A mentally ill man was arrested last week on Sunset Boulevard while trolling around trying to find Jennifer Aniston. Diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic Jason R. Peyton, 24, drove from Pennsylvania to California with the intent of kidnapping and marrying Aniston, according to his mother and his own statements, as outlined in a restraining order filed with the court. Aniston has never met or had any contact with Peyton, who was carrying duct tape, a “sharp object” a bag and messages for her when he was apprehended. He spent a full eight days looking for her after being able to find her home. To make matters worse, Peyton has a history of violent behavior and stalking. In 2008, he was arrested for attempting to abduct a female neighbor with whom he was obsessed. He also physically attacked his mother at least four times. He’s currently being detained on a psychiatric hold and awaiting a court hearing on August 9.

Jennifer Aniston has been granted a restraining order against a stalker suspect who’d driven cross-country to be with her in a car that had messages including “I love Jennifer Aniston” and “I love you Jennifer Aniston” carved into its hood and driver’s side door.

Unable to locate the actress’ home address, Jason R. Peyton was arrested July 15 on Sunset Boulevard hanging out and looking for her near businesses he believes she frequents. He was placed on a psychiatric hold, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

The restraining order, granted Tuesday, was based on evidence of stalking and a credible threat of violence. Court papers filed describe Peyton as “a diagnosed delusional and paranoid schizophrenic, with a history of violence and criminal harassment and stalking, including an apparent planned abduction of a former stalking victim.”

He was, the documents said, found “laying-in-wait” for Aniston in possession of …

… a sharp object, a roll of duct tape and written messages to the actress — including baby names for the child he hoped they’d have together. He allegedly believes he’s been secretly mentally communicating with her for two years.
Peyton’s parents reported him missing after he took off from his Pennsylvania around June 25, leaving a note that said he was going to California; he called his mother while he was on the road, and she contacted L.A. police after he told her he was “on a mission to go to Jennifer Aniston” and that she would “hear about it on the news.” According to court papers, he has attempted suicide at least four times; has a history of assaulting women, including his own mother, when he doesn’t get what he wants; and has been institutionalized repeatedly.

It’s not the first time Aniston has found herself in scary stalker circumstances — a homeless man jumped her fence and entered her home in August 2005, fortunately while she was away on location.

[From The LA Times]

TMZ has a picture of this guy’s car, and he has “I Love Jennifer Aniston” etched into the side and “I Love You Jennifer Aniston” on the hood, which at least made him easy to find. He told officers that “Jennifer communicated to me mentally that she wants me to come and marry her, and wants me to be the father of her children. We love each other… I’m not going to stop until we meet.

In the petition requesting a three year restraining order, [available on TMZ] which was filed by a lawyer for Jennifer Aniston and signed by her, it states that “Peyton’s fixation, obsessive conduct, and stalking has caused Petitioner [Aniston] to become seriously alarmed, annoyed and harassed, and has caused her, as would any reasonable person, to suffer distress… Petitioner has become seriously alarmed and has real and reasonable fears for her safety, and that of her friends, representatives, and those around her.”

The petition even includes a personal statement from Aniston, which states, in part, “Mr. Peyton’s on-going, ever-increasing, aggressive and harassing conduct are extremely distressing. I fear for my personal safety, and that of those around me.”

That’s so scary and I hope that Aniston can find some consolation that the guy is in custody. From what I know she has no personal security team (although it’s hard to tell – we rarely see clear paparazzi photos of her lately) and maybe she’ll hire protection for her own peace of mind.

NOTE BY KAISER: These photos were just released of Jennifer at her perfume launch in London, at Harrod’s. I like the soft pink mini-dress, it’s very pretty. The bodice bows are a little cutesy, but whatever. Also: Aniston’s perfume is no longer called Lolavie – no more “laughing at life” – because it’s too close to Marc Jacob’s LOLA or something. So now it’s just called “Jennifer Aniston”. Eh.

Photos of Aniston in London on July 21, 2010. Credit: WENN.