A convicted sex offender with at least three warrants out for his arrest has been under investigation by the Worthington Police Department for allegedly stalking a Worthington woman and her daughter. The suspect has allegedly been in their neighborhood despite police warnings, and has sent numerous troubling messages. A WPD officer has expressed concern about the suspect’s state of mind but the suspect’s whereabouts are unknown.

Toby Lee Chandler. Mug shot from Indiana’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry

Toby Lee Chandler, 25, from rural Spencer, formerly from Freedom, is wanted on three warrants that were issued this week for his arrest, two out of Greene County and one out of Owen County.

At one time, Chandler was in a relationship with the daughter of a Worthington woman. The daughter ended the relationship but Chandler reportedly continued to call the daughter and go to the home in Worthington where she lives with her mother.

Almost a year ago, in May of 2020, Chandler was issued a trespassing notice by Deputy James Carpenter of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, notifying Chandler that he was not to come onto the property of the Worthington residence, on North Lafayette Street.

This past February, the Worthington woman contacted the Worthington Police Department and reported Chandler was continually driving by the residence on the town’s streets and through the alley to the back of the house. In addition, the woman said Chandler may have been inside the house because some things in the house had been moved around and her daughter’s backpack was missing. Worthington Town Marshal Jim O’Malley talked to Chandler in person and advised Chandler of the penalties for violating the trespassing notification.

In mid-March, the woman reported Chandler may have been inside the house again after a self-portrait by her daughter went missing. She also reported her daughter had received text messages from Chandler that included pictures of several firearms. Chandler allegedly texted he had purchased the firearms with his stimulus check. Another photo the daughter received from Chandler was a picture of a bullet that had the name of a male etched in it – the name of a close friend of the daughter.

Marshal O’Malley said there were no signs of forced entry and he learned Chandler might have a key. The resident was advised to change the locks and to apply for a protective order. Marshal O’Malley talked to Chandler again and he denied he had been in the house.

O’Malley reported that a few days later, the daughter received more text messages. One of them said, “When you see me on the news, I want you to know that you had the chance to stop people from getting hurt.”

Another few days after that, a woman in Florida, who was another family member of the daughter, said the daughter was in Florida to stay with her for a while to get away from Chandler but Chandler had been constantly calling and texting the daughter since she arrived. In one conversation, Chandler asked how it was in Florida.

The Florida woman also reported they took the daughter’s vehicle to a local mechanic for an inspection and a tracking device was located. It was inside a plastic box equipped with a very strong magnet that was attached to the underside of the vehicle. The plastic box was wrapped in an envelope that was the original packaging the tracking device had been packed in when shipped to the purchaser. The envelope was addressed to Toby Chandler at a street address in Spencer.

In early April, a protective order was issued by Greene Circuit Court protecting the Worthington woman and her daughter. The order was served in person to Chandler by the Owen County Sheriff’s Department.

After he was served with the protective order, Chandler allegedly sent messages to the daughter that said, “Paper ain’t gonna stop me,” and “I just wanted to hurt him a little,” and others. In one message, Chandler allegedly said, “I’m just waiting on them to come back. Got my suit on cause when you go to meet God you gotta look nice.” That message was accompanied by a picture of Chandler in a suit.

Last Friday, April 16, Marshal O’Malley was sitting in his patrol vehicle in Worthington when he was approached by Chandler who wanted him to arrange a meeting between Chandler and the daughter. O’Malley said he told Chandler that was not possible. Chandler allegedly made several statements to the effect that his life had reached a point where he had no hope, that he had charges pending against him in Owen County and he might be looking at several years in jail. O’Malley told him if he violated the protective order in Worthington, he could be arrested in Greene County too.

That afternoon, the Worthington woman contacted the WPD and said she had a video taken of Chandler around 9:30 the night before – which would be last Thursday, April 15. The video allegedly showed Chandler entering in a gate into a fenced-in back yard then knocking on the back door of the house.

Marshal O’Malley then met with the woman and the daughter at their home and while he was there, Chandler called the daughter using an unfamiliar number. O’Malley recorded the conversation. In a probable cause affidavit prepared by O’Malley, he states he told the woman and her daughter that he is very concerned about Chandler’s state of mind.

Close to midnight last Friday, April 16, a man in the neighborhood contacted WPD and said he thought he saw Chandler’s vehicle near the woman’s residence. WPD Officer Ryan Montgomery was dispatched and found Chandler’s unoccupied vehicle parked about a block behind the residence. O’Malley also responded and confirmed that the woman and daughter were safe. The officers searched outside the house and the neighborhood but did not locate Chandler. When they returned to the place where his vehicle had been parked, it was gone. A search of the entire town was conducted but Chandler was not located.

Then last Saturday, April 17, around 2 p.m., a neighbor reported Chandler’s vehicle was driving through the neighborhood again. O’Malley responded and stayed in the neighborhood for about two hours but Chandler was not seen again.

This past Monday, April 19, charges were filed against Chandler in more than one case in Greene Superior Court.

In one case filed Monday, Chandler is facing a preliminary charge of stalking, in violation of a protective order, a Level 5 felony. A warrant was issued and the judge specified that when he is taken into custody, he is to be held without bond.

In another case filed Monday, Chandler is facing a preliminary charge of invasion of privacy, in violation of a protective order, a Class A misdemeanor. A warrant was issued.

In yet another case filed Monday, Chandler is facing a preliminary charge of criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor. In this case, a summons was sent, ordering him to appear in court on May 20.

Another warrant was issued this week for Chandler’s arrest in Owen County in a case involving two counts of failure to register as a sex or violent offender, with prior convictions. Both of these counts are Level 5 felonies and the court has been notified that the prosecutor intends to seen an enhanced sentence due to the prior convictions. On Wednesday, a petition to revoke Chandler’s bond was filed and the warrant issued.

Chandler is listed and required to register on the state’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry. He was convicted in January of 2017 in Owen County of possession of child pornography after originally being charged with possession of child pornography and child exploitation. He is required to register until May 6, 2027.

According to information on the Registry, Chandler is a 25-year-old white male with brown eyes and brown hair, 5’ 8” tall, 145 lbs.

According to information from the Worthington Police Department, Chandler’s vehicle is a silver 2010 Chevrolet Impala with Indiana plate XIM237.

Anyone with information about Chandler’s whereabouts should contact the Worthington Police Department or Greene County Sheriff’s Department by calling 812-384-4411.