby making it the most accurate reflection of its legal definition in Missouri.