A 44-year-old Canton woman was arrested Monday evening after being found near former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein’s new Chicago home. Kathleen Kearney (inset) was charged with two counts of felony stalking, according to Chicago Police. Bond was set during her arraignment at $75,000.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Assistant State’s Attorney Lorraine Scaduto told the court during Kearney’s arraignment that Kearney flew to Chicago so that she could find Epstein and give a birthday gift to his young son. She first approached Epstein’s wife, Marie, outside of his home by saying, “I’m Kathy, you must be Marie.” Marie realized that something was wrong, began to fear for her safety, and called the Cubs security team, which called the police. Kearney then drove to Wrigley Field to try to find Epstein, according to Scaduto, but eventually returned to his home, where she parked nearby. Police found her and brought her to Epstein, who ID'd her as the same person who had followed him in Boston, according to the Tribune.
Brookline Police did not confirm that Epstein complained about Kearney specifically when he lived in town, but on Tuesday the department released a statement, saying, “This woman, Ms. Kathleen Kearney, was never arrested here in Brookline, and she is not in any police reports. Brookline Police were privately hired as detail officers to watch the Brookline residence of Theo Epstein back in April 2010 and May 2010. A total of 18 dates. The officers stayed outside in personal vehicles to keep an eye on the residence. Actual reasons beyond watching the house are not a public matter. Most of these details took place during Red Sox games.”
Kearney told the court that she worked as a librarian at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Boston. Reps from the cooking school were not available on Tuesday. The Tribune reported that Kearney admitted to police she came to Chicago to find Epstein and to bring his child the birthday present. She also told police she had tried to deliver Burger King to Epstein when he worked at Fenway Park.