Psychopathic stalker Paul Lambert’s sick fantasies knew no bounds
Paul Lambert was a dangerous self-described “psychopath” who once faked his own death and attempted to blackmail an American television reporter after terrorising her for months.
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PAUL Lambert was a dangerous self-described “psychopath” who once faked his own death and attempted to blackmail an American television reporter after terrorising her for months.
The 36-year-old who stabbed a young doctor in an attempt to rape and murder her in her Port Macquarie home had a long and frightening history of stalking.
Lambert was shot dead by police on Thursday after he tried to kill Angela Jay, whom he’d met on dating app Tinder weeks earlier.
But last year, he was arrested in the US for stalking Fox News reporter Brittany Ann Keil, leaving her terrified and unable to eat and sleep.
According to documents filed in a Florida Court, Lambert “maliciously threatened (Ms Keil’s) reputation, threatened to expose her to disgrace, expose her secrets … with the intention to compel Brittany to see him”.
“He also has attempted to extort money in exchange for no contact with her and in exchange for not following through with his malicious attempts … to ruin her life.”
Lambert first contacted Ms Keil in October 2014 via Tinder while holidaying in the US with his wife. He did not tell her he was married.
They didn’t meet in person but Lambert stayed in contact with Ms Keil after returning to Australia. He told her both his father and best friend had died and that she was the only person who cared.
As the weeks went on, his stories became increasingly bizarre and he tried to convince the journalist he was being held against his will, beaten and poisoned.
He also claimed to have suffered a head injury during a hiking accident that had caused him to have “mental problems”.
Ms Keil attempted to cut communication but Lambert told her his head injury had caused him to forget her request. When he began making plans to travel to the US to meet Ms Keil, she asked him not to, telling him she was seeing somebody else.
But she took pity on him when he arrived and agreed to spend time with him after he told her he had given up his life in Australia to see if they could “make it work”.
The relationship lasted only three weeks and in mid-April, she told him she no longer wanted to see him.
He took it badly, claiming he was dying from a brain tumour in an attempt to gain her sympathy. Between April 30 and May 6, Lambert bombarded Ms Keil with 23 emails, 11 Facebook messages and 12 phone calls. He called her employer, posted comments about her on social media sites and threatened to reveal personal information she had told him in confidence.
With the help of police, Ms Keil sent an email to Lambert pleading with him to stop or she would take legal action.
“Paul, please do not contact me anymore through any means,” she wrote.
“Do not call my job, my phones, email me, text me or attempt to reach me through social media. I no longer wish to have any contact with you whatsoever.
“I tried to be a friend because of what you are going through but your irrational and vindictive behaviour has made that impossible.”
He replied an hour later, demanding money, saying he would “take things further” if she did not pay up.
“That’s a threat to me. You think I care when I have a death sentence. You don’t care about me why should I to you? A friend would want to catch up. Talk. Have fun,” he wrote.
An hour later, he emailed again.
“You want that fine. You pay for the stuff you didn’t appreciate. Can’t bank a cheque. So cash in an envelope or something.”
He continued to email throughout the night, demanding again and again that she leave cash for him at her work.
“Again can you reply about money. That’s it. Or am I to presume you have taken things further. If you have then I will as well. Sort money then no contact,” he wrote.
The harassment continued, with Lambert emailing Ms Keil from various accounts claiming to have multiple personality disorder.
“I was hoping not to do this but I feel I must. For you and your sanity,” he wrote.
“Yes, I am Paul. One of 9 personalities. I have all memories of others and none of the others have mine.”
On another occasion, he called her from a blocked number and when she said “hello”, repeated her name over and over.
She hung up and he continued to call, leaving various voice messages.
Later, he emailed her, claiming to have a twin brother. He said they had both been dating her and she hadn’t known. He threatened to commit suicide if she did not continue to see him and referred to her as a “killer” on her work Facebook page.
On May 11, police in Orlando tracked Lambert to a resort and arrested him for stalking and extortion.
A report prepared by police said Lambert admitted to harassing Ms Keil and having harassed others in the past.
“Paul admitted he lied to Brittany about having a brain tumour and about having a twin brother,” the report said.
“He stated pretty much all of the things he had ever told her since October were lies or exaggerations of the truth.
“He stated … he has told people in his life that his family members have died frequently. He stated his father, mother and best friend have all died over a dozen times.
“Brittany stated she could not bring herself to cut off all contact with Paul early on because it was one tragedy after another and she thought she would be a horrible person to abandon someone who had just lost their father and best friend back to back and was then hospitalised in a hiking accident.”
Lambert was eventually deported from the US.
A former friend of Lambert said he had been known to make up outlandish stories – including claims that people close to him had died – since high school.
The friend said Lambert faked his own death by sending various friends a 10-page suicide note via express post. Lambert was found days later, alive and well.
Originally published as Psychopathic stalker Paul Lambert’s sick fantasies knew no bounds
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