Case of Sacramento woman killed by stalker raises questions about restraining orders
Shalini Thakur, 38, was fatally shot by her stalker outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento, raising concerns about the protections restraining orders offer and their limits.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot and killed outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento by her stalker, Rohit Rohit, who had been harassing her for more than six months. After the attack, Rohit turned the gun on himself following a chase and standoff on Highway 50.
Four months before her death, Thakur filed a restraining order against Rohit, but it was not enough to keep him away. The case has sparked questions about the protections restraining orders offer and their limitations.
Attorney Dan Olsen, an expert in restraining orders, said, “It gives a lot of protections and they usually do work.”
He explained that filing a restraining order is often a last resort for people who feel they have no other options.
“Most people try a myriad of ways to resolve conflicts without going to court. Nobody likes going to court. And so, by the time that they come to us, they’re very frustrated and kind of feel there is no other answer,” Olsen said.
Dr. Natalie Jones, a psychotherapist with experience working with stalkers, highlighted the risks victims face when filing restraining orders.
“They can feel enraged that you would do this and escalate in their behavior, escalate in their aggressiveness,” Jones said. “They may start to up the ante when it comes to threats. And again, if that person is unstable mentally, they’re irrational. So, you cannot predict how they’re going to react, unfortunately.”
She described how stalkers often invade personal spaces, such as cars or homes, under the guise of concern or care.
“They like to go in your personal space, like your car or even break into your home. And they feel entitled to that. And they put it under the guise of being concerned or caring about you. And they fixate on that delusion,” Jones said.
Jones also emphasized the long-term impact stalking can have on victims.
“Once a stalker has entered your life, your life then changes forever. You are never the same after that. Safety is looked at as a privilege,” she said.
While restraining orders can provide some protection, Jones noted their limitations.
“At the end of the day it is still a piece of paper. Police still have to respond. If you’re in immediate danger, you need to figure out how to protect yourself in between now and the time that the police actually respond,” she said.
Olsen acknowledged that restraining orders may not always stop someone who is mentally ill.
“It’s rare for someone to get into a situation where they have a restraining order, and the person keeps following them, harassing them,” Olsen said. “If you have a really mentally ill person, a restraining order, like in this case where somebody is willing to kill a person, the restraining order is not going to stop them.”
When asked what can stop a stalker, Olsen said it often requires repeated arrests.
He explained that victims must call the police each time the restraining order is violated, which could eventually lead to a criminal case against the stalker. While the person may not serve significant jail time, Olsen said it could lead to mental health intervention through the criminal justice system.
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