Woman Accused Of Stalking Coral Springs Priest Remains In Jail

CORAL SPRINGS (CBS4)- A parishoner accused of stalking a local priest is being held in jail pending a psychiatric evaluation.

The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation for 70-year-old Dorothy Joan Scalise. Scalise is accused of stalking Father Edward Konopka, a 92-year-old priest at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Coral Springs.

Konopka said the woman started to stalk him at his home. Konopka said he was scared because he lives alone in a modest Tamarac apartment.

"I am afraid for her that she's going to do harm, beginning with herself or somebody, myself included," said Konopka.

Police arrested Scalise Wednesday afternoon after she allegedly left threatening phone messages on Father Konopka's home voicemail. He said he would get the calls every morning before 6 a.m.

"The phone hasn't been ringing the last two mornings," he said.

Father Konopka didn't know what to think of the calls.

"I don't know what she's talking about. It's sheer nonsense. You know, whatever is on her mind," said Father Konopka.

On some days, he said, he would find Scalise, also of Tamarac, in a parking space across from the apartment building, just sitting, waiting for him. On other mornings, he said, he would find Scalise sitting at the staircase right next to his apartment, waiting for him to walk out. She would be waiting, he said, with doughnuts – one for herself and one for Father Konopka.

Father Konopka calls this a sad case and he hopes that someone can help Scalise soon

She is still in jail. Police said she will be fitted for an ankle monitoring bracelet Friday morning.