Houston felony stalking case details months of doorstep trinkets and notes left for woman
Felony stalking charge follows a months-long pattern of doorstep visits in northwest Houston
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Harris County after being charged with felony stalking in a case that investigators say involved repeated, uninvited visits to a Houston woman’s home and the placement of small gifts and handwritten notes on her doorstep over several months.
Court records describe the suspect as Jorge Escalante Rivera. The woman told investigators she did not know him and said the repeated appearances and messages made her feel “harassed, annoyed, offended, and alarmed,” prompting concerns for her personal safety and her property.
What investigators say was left at the home
Records outline at least three separate doorstep incidents in 2025, followed by an additional late-year event captured on a home security camera.
June 23, 2025: The woman reported finding multiple trinkets and handwritten notes left at her doorstep. Surveillance video is described as showing the suspect placing figurines and other items at the home and then leaving.
September 30, 2025: Records say four items were left, including a doll resembling Jessie from “Toy Story,” another cardinal-themed figurine, an El Salvadoran flag, and a crucifix. Notes included contact information and messages declaring romantic interest. One note referenced “werita,” a Spanish term commonly used to refer to a light-skinned woman.
November 1, 2025: A broom and a handwritten message in Spanish were reportedly left at the home. The note was dated around Halloween and described the recipient as “the most beautiful witch,” according to the court filing.
Christmas night 2025 into early January 2026: The woman’s security camera recorded a vehicle stopping near the home and throwing an object into the yard before driving away. When the woman returned from vacation on January 1, 2026, she reported finding a pink yard glove with a handwritten message along with small items described as a keychain and a magnet.
How the suspect was identified
Investigators cited surveillance video as central evidence. Records describe the suspect as a former employee of a landscaping company that had serviced the woman’s residence. The woman shared a photo of the person and vehicle with people she knew in an effort to identify him; she later provided police with identifying information she said she obtained after learning of his connection to the landscaping business.
Documents state law enforcement attempted to contact Escalante Rivera at a residence in mid-November 2025 and relayed a warning through a family member that he should stop contacting the woman. The records say the conduct later resumed.
What the charge means under Texas law
Texas law defines stalking as engaging in a repeated course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes the person to feel harassed, intimidated, alarmed, or otherwise distressed, and that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances to feel the same. Under the statute, stalking is generally charged as a third-degree felony, with enhanced penalties possible in certain circumstances.
The allegations in the case remain unproven in court. A criminal charge is not evidence of guilt.
The case remains in the criminal court process in Harris County, where conditions of release, protective measures, and future hearings are typically determined by the judge based on filings and evidence presented by both sides.