What began as an act of kindness for a pregnant woman new to Casper ended in months of anonymous threats, fake phone numbers and a digital trail investigators say stretched across Facebook, Google and multiple texting apps, prosecutors say.
A Natrona County woman is accused of stalking the foster mother who once drove her to prenatal appointments, took her grocery shopping and later cared for her infant son while she received mental health treatment.
Daji Carter, 27, was bound over to district court Tuesday after a preliminary hearing on two felony counts of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of violating a stalking protection order. She posted a $3,500 surety bond July 15 and was released from custody.
Investigators say Carter spent months using anonymous texts, fake online accounts and spoofed phone numbers to continue contacting Ashley Monroe and members of her family after a court ordered Carter to have no contact with her.
'She Was My Friend'
For Monroe, the allegations are especially painful because the relationship began with compassion.
She met Carter in June 2024 while Carter was pregnant and new to Casper.
"I would have considered her one of my friends," Monroe told Cowboy State Daily. "She didn't have any mode of transportation, so I always offered to take her grocery shopping. We took her to do shopping for stuff she would need for the baby once he was born. She was fun to be around. She had a good sense of humor."
Monroe, a licensed foster parent, said she wasn't expecting to become Carter's foster placement.
Instead, she simply wanted to help someone she knew was struggling.
"I was just trying to be there to support her and keep the baby safe if she needed help," Monroe said.
According to Monroe, she became concerned about Carter's well-being and requested a welfare check. After Carter agreed to seek help, the Department of Family Services arranged a voluntary placement, and Monroe began caring for the infant. Monroe said the arrangement was intended to be temporary, allowing Carter to regain custody when she was ready.
The baby returned home within weeks.
Not long afterward, Monroe said Casper police contacted her after Carter made statements suggesting the infant had died. Officers eventually located the child safely, Monroe said, and the Department of Family Services placed him in her home again.
'That's When Things Turned South'
Monroe said the relationship unraveled during a visitation dispute around Halloween 2024.
She recalled Carter becoming upset over visitation scheduling during one of the baby's medical appointments.
"She tried to take the baby and run with him from the doctor's office," Monroe said.
That night, Monroe said, the messages began.
She said the first texts said "You're a c---, this is Daji," along with a knife and blood emojis.
The criminal affidavit similarly alleges Monroe began receiving threatening messages from anonymous Wyoming and Alabama phone numbers, many sent through internet-based texting services rather than traditional cellular numbers.
Investigators say the harassment continued for months and eventually spread to Monroe's husband and mother.
Living In Fear
According to the affidavit, the messages escalated from vulgar insults to explicit threats. Monroe told investigators she received texts accusing her of taking Carter's child and messages warning that she was "going to die."
Monroe said the emotional impact reached far beyond her own safety.
At the time, she was caring not only for Carter's infant but for other foster children, in addition to her own family.
"I didn't sleep," she said. "Every time one of my dogs would bark ... is that Daji outside my door?"
She said the alleged harassment forced her family to install additional security measures and left her anxious.
"I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, hesitant to engage in routine activities and struggling with stress and sleep disturbances," Monroe said.
"I didn't even feel safe letting my kids go to school," she told Cowboy State Daily.
The Department of Family Services ultimately moved Carter's son to another foster home in hopes the threats would stop.
"They did not," Monroe said.
Digital Trail
Court records show the alleged stalking became an extensive digital investigation involving numerous search warrants.
The affidavit describes detectives obtaining records from Facebook, Google, TextNow, Pinger, AT&T and T-Mobile while also conducting forensic examinations of multiple electronic devices.
The various anonymous phone numbers, Gmail accounts and online messaging services ultimately pointed back to Carter, says the affidavit.
During an interview with investigators, Carter acknowledged sending Monroe what she described as "mean" messages but denied sending many of the anonymous communications detailed in the affidavit.
"When you piss me off, I say what's on my heart," Carter allegedly told investigators.
Detectives also interviewed witnesses, reviewed phone records, and manually examined several electronic devices after extracting data from phones seized during the investigation.
Investigators concluded there was probable cause to charge Carter with felony stalking and two counts of violating a stalking protection order.
When reached by Cowboy State Daily for comment, Carter's public defender, Casper attorney Dylan Rosalez, declined to comment.
'Maybe This Will Finally End'
Monroe said she felt relief when Carter was charged earlier this month, believing the months of uncertainty might finally be over.
"It was just like a sigh of relief," she said. "She's being held accountable for what she's doing."
But Monroe said that relief has been short-lived.
After Carter posted bond and the preliminary hearing concluded Tuesday, Monroe says the unwanted contact has continued, alleging that Carter even reached out to her work on Wednesday.
"I'm feeling very frustrated currently," Monroe said. "Mostly, I worry for my kids because I'm a mama bear."
Monroe said she still believes in fostering despite everything that's happened.
She said most biological parents she has worked with eventually recognize foster parents are trying to help families reunite, not replace them.
"I'm wanting to help them, and I want them to have their children back," Monroe said. "I want them to be healthy."
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
