Cindy Crawford Wins Stalker Restraining Order
Cindy Crawford at the Cannes Film Festival, 2013. Photo courtesy of Georges Biard under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Supermodel Cindy Crawford and her daughter, model and actress Kaia Gerber, have both been granted temporary restraining orders against a man they say has persistently stalked and harassed them in person and online, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles County.
Alarming Encounters Across States
Legal documents obtained by multiple outlets, including TMZ, USA Today, and the Daily Mail, detail an escalating pattern of alleged stalking behavior by 35-year-old Daniel Lee Schoonover of Illinois. The situation first gained attention when Schoonover reportedly approached Kaia Gerber after a theater festival performance in Williamstown, Massachusetts in July 2025. Gerber stated he asked her to participate in a seance and requested her phone number — a disturbing encounter she found unsettling enough to remember months later.
According to Crawford, the same man then appeared on October 10 at her Los Angeles home, dressed in black with an open shirt and sunglasses, where he rang the doorbell and asked if Kaia lived there, as reported by USA Today. Security footage captured him sleeping outside the pedestrian gate when no one responded. Crawford wrote in her court filing that she did not know how Schoonover obtained their address, but was deeply concerned.
Following the incident, Gerber identified the man from the Massachusetts encounter and discovered he had been leaving "hundreds" of increasingly disturbing and graphic comments on her Instagram posts, as reported by USA Today. She obtained an emergency five-day protective order and filed a formal restraining order request on October 17.
Threats Escalate to Violence
In the legal petitions, both mother and daughter described emotional distress and fear stemming from the repeated encounters. Crawford said Schoonover's online posts included direct threats to murder her and her husband, Rande Gerber, and claimed he wanted "to be in a romantic relationship with, father a child with and harm Kaia," as reported by USA Today.
"I am very troubled by this situation and it has caused me severe emotional distress," Crawford wrote in her Oct. 17 filing, as reported by USA Today. "I am even more disturbed that Schoonover has threatened to murder me and my husband, particularly [now] that where I live ... I fear for my daughter's safety and I fear for my safety as well."
Gerber echoed those fears in her own court declaration, writing that she "continue[s] to suffer, severe emotional distress and anxiety' as a result of Schoonover" and is "even more terrified" after seeing Schoonover's social media comments and knowing he attempted to locate her home, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Court Responds Swiftly
On October 20, a judge granted both Crawford and Gerber temporary restraining orders against Schoonover, prohibiting him from contacting or coming near them or their property. Rande Gerber was also reportedly granted protection through the order, based on Schoonover's alleged threats. A court hearing to determine whether to extend the restraining orders is scheduled for November 7.
This marks the second known stalking incident involving Crawford. In 2022, a man reportedly flew from the UK to confront her at her Los Angeles home, claiming they had a child together — a completely unfounded assertion. He was arrested at the scene and Crawford later filed a restraining order against him as well.
Public Lives, Private Fears
Despite the distressing ordeal, Gerber has continued to maintain her public presence. On the same weekend the restraining orders were granted, she attended the 5th Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, posting footage of the event and thanking Givenchy and the Academy.
Gerber, now 24, has followed in her mother's modeling footsteps and is also establishing herself as an actress. The two have maintained a close relationship, frequently bonding over books, theater, and shared travel experiences.
"I do feel like we've established a really strong bond and friendship outside of just a mother-daughter dynamic," Kaia recently told People magazine, as reported by the Daily Mail. Cindy agreed, saying they enjoy retreats, reading, and seeing theater together.
Conclusion
The situation surrounding Daniel Lee Schoonover underscores the alarming threats that can accompany fame in the digital era. What began as a chance encounter at a public event escalated into online harassment and physical intrusion, requiring court intervention. For Crawford and Gerber, the experience is a stark reminder of how quickly unwanted attention can spiral into something far more serious.
References: Cindy Crawford Files For Restraining Order Against 'Stalker' Claiming To Have Her Child | Cindy Crawford Files Temporary Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker | Cindy Crawford's Stalker Arrested After Reportedly Flying From UK To Discuss Their Alleged Child! | Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber granted restraining order against alleged 'incessant' stalker | Kaia Gerber granted restraining order against 'stalker who asked her to participate in a SEANCE'
