An American court sentenced Christopher Blaine Thomas to more than 40 years in prison for stalking and kidnapping Samantha Stites, whom he held in a hidden soundproof bunker, prosecutors said.
Evidence showed Thomas constructed the concealed chamber to prevent detection while subjecting Stites to prolonged confinement and psychological intimidation.
Stites eventually escaped or was rescued—details sealed in portions of the record—but testified about conditions that jurors said justified a near-life term.
Investigators linked Thomas to prior harassment reports that escalated into felony conduct when he acquired restraining-order violations.
Victim advocates cited the case in legislative briefings on stalking laws, arguing that early intervention might have prevented the bunker kidnapping.
Thomas’s defense team argued for a shorter sentence citing mental-health evaluations, but the judge sided with prosecutors on aggravating factors.
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/awards-constituted-in-honour-of-netaji-given-to-ex-japan-pm-others-101642965484058-quickread.html