Richard Williams, the father of women's tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, has threatened to kill the German man who has followed top-ranked Serena around the world if he should harm his 20-year-old daughter.
Albrecht Stromeyer, 34, was being held at Rikers Island in lieu of 3,000-dollars bail after being arraigned on three misdemeanor counts of stalking following his arrest at the National Tennis Center after watching Serena practice at the US Open.
Stromeyer might not be in a hurry to post bail. The US Immigration and Naturalization Service has filed a detainer so he would he would be taken into federal custody if he made bail. But Serena's father still worries.
"I don't think the guy is ever going to give up," Richard Williams told the New York Daily News. "At some point ... something very tragic could take place.
"Would (anything) stop me from killing this guy if he did something to one of my daughters? I do not think all the police officers in the world could stop me.
"A Williams is the most precious commodity to a Williams. A Williams would die for a Williams."
Stromeyer, who made no contact with Williams before being apprehended on Saturday, has over the past 15 months followed her to events in Italy, Germany, France, Britain and the United States, with four arrests as a result of unwanted advances.
"The bail is so low, I think that encourages him to keep doing what he's doing," Richard Williams said. "It makes me wonder, 'Could he hurt Serena?' "I think this guy is sick. A sick person is not capable of thinking correctly and they are capable of doing anything."
A restraining order was also imposed upon Stromeyer barring him from the US Open and from making any type of contact with Williams, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion.
"I came to see Serena and profess my love for her and, courage permitting, tell her I love her," Stromeyer reportedly told police after his arrest. "She is the best player ever."
Williams has hired a security guard, Italian Dario Valli, as a result of the situation. Erich Stromeyer, Albrecht's father, told the newspaper he has pleaded with his son to give up his obsession with Williams.
AFP