This is one of those cases I read about and can just imagine as a Monty Python skit. Okay, a little background. Apparently, in the town of Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, Sharlene Andreyko was charged with stalking another woman. Andreyko's antics included writing a couple of dozen religious-themed letters to the woman and her husband, their acquaintances, church members and even the police. Not only that, she repeatedly called the victim a "Jezebel," and made allusions to a violent death for the woman.
Fast forward to Andreyko's day in court, where she dramatically stood up, pointed at the woman she's accused of harassing, and announced, "(She) is a very powerful witch, it's true. She has grown more insolent."
It would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that Andreyko clearly believes this, which makes her very scary indeed. She told jury members, "The reason I went this far with this is I really am a prophet. I spent a tremendous amount of time studying the Scriptures." She claimed that "the Holy Spirit advised her to "instruct" the woman's husband that his wife is a witch and that he is being deceived."
The Pottsgrove couple, who attend church regularly, said that Andreyko's activities have left them afraid to leave the house. The husband said, "It keeps going and going and going. This will never stop. She has no fear of authority. She will not stop." Andreyko says that God has told her there are two dozen witches at the church.
What's really frightening is that Andreyko truly believes she's on a mission from God. It's a shame that an innocent couple has become the victim of someone like this, who's obviously not playing with a full deck.
Update: I just read that Andreyko was found guilty of stalking. It only took the jury ten minutes to reach a verdict, so evidently they weren't really convinced about her doing the Lord's work. Judge Steven T. O'Neill revoked Andreyko's bail in light of threats she had made towards the couple, and has sent her for mental health evaluation.
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Fast forward to Andreyko's day in court, where she dramatically stood up, pointed at the woman she's accused of harassing, and announced, "(She) is a very powerful witch, it's true. She has grown more insolent."
It would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that Andreyko clearly believes this, which makes her very scary indeed. She told jury members, "The reason I went this far with this is I really am a prophet. I spent a tremendous amount of time studying the Scriptures." She claimed that "the Holy Spirit advised her to "instruct" the woman's husband that his wife is a witch and that he is being deceived."
The Pottsgrove couple, who attend church regularly, said that Andreyko's activities have left them afraid to leave the house. The husband said, "It keeps going and going and going. This will never stop. She has no fear of authority. She will not stop." Andreyko says that God has told her there are two dozen witches at the church.
What's really frightening is that Andreyko truly believes she's on a mission from God. It's a shame that an innocent couple has become the victim of someone like this, who's obviously not playing with a full deck.
Update: I just read that Andreyko was found guilty of stalking. It only took the jury ten minutes to reach a verdict, so evidently they weren't really convinced about her doing the Lord's work. Judge Steven T. O'Neill revoked Andreyko's bail in light of threats she had made towards the couple, and has sent her for mental health evaluation.
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Shows a frightening trend in monotheism: literalism.
Sorta makeas fundamentalists appear tame.
:S takes all kinds, I suppose. *bewildered head shake*
Patti— you of all people should know that she is telling the truth, since you are a self-proclaimed witch.
What I know is that if Andreyko was my neighbor, I’d build a really high fence.
And isn’t everyone pretty much a self-proclaimed whatever? By the very nature of language, once you identify yourself as something, you’re automatically self-proclaimed, so it’s a redundant statement. Just a little matter of semantics
patti
Not sure what truthsayer means there. Patti should know that the stalker was telling the truth that the victim is a witch? That the stalker is on a mission from God? I have never seen Patti to claim omnicience or prescience or the ability to read someone’s alleged mind. As she doesn’t know these people she doesn’t even have any first hand dealings upon which to base an educated guess! And seriously even if you know someone, you don’t know all their motivations and intentions – only what they choose to portray. Since most of us can really surprise even ourselves with our actions and responses no big leap to see how easy it is to have no clue as to another’s state of mind. But the way that “you are a self-proclaimed witch” was tossed in there seems to change the mix and we have a whole ‘nother Python skit. Patti should know that the victim is a witch and the stalker has a duty to proclaim this because Patti simply is a witch herself, right? We are trying to use logic not claim invasive powers for Patti. Okay, let’s go – Since Patti is a witch it stands to reason that there are such things as witches and therefore the victim in this case must be a witch as well because she is also a woman and weighs less than a duck, ergo God Must have sent the stalker on a personal mission to cleanse the church. I think I need a drink now.
Actually, it sounds like this woman has some sort of psychosis – schizophrenia or the like – and needs help. I hope she gets that help … and soon … before the threats of physical harm become a reality.
Vandreyer: But wait! It’s a duck!!
patti
You know, when life used to resemble Pythonesque carrying-ons, it was laughable. But it is happening so often now, and the right folks are NOT laughing anymore. I am beginning to develope a permanent cringe!
I missed this on the day it was published. After reading the Mercury article, I didn’t know if I should laugh outright at the woman or feel sorry for her.
These are the type of people who influence others on their opinions about Pagans.
I hope it influences people’s feelings about the brand of fundamentalism that encourages this type of psychosis.
i do belive that i dont care if the women being stalked was a witch or not, she was still being stalked, and was still reciving threats. and didnt have a full deck becuse god would never ask to kill in his name. we saw this during the witch trials people claming to talk to god or seen them doing witchcraft and then justify killing them not cool not safe
Patti,
No kidding, I AM her neighbor. I could tell you stories. This is someone you definitely do not want to live near. I can tell you that things have improved for the neighborhood since she went for her mental health check and is now known to be on medication. Definitely a few fries short of a happy meal. It’s sad b/c she has a nice husband and 2 lovely teenage daughters.
She’s back…just got off probation and was arrested again for stalking the same person. She was taken into custody when trying to purchase a gun.
Funny how once she gets off probation she goes right back to the way she was before. Shows you how smart she is, especially because when trying to purchase the gun she lied on her background check about not being in a mental hospital, thankfully she is well known in the area where she lives so the seller caught her lying. It took 2 cops to arrest her.. Wait after she gets out again, this story will probably never end.
This latest fiasco should violate her probation … hopefully enough to lock her up in the looney bin where she belongs.