A 40-year-old Idaho man allegedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and another family member, then tried to enter her home through a window the night before she reported him to police.
Nampa Police responded to the stalking complaint on October 10, 2026. The woman reported receiving messages from her former boyfriend about their breakup, including threats to kill her and another family member. During the investigation, officers learned about the attempted entry through her window the previous night.
Police obtained an arrest warrant and established a meeting location where the man believed he would meet his former girlfriend. Officers waited for him to arrive, but as he approached on foot with both hands inside his hoodie pocket, they heard what they described as the distinctive sound of a gun being racked.
A handgun was recovered from his hoodie pocket, and officers arrested him without incident. The Nampa Police Department identified the man as Kyle Robert Stearns, of Nampa, and announced charges including attempted murder, unlawful firearm possession, second-degree stalking, and trespassing.
The Response Was Nearly Unanimous
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The department’s Facebook announcement drew numerous supportive comments, with readers praising officers for taking the woman’s complaint seriously and making the arrest before anyone was reported injured.
“Great job! Thank you for taking her seriously,” one commenter wrote.
“Props to the victim for taking a stand,” another wrote, expressing concern about the dangers faced by people in threatening relationships.
One woman described years of unwanted contact and threats from a former boyfriend who had been incarcerated. She said he continued reaching her through letters and calls from other inmates despite a no-contact order, and that her reports to prison officials and law enforcement had produced little relief.
After his release, she said, he resumed contacting her, prompting her to change her telephone number. She reported that he continued attempting to reach her through Facebook Messenger years later.
“Glad NPD takes this seriously,” she wrote.
Her account has not been independently verified, but her experience was among the more detailed responses to the department’s announcement.
Most commenters praised officers or expressed relief that the woman had sought help. One questioned the public identification of Stearns before trial and raised concerns about the presumption of innocence.
Lt. Brian Jones of the Nampa Police Department commended the woman for coming forward.
“We commend the victim for her courage and willingness to do the right thing in this scary situation,” Jones said. “We take a firm stance against any type of violence, regardless of the involved parties’ relationship.”
A Dangerous Combination
The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence identifies threats to kill, recent separation, and stalking among factors associated with heightened danger in abusive relationships. Access to firearms can compound those concerns.
Several of those factors were present in the conduct described by Nampa Police. Such indicators are used to assess potential danger, although they cannot establish a person’s intentions or predict the outcome of a particular encounter.
Idaho’s second-degree stalking statute covers more than physically following someone. Repeated unwanted communications and contact at a person’s residence may qualify when the conduct meets the law’s requirements, including causing substantial emotional distress or fear of physical injury.
The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance provides information about victim services, protection orders, and local support programs. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential assistance at 800-799-7233.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.