Indiana man charged with stalking, threatening Taylor Swift after trying to meet singer on Eras Tour
A 33-year-old Indiana man is facing charges including stalking and intimidation after authorities said he threatened violence after being denied access to his "soulmate" singer Taylor Swift.
Mitchell Taebel of Long Beach was booked into the LaPorte County Jail Friday after being arrested on charges of harassment, stalking, intimidation and invasion of privacy in connection to threats that began in March when the superstar Eras Tour kicked off in Glendale, Arizona, LaPorte County Sheriff's Office records show.
"On March 29, 2023, Taebel posted a voice message to his Instagram account that he sent to (Swift) official Instagram account stating that he would happily wear a bomb if he cannot be with his soul mate," a charging document obtained by local newspaper The Times of Northwest Indiana.
The next day, on March 30, Taebel left a message for Swift's father claiming to be her soulmate and on April 5, the warrant obtained continues, police wrote he sent her a picture on Instagram of someone firing a handgun at a gun range, the outlet reported.
Officials said Taebel threatened to "destroy" Swift and her dancers if she performed her song "Vigilante (expletive)" at a show, the outlet reported.
Police: He showed up at Swift's Nashville condo
Police say on May 5 Taebel traveled to condominiums in Nashville where Swift has a home and was stopped in the lobby by security after entering through an unsecured door.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron told Paste BN Taebel showed up at the condo and "said he was a reporter and wanted the staff to let Taylor Swift know he was single," according to the concierge who called police.
Taebel fled the scene before officers arrived, Aaron said, and later that night, he was spotted at Nissan Stadium by security, escorted out, and banned from the venue.
Neither the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office nor a Swift representative could immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning.
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Taebel remained jailed Thursday
Court records show Taebel and remained jailed Thursday. A judge on June 1 set a $15,000 bond for the stalking charge.
He is slated to appear in court on July 27 for a hearing on the criminal case.
Swift is currently performing on her Eras Tour, which included performances last weekend at Soldier Field in Chicago, and includes upcoming shows Friday and Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.