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She Calls It Stalking; He Says It Was Affair

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By LISA A. DAVIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

HOLIDAY - Rebecca Ann Gohn wakes up each morning with the same thought running through her mind: "This could be the day."

For months, Gohn said, she has been terrorized by a man she and her husband, Edward, used to consider a friend. In fact, Hadzi Palevic and his wife, who goes by "Judy" rather than her Yugoslavian name, were the Gohns' best friends for a time.

That changed in late 2006 or early 2007 when Palevic's behavior became odd, Rebecca Gohn said Friday. He started sending her explicit text messages asking her for sex.

After what seemed like a sincere apology, the Gohns gave him a second chance in March. But that summer something seemed to snap in him again and the situation worsened, she said.

Palevic, 41, of 5047 Reseda Drive in New Port Richey, was arrested Thursday night on a charge of aggravated stalking. He was released before 7:30 a.m. Friday after posting $5,000 bail.

Palevic couldn't be reached for comment Friday. He reportedly has told authorities a very different account of what happened.

In August, the Gohns reported to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office that Palevic was outside and threatened to kill them and anyone who approached their home.

Things got worse from there, Rebecca Gohn said Friday.

The lewd text messages arrived more often. Similar letters were left in her mailbox. His black car appeared on her street repeatedly - sometimes dozens of times - in a single day, she said.

The Gohns installed a security camera outside their home in December. It has caught images of Palevic dropping letters in her mailbox.

On one occasion, she said, he left a photograph of a naked woman - her face hidden - lying in bed. Gohn said it implied that the image was of her and it was meant for her husband to see.

"I'm not sure if he understands that after 20 years of marriage my husband knows what I look like," she said, half giggling. "And that's not me."

Palevic has followed her to work, to the doctor's office and to Sweetbay Supermarket near the Colony Hills neighborhood where they both live, Gohn said.

He told her he has two guns and keeps one with him in his car at all times, she said. He doesn't hold a concealed weapons permit in Florida, records show.

She changed her phone number because he wouldn't stop contacting her, but he called the new number and continued asking for sex and threatening to kill her, Gohn said.

"He's told me that if he can't have me nobody can," the 38-year-old said.

According to a sheriff's office report, Palevic told her he was going to kill her family and then have her live with him so he could take care of her.

About two weeks ago, according to a report, he told Gohn that if she cheats on him he will cut off her breasts and cut out and burn another private part of her body.

Over the months, she pondered telling Palevic's wife what's been going on. But Gohn said she didn't because Judy was pregnant and had her baby about five months ago. Gohn wonders what Palevic has been telling his wife, but mostly the woman is afraid for herself, her husband and their 12-year-old son.

She lives in constant fear, especially after getting word Friday morning that Palevic had been released from jail, Gohn said. Tears streaming down her face, she checked and locked all the windows and doors.

Gohn longs for the day she can open her eyes in the morning feeling secure, rather than wondering if this is the day the threats will be realized.

"That's no way to live," she said.

Palevic's side of it is vastly different from Gohn's. He reportedly told deputies Thursday night that he and the woman had a sexual relationship about a year ago and he sent her sexual text messages because he thought she might want to get back together.

He said he has repeatedly tried to get in touch with her, a report states, but she's avoiding him because she owes him money for a dress he bought her several months ago. Palevic said he drives by her house on occasion to see if she's home but never stops.

And he said he put the nude photo in her mailbox hoping it would scare her into repaying him for the dress, according to a report.

Palevic told the deputy he was sorry for following her and leaving letters in the mailbox and that he didn't know it was stalking.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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