The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Episode: "Chilling Obsession"

Hosts: Hannah Smith & Pasha Eaton

Guest: Kylie Burse

Date: December 18, 2025

Overview

This gripping episode of The Knife dives deep into the harrowing story of Kylie Burse, a well-known Denver meteorologist who endured years of stalking and obsession from a viewer. Through an empathetic, first-person interview, Kylie recounts her gradual journey from feeling flattered to feeling threatened, the failures of the justice system to adequately protect her, and the complex psychological toll stalking inflicts on victims. The hosts, Hannah Smith and Pasha Eaton, aim to highlight the legal grey areas of stalking and the urgent need for reform, while giving a voice to the often-overlooked ripple effects of crime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kylie's Background and the Origins of the Obsession

[03:37–05:15]

• Kylie introduces herself as a Denver morning meteorologist with 15 years’ experience.
• She explains the unique intimacy broadcasters feel with local viewers: "You want people to feel like...we are your friend, we are part of your morning routine. We’re someone that you can trust." (Kylie Burse, 05:15)
• At public charity events, Kylie is often recognized—95% of these interactions are positive, but a small percentage are immediately “uncomfortable”.

2. The First Red Flags

[06:02–11:12]

• Kylie describes meeting the stalker (unnamed, older, “non-threatening”) at a firefighter chili cook-off.
• He follows her group from a distance, is friendly but lingers longer than most.
• At her own fundraiser, the man arrives early, insists on “helping” with prep, and remains throughout, repeatedly overstepping boundaries.
• Early contact is chalked up to overzealous fandom, but it quickly escalates from persistent Instagram messages to the stalker reaching out to her friends and family.

3. Escalation: Obsession Becomes Ominous

[11:40–13:14]

• Over months, the man makes repeated new social media accounts to circumvent blocks, and begins contacting Kylie’s family to insinuate himself into her life.
• “...He probably by the end of this had seven or eight different accounts...” (Kylie Burse, 12:19)
• Disturbingly, he pretends interest in her sister-in-law’s art, using that as a pretext to connect.

4. Crossing the Line: Real-World Encounters and Gaslighting

[17:25–22:51]

• During a public hike, the stalker shows up despite precautions taken by Kylie. He presents her with hiking boots as a “gift,” claiming they are in a relationship and showing hundreds of messages with a person he believed was Kylie—but which were from an impersonator.
• Kylie is forced to explain the deception and urge him to contact the police, not her, while feeling threatened and responsible for his emotional breakdown.
• “I feel very sick to my stomach, because clearly what has happened is someone has been pretending to be me. I’m like, you need to call the police. This is a crime. Someone has been impersonating me. That is not me.” (Kylie Burse, 02:27 & 21:16; repeated for emphasis)

5. Legal Hurdles: Pursuing a Restraining Order

[22:51–28:32]

• Kylie details the confusing and arduous process to secure a temporary restraining order, which required her to serve the man with paperwork—even though he was a stranger, not a domestic partner as most legal processes assume.
• She succeeds in getting a temporary restraining order in September 2023; the man appears in court, acts dismissive ("I have no reason to talk to this woman"), but soon violates the order dozens of times.
  • “...if you even follow her, if you like any pictures, all of that is a violation of that restraining order.” (Judge, 28:32)

6. Persistence Despite the Law: Court, Orders, and Continued Contact

[28:32–34:04]

• Even after the restraining order, the stalker continues contact, showing he does not—or will not—understand the severity of his actions. Kylie reflects, “He may not be well because he’s not understanding the consequences of his actions.” (Kylie Burse, 29:39)
• The court finally grants a permanent restraining order, and she has peace for about 18 months.

7. Renewed Threat: In-Person Home Encounter

[34:04–41:09]

• September 11, 2025: The stalker suddenly appears at Kylie’s home, first in the alley by her garage, then at her front door.
• “I look through the peephole and he’s standing there, and I just go, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God.’” (Kylie Burse, 38:39)
• Kylie flees, experiences a panic attack, and must convince 911 and police of the seriousness of the violation.
• Initially, because of a paperwork error, police say they cannot arrest him; only with Kylie’s own copy of the order is he taken into custody.

8. Systemic Failures: Legal Definitions and Real-World Safety

[41:09–47:00]

• Despite his arrest, the DA ultimately drops felony stalking charges due to a perceived gap in “repeated” behavior, opting for a misdemeanor—making the threat of jail and Kylie’s sense of protection much less assured.
  • “...the reason was that there was that year and a half gap in the stalking. So from January 2024 to September of 2025 was a year and a half. And that timeline was too big of a gap to be considered repeated...” (Kylie Burse quoting DA, 41:59)
• Kylie is forced to move and live in hotels for her safety, feeling completely let down by the justice system.

9. Psychological Toll and Aftermath

[47:20–49:59]

• Kylie describes the trauma and exhaustion following the incident: “Once your safety is threatened, your whole world just shifts in perspective. I can’t describe it as anything other than, like, forgive me, I know, a meteorologist; I felt like I was walking around through fog...” (Kylie Burse, 47:20)
• Even seemingly “non-threatening” messages feel violating when they are obsessive and persistent, creating permanent anxiety and loss of control.

10. Going Public: Spark for Change & Finding Community

[51:14–56:10]

• Kylie goes public with her story for awareness—a Denver Post article leads to hundreds of messages from other stalking victims, both comforting and distressing.
• “I went public so that hopefully… they would take another woman’s case or another person’s case seriously in this situation.” (Kylie Burse, 54:11)
• She describes waiting for “normalcy,” and urges listeners who may be experiencing stalking: “Just know that you’re not alone.” (Kylie Burse, 56:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s a complete mind-fuck trying to wrap your head around this person who’s obsessed with you… your sense of safety is completely gone, and no one’s made an overt threat to you. But you know there’s a danger, and you know there’s a threat.”
  – Kylie Burse, 50:19

• “I felt very helpless. I felt like I did everything I was supposed to do.… then I felt like [the court] was failing me and that there was just nothing I could do about it because I had tried to fight.”
  – Kylie Burse, 46:34

• “If a year and a half can go by and that person still has you at the forefront of their mind, that is what I think is so scary about it all.”
  – Hannah Smith, 69:41

• “You’re taking away someone’s sense of personal safety, and that’s huge.”
  – Pasha Eaton, 58:32

Important Timestamps

• First meeting with stalker at chili cook-off: 06:10
• Fundraiser incident & early red flags: 09:14–13:14
• Escalation to contacting family: 11:40–13:14
• Stalker appears at public hike, claims relationship (catfishing revealed): 18:03–22:51
• Legal process for restraining order: 26:41–28:03
• Violation of restraining order, social media harassment: 30:33–34:04
• Stalker shows up at home, Kylie’s panic: 34:30–41:09
• DA refuses felony stalking charge, explanation: 41:59–44:47
• Kylie moves for safety, emotional costs: 47:20–49:59
• Going public, response from others: 51:14–52:20

Broader Reflections, Legal Issues & Systemic Critique

• Stalking’s legal definitions (particularly “repeatedly”) are subjective and leave broad discretion to DAs and judges, undermining victims’ safety (43:45–47:00).
• The justice system’s tendency to minimize nonviolent or “gray area” threats makes it difficult for victims to get timely help.
• There’s often a large gap between how the law defines “stalking” and how it is experienced—especially when the behavior is persistent but not overtly violent.

Closing Thoughts and Resources

• Kylie’s story exemplifies both the power and limits of storytelling as activism.
• The hosts reiterate the need for public awareness, stronger protective laws, and more empathy for victims suffering both overt and subtle forms of personal violation.
• For support or to help others, listeners are encouraged to visit organizations like stopstalkingus.com.

Episode Tone

The conversation is candid, deeply empathetic, and at times raw. Kylie’s voice is practical and rooted in lived experience, while the hosts balance investigative rigor with compassion and advocacy for systemic change.

This summary was carefully crafted to reflect the full arc, impact, and tone of “Chilling Obsession.” All major topics, legal nuances, and emotional beats are represented, with speaker quotes and timestamps for clarity.