A Mississippi man has been charged with stalking and vandalism after crashing his car through the front gate of actress Jennifer Aniston's home in Los Angeles. Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, from New Albany, Mississippi, faces serious legal repercussions following a two-year campaign of harassment directed at the star of the beloved sitcom "Friends." Prosecutors announced on Wednesday that Carwyle was charged with felony stalking and vandalism, with an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Carwyle's troubling behavior began in March 2023 when he started sending Aniston unwanted messages via voicemail, email, and social media. This persistent harassment culminated in a shocking incident on May 5, 2025, when Carwyle crashed his grey Chrysler PT Cruiser into the front gate of Aniston's Bel-Air mansion around 12:20 p.m.
At the time of the crash, Aniston, 56, was at home but fortunately uninjured. A security guard at her residence intervened, detaining Carwyle until the police arrived. The crash caused substantial damage to the gate, prompting the authorities to arrest him on the spot.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed serious concerns about the implications of stalking, stating, "Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities." He emphasized his office's commitment to prosecuting those who engage in such behavior, ensuring they are held accountable.
Carwyle was held in jail following his arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 8, 2025. His bail has been set at $150,000. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison. This is not the first time Aniston has faced such a situation; she previously obtained a restraining order against a man who believed he was in a relationship with her back in 2010.
Reports indicate that Carwyle's obsession with Aniston intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends have described him as having undergone significant personality changes during this time. One friend, Steve Rhea, noted that Carwyle left Mississippi in September 2024 to live out of his car at a Walmart Supercenter in Burbank, California. Rhea expressed concern for Carwyle, saying, "He needs some serious help. This is rock bottom."
Another friend, Marty Merritt, shared details about Carwyle's alarming behavior, stating, "He started sending me outrageous messages — including claims of being God and the Antichrist — and posting 'creepy' things online." Merritt expressed regret over the incident involving Aniston, saying, "I really hate that this happened to Miss Aniston; this was terrible." He hopes that the situation will bring attention to Carwyle's need for help.
Aniston, who purchased her midcentury modern mansion for approximately $21 million in 2012, has not publicly commented on the incident. The property, situated on a 3.4-acre lot, features a guesthouse, swimming pool, and even vineyards. It has been a centerpiece of her life, even hosting her wedding to actor Justin Theroux in 2015.
The incident has raised questions about celebrity safety and the lengths to which some individuals will go in their obsession with public figures. The legal system will now determine how to handle Carwyle's case, balancing the need for justice with the complexities of mental health issues that often accompany such situations.
As the arraignment approaches, the public remains attentive to the developments surrounding this case, which highlights the darker side of fame and the challenges that come with it. The hope is that justice will be served while also addressing the underlying issues that led to this troubling behavior.
