Mom with daughter at Walmart had a 'gut feeling' about suspicious buyer — she then made a life-saving decision

With the amount of risks we may be exposed to, being vigilant at all times is a need. With increasing crime rates and other negligent mishaps, we must rely on our awareness and be mindful of our surroundings. A mom, MaryBeth Nappa (@mb_escapades), managed to get out of a possibly threatening situation with her 9-year-old daughter, thanks to her mindful and brave attitude, per Local News. The mom had gone shopping with her daughter at Walmart and felt something was fishy about a strange man who had been following her. The woman shared a video of the same on TikTok along with a smart lesson. 

Nappa mentioned that the man had been following her and her daughter throughout the store while they were shopping. She also noticed him capturing videos and pictures of the duo. The mom had a bad "gut feeling" about the man. At one point, when things got too suspicious, she pulled out her phone and began recording him. Observing that he was being recorded, he immediately fled from the area. The mom brought the situation to a staff’s notice, who also thought it was “creepy.” After speaking with the manager, an investigation was carried out and Nappa’s suspicious feeling was rightly verified. 

Cicero Chief Police Steve Rotunno revealed that the man was a stalker. “He was charged with stalking, fourth degree,” he said. He also added that the man in question, Eric Fuller, had also been a one-time sex offender. The criminal eventually turned himself in. In a follow-up video, the mom explained why she chose to take action. She said that "he just got out of jail. He’s on parole”: “I’m happy I chose to record him and post it everywhere,” she added. Because she took a picture of the man and shared it publicly, he was identified. Moreover, it even helped to warn people about his criminal nature so they could stay alert. The recording also served as evidence and was handed over to the investigating officers. 

Rotunno is glad for the mom’s shrewd observation and for having reported the same. Had she ignored it, the man might have been roaming out as a potential threat to several others. The officer also shared his bit of advice. He cautioned people to never approach the suspect in such situations. “Never. Just gather as much information as you can, if there’s a vehicle involved, gather a plate number, contact the police immediately, and also maybe the store manager and get the police started that way,” he explained. The mom also shared a message, “If you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, then it’s probably not right."

People applauded the mom for her smart and brave reaction that not only saved their lives but also that of others. @remixyourmarriage wrote, “You handled this so bravely. Thank you for teaching us what to do in this situation.” @coolcreationss added, “You go, mama. I agree with your method.” @alittlebitofranch said, “Why would people question you recording them back? Intimidate them. Get that proof.” @mackennasmith5 remarked, “You just saved so many people by posting this.”

You can follow MaryBeth Nappa (@mb_escapades) on TikTok to learn more about how she foiled the stalking attempt by the criminal.

This article originally appeared 3 months ago.