Something Was Wrong

WCN Presents: [Caitlin Mathis] Dedicated to Change

January 1, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Caitlin Mathis's journey as a stalking victim and survivor led her to become a victim advocate, sharing her story to inspire awareness and change, particularly in honor of Jackie Vandagriff. 
  • Caitlin experienced escalating stalking behaviors from her ex-boyfriend after ending their relationship, including unwanted contact, showing up at her dorm, and ultimately, the murder of Jackie Vandagriff by the same stalker. 
  • Effective documentation of stalking incidents, as advised by Officer Polk, was crucial in securing a criminal trespass order and later, the evidence needed for the capital murder charges against her stalker. 

Segments

Introduction and Context Setting
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(00:00:59)
  • Key Takeaway: This episode of Something Was Wrong, titled “WCN Presents: [Caitlin Mathis] Dedicated to Change,” is airing between seasons and focuses on campus violence.
  • Summary: Host Amy B. Chesler introduces Caitlin Mathis, noting her story is adjacent to the upcoming Season 25 content on campus violence. The episode is part of the ‘What Came Next’ series, featuring over 150 episodes of survivorship. A content warning is issued for topics including violence, abuse, suicide, and murder.
Caitlin Mathis’s Background
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(00:02:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Caitlin Mathis began a relationship with her future stalker the summer after high school graduation, leading her to navigate law enforcement systems during college.
  • Summary: Caitlin is a victim advocate from Texas whose life changed after starting a relationship with a man whose actions would impact her and a town forever. Her mother taught her about toxic behavior and manipulation from a young age, and she learned emotional regulation through early counseling. The loss of her stepfather, Chris, at age 13 prompted her healing journey through journaling.
Meeting the Stalker
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(00:07:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Caitlin met her future stalker the day after graduating high school and quickly entered a relationship, despite early signs of his controlling and volatile nature.
  • Summary: She met the man at 18 and he asked her to be his girlfriend after only two dates, which she accepted due to naivety. Within two months, she questioned his nosy behavior, desire to isolate her, and tendency to fly into rages. Coworkers and her sister warned her that he had a reputation as a creep.
Initiating Breakup and Stalking
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(00:10:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Caitlin ended the toxic relationship just before leaving for college, which immediately triggered intense cyberstalking and physical appearances on campus.
  • Summary: She decided to end things due to his unhealthy behavior, but he convinced her to stay together briefly by promising to support her in college. Upon moving to UNT, she ended the relationship via text, leading him to immediately blow up her phone and begin stalking. He was arrested the same night for an unrelated intoxication issue.
Escalation at College Dorm
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(00:13:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The stalker showed up at Caitlin’s dorm room, leading to her first police report and the subsequent issuance of a criminal trespass order for campus.
  • Summary: The first physical appearance at her dorm occurred on August 24, 2016, where he begged her to take him back, prompting her RA to intervene. Following this incident, she filed a police report, and Officer Polk advised her to document all digital harassment, which was key evidence for the protective order.
Workplace Harassment and Documentation
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(00:19:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The stalker violated the campus trespass order by appearing at Caitlin’s new workplace in Denton, and her General Manager refused assistance without a formal restraining order.
  • Summary: The stalking escalated when he appeared at her first day at the Denton Buffalo Wild Wings, forcing her to hide and eventually confront him. When she sought help from her Denton GM, he stated he could not act unless she had a restraining order, leading her to transfer back to the Grapevine location. She was advised by Officer Polk to document everything, which helped build the case for the protective order.
Dorm Confrontation and Arrest
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(00:22:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The third major incident involved the stalker appearing at her dorm room while she was alone, leading to her calling 911 and his second arrest for violating the trespass order.
  • Summary: On September 6th, he knocked on her door, claiming he had something for her, causing her to hide and call 911. Officers found flowers left on the door handle and arrested him after locating him on security footage. This arrest allowed police to gather evidence for an Emergency Protective Order (EPO), which was granted on September 8th.
Jackie Vandagriff Murder
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(00:23:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Caitlin’s stalker was released on bail shortly after the EPO and subsequently murdered Jackie Vandagriff in Denton on September 13, 2016.
  • Summary: The stalker met Jackie Vandagriff, a TWU student, after being released from custody following the EPO issuance. Jackie’s remains were found dismembered and burned at Grapevine Lake the next day, though she was not identified until later. Caitlin was shocked by the murder occurring near where she and her ex had spent time together.
Connecting the Cases
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(00:26:14)
  • Key Takeaway: A Grapevine detective’s unusual questions about a kiddie pool confirmed to Caitlin that her stalker was connected to the murder investigation.
  • Summary: A Grapevine detective called Caitlin asking about her ex-stalker and a kiddie pool, which was not public knowledge, causing her to realize the connection to the murder. Officer Polk confirmed her suspicions, and the stalker was arrested on September 18th for violating the protective order, allowing Grapevine PD to hold him for the murder case. The FBI later searched his home and found evidence linking him to capital murder, including a knife and items belonging to Jackie.
Trial and Aftermath
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(00:32:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The stalker was charged with capital murder, and Caitlin never gave a victim impact statement for the stalking charges because the murder charge took precedence.
  • Summary: The trial occurred in 2018, and Caitlin was not prepared to be in the same room as him, leading to an emotional reaction outside the courtroom. The judge ultimately had Officer Polk testify about Caitlin’s relation to the murder instead of having her testify. The stalker is serving a life sentence, and Caitlin plans to oppose any future parole hearings, stating he is ‘born to kill’.
Coping and Advocacy Work
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(00:35:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Caitlin managed her trauma through therapy, journaling, music, and maintaining a small support circle, and is now dedicated to improving the judicial system’s handling of stalking cases.
  • Summary: She initially struggled with guilt and nightmares, using free counseling from UNT and journaling as coping mechanisms. She is working with SPARC (Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center) as an advisor on a grant to train law enforcement and court officials. Caitlin hopes her story serves as a warning about toxic relationships and encourages paying attention to and calling out evil.