SANDY — Lessons learned and policies changed were the result of a KSL Investigation into a stalking case in Sandy. But a year later, no charges have been filed.
The stalking report details
On May 16, 2025, a woman reported a case of severe stalking to Sandy Police. She asked to only be identified in this story by her first name, Azalea.
KSL investigated the response to her report, finding dangerous delays and failures to comply with state law. The department made changes to better handle these cases moving forward.
“I feel like I can finally breathe again and … it’s been amazing,” Azalea said during a recent interview.
Azalea's personal experience with fear
The last time she participated in an on-camera interview, Azalea came to KSL’s downtown studios, too afraid for her safety and ours to meet anywhere else.
“Unless someone has experienced this for themselves, they don’t have any idea what it’s like to live in constant fear,” she said last year.
“I didn’t even know I could feel that amount of fear that I felt,” she said during a remote interview last week, reflecting on her situation in the summer of 2025.
Life after moving away
That fear has now turned to freedom. Azalea moved out of state. She’s happy in a relationship with the same partner who stuck by her through months of harassment and stalking. She's moved on with life.
Police policy changes and disappointment
After Azalea chose to speak up about her case, Sandy Police took action. The department changed its policies, with the intention of never repeating the mistakes made in handling Azalea's case again.
“I feel so disappointed and so let down in so many ways,” Azalea said.
While those changes have likely helped others, Azalea said she's given up hope that her stalker will be held accountable.
Advocating for other survivors
While she considered that speaking out a year later could prompt her stalker to start harassing her again, Azalea said she wants to continue using her voice to raise awareness about the importance of taking stalking cases seriously. She knows many other survivors in Utah cannot move away to find peace.
“A lot of situations ended a lot different than mine,” Azalea said. “It's not something that should be taken lightly and it's something that does matter and that so many women struggle with, and it shouldn't just be something else that's swept under the rug.”
Sandy Police Department response
The Sandy Police Department did not agree to participate in an interview, citing the active investigation, but a public information officer said the department is continuing to pursue accountability and that the case is not as straightforward as people might think.
In an emailed statement, he wrote in part, “We will not be providing additional comment on the case specifics at this time, but we have recently served warrants related to this case,” and “We work hard to ensure the safety of our victims in all of our cases.”
Have you experienced something you think just isn’t right? The KSL Investigators want to help. Submit your tip at investigates@ksl.com or 385-707-6153 so we can get working for you.
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