On June 29, 2017, 23-year-old Molly McLaren was brutally stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Stimpson, in a horrific act of violence that shocked the nation. This true crime documentary airing on Channel 5 on Tuesday 30 April, tells the story of how this vibrant young woman’s life was cut short in a chilling display of obsessive behavior and harassment, leaving her friends and family devastated.
McLaren, a student at the University of Kent, had met Stimpson on the dating app Tinder in 2016. They began dating shortly after connecting, but McLaren ended the relationship in June 2017 due to Stimpson’s controlling and harassing behavior.
Stimpson refused to accept the breakup and started a campaign of abuse on social media, posting derogatory messages and photos of McLaren. Despite McLaren reporting his behavior to the police and blocking him on social media, Stimpson continued his relentless pursuit.
On the day of the murder, McLaren had gone to the gym for a workout. Unbeknownst to her, Stimpson had been stalking her and followed her to the gym. As she made her way to her car, Stimpson confronted her and launched a violent attack, stabbing McLaren 75 times.
The horrific nature of the crime and the involvement of social media brought widespread attention to the case. Stimpson was found guilty of murder and jailed for life, with a minimum sentence of 26 years.
The tragic death of Molly McLaren highlighted the dangers of stalking and the potential consequences of harassing behavior. It also raised questions about the effectiveness of police procedures in handling such cases and the role of social media platforms in addressing online abuse.
Stalked: The Killing of Molly McLaren airs on Tuesday, 30 April 2024, at 10:00 PM on Channel 5.
