Details Emerge in Erin Andrews Peephole Investigation

The accused stalker and voyeur in the Erin Andrews peephole video saga is Michael David Barrett, a 47-year-old traveling insurance salesman. Barrett modified the peepholes in hotel rooms around the country as he filmed ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews in the nude on at least eight separate occasions. Barrett eventually uploaded the videos to the Internet and the videos became a very popular underground Internet commodity for several months. Andrews was forced to take a leave of absence from ESPN as a result of the case and she has only recently returned to her job.

The issue that investigators and Andrews' legal team is currently focusing on is the ease with which Barrett was able to determine which hotels Andrews was staying in and even which rooms she was staying in. Then, on special request, Barrett was given rooms immediately adjacent to Andrews without Andrews knowledge or consent.

The Nashville Marriott near Vanderbilt University seems to have committed the most egregious offense. Not only did hotel management tell Barrett which room Andrews was in and then book him in the adjoining room, they also arranged for the rooms to be in a private alcove of the hotel, an area that would likely ensure a much higher level of privacy than standard rooms.

Andrews' lawyers are correct in pointing out that this type of action on the part of hotel management is unacceptable and should be unlawful. Andrews was being stalked by an individual who may have had far more sinister ideas beyond simply filming her as she was nude in her hotel room.