Man on parole became infatuated with woman at Walmart, stalked family, Florida cops say

A paroled homicide suspect became so obsessed with a random Walmart shopper that he targeted her children after his date requests were rejected, according to investigators in Florida.

It’s estimated 50-year-old Sylvester Ingram of Crystal River “called her more than 500 times since March” of 2024, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 24 news release.

“The victim advised she met Ingram at Walmart when he complimented her and paid for her groceries,” the sheriff’s office said.

“He then obtained her phone number and began trying to contact her repeatedly. The victim blocked his number, but he continued to call from a No Caller ID number. This year alone, the victim received more than 100 phone calls from Ingram, during which he threatened the victim.”

When those threats failed to win a date, a man called her son’s school and tried to switch the boy’s transportation from a school bus to a private vehicle, officials said. A teacher refused the request.

A recording of one conversation with the victim included the man confessing he “does not lose when it come to his heart,” according to an affidavit.

The victim decided to call the sheriff’s office after he said in a Jan. 21 call that “her juvenile daughter will not make it to see her 16th birthday,” the affidavit says.

“The victim advised she has no idea how the suspect knows her daughter is 15,” officials said.

Investigators counted 109 calls from the same number just between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22, the sheriff’s office said.

A background check on the suspect revealed he “is on active federal felony probation/parole for homicide,” the sheriff’s office said.

Ingram was arrested at the Marion County Federal Courthouse and has been charged with aggravated stalking and violating felony probation, officials said.

Crystal River is about a 80-mile drive north from Tampa.

This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Man on parole became infatuated with woman at Walmart, stalked family, Florida cops say."