Southeastern Pennsylvania man accused of traveling to Florida to stalk 14-year-old influencer

TREVOSE, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Pennsylvania man is behind bars after authorities say he traveled to Florida to stalk a 14-year-old social media influencer, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Jarred Easter, 29, from Southeastern Pennsylvania, was arrested Monday after investigators tracked him to a hotel in nearby Okaloosa County.

Authorities say Easter developed a "delusional online fixation" with the teen and spent three months sending disturbing emails, nude photos, and obsessive messages to her. The communications were reportedly one-sided and based on images the teen had publicly posted.

The disturbing acts started back in June, according to officials.

Then, things escalated this past weekend, when Easter showed up at the teen's home.

Easter allegedly tracked the teen's location through her online presence and confronted her father in the driveway of their home in the Florida panhandle.

"This was a sick-minded individual who convinced himself he had a relationship with a child," said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.

He has been charged with numerous counts of sending harmful material to a minor, traveling to meet a minor for sex, and using a computer to solicit a child.

Easter was ordered by the court to wear a GPS monitor, have no contact with minors, and no access to the internet.

His bond was set at $250,000. He remains in custody as of Wednesday.

Action News stopped by multiple addresses listed for Easter in Pennsylvania. No one answered at a home in Trevose. At another home in Eagleville, Montgomery County, a woman greeted us but then quickly closed the door.

Authorities are urging parents of children with large social media followings to take proactive steps to protect their online safety.

"Parents have to be aware and be cognizant of what their children are posting online," said Major Dustin Cosson, with the Walton County Sheriff's Office. "You don't just magically wake up one day and travel 1,000 miles to meet a juvenile, meet a child, so there obviously is that potential of something that has happened elsewhere."

Police are working to determine if there may be other victims.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is urging parents, especially those whose children have large social media followings, to be proactive in protecting their online safety. Authorities warn a digital footprint can unintentionally provide clues to a child's location or habits.

They say parents should:

• Regularly monitor your child's online accounts and direct messages.

• Encourage children NOT to share identifiable details such as school names, neighborhoods, sibling names, or frequent hangout spots.

• Use privacy settings to LIMIT who can see or comment on your child's posts.

• Remind teens that followers are NOT friends-treat every interaction with caution.

• Report any suspicious contact immediately to law enforcement.