Survivor Stories: Claire

Claire sat on the edge of her new bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling of her rental unit. It had been two months since she left Luke, her husband of seven years. On paper, her escape was complete. She had changed towns, bought a used car, and even started using a new last name. But in the quiet moments of the night, Claire still felt watched.

It began with the roses.

Three days after moving into her new apartment, a bouquet of red roses was left on her doorstep. The card read, “Always yours. - L”. She hadn’t told anyone where she’d moved, not even her closest friends. She brushed it off as coincidence. But then the emails started — strange, unsigned messages sent to her new, private Gmail account. Things only Luke would say.

Then there was the time she walked out of the supermarket and noticed a car that looked exactly like Luke’s parked across the street. She never saw a driver, but the feeling grew — a gnawing certainty: he knows where I am.

“ Claire, have you ever shared logins with Luke? Your Apple ID? Google account? Any smart home devices?” – Support Worker

The list was long. Luke had set up everything in their old house: the Wi-Fi router, the doorbell camera, the thermostat, their phones. He even installed an Alexa in their kitchen and a smart speaker in their bedroom.

Naomi referred her to Protective Group.

Protective Group assisted Claire to scan her car and bag for unknown trackers and Bluetooth devices. Hidden under her back bumper, zip-tied near the exhaust pipe, was an AirTag. Claire nearly collapsed.

Six weeks later, Claire received a call: a warrant had been issued for Luke. The AirTag and unauthorized surveillance gave law enforcement the legal means to intervene.

Claire finally felt free — not just physically, but digitally. It had taken time, evidence, and expert support. But she had reclaimed her life.

Claire later began volunteering with a domestic violence tech safety program. She started every talk the same way:

“If you feel like you’re being watched, even after you’ve left — you probably are. But there’s help. You are not crazy. And you are not alone.”

She turned her story into power, helping others cut the digital strings their abusers tried to leave behind.