Jimmy Wayne Carwyle believed God had made it his divine mission to court actress Jennifer Aniston and win her heart. Due to his ill-conceived actions, he found himself engaging in an entirely different type of courting - the criminal kind. Much like his plans to be with Aniston, his day in court has been delayed beyond his control.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge, on the recommendations of two court-appointed psychiatrists, ruled on May 29, 2025, that Carwyle was currently unfit for a trial due to mental incompetence. Felony charges for stalking and vandalism will have to wait until his mental well-being improves.
That's Not What "I'll Be There for You" Means
As one of America's most popular actresses, Jennifer Aniston has considerable experience at being the center of attention. After a few years of small roles and bit parts, Aniston exploded into mega-stardom as Rachel Green on the immensely popular TV series "Friends" in 1994. It ran for 235 episodes over the course of a decade, allowing her to earn awards that included a Primetime Emmy, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe.
Aniston continued to work in Hollywood after "Friends" ended, focusing on starring roles in movies. She returned to the small screen in 2019 with "The Morning Show," which resulted in nominations for more Emmys and Golden Globes to go with winning another Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.
She's also been the spokesperson and appeared in ads for a number of products. Considered Hollywood "royalty" and part of the "A-list," Aniston is about as well-known as a public figure can be.
She certainly managed to catch Carwyl's eye at some point, although probably not in a way she'd want to. A former auto service technician from Mississippi, people who know Carwyl said he had a tough time during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Abandoning his career, Carwyl spent years envisioning himself as a Christ-like person who was told by God that he was supposed to be with Aniston.
A Stalker Is Born
In 2023, Carwyl stepped up his campaign to make his alleged divine decree come true. He began stalking Aniston through posts on social media, emails, and a flood of voicemail messages. His posts stated that some sort of unnamed corruption was keeping Aniston from being with him, and asked for assistance from others. As might be expected, Aniston didn't respond to any of his attempts to communicate with her.
Further escalation occurred in September 2024 as Carwyl drove across the country and began living in his car in the parking lot of a Walmart Supercenter in Burbank, California. After no success in getting closer to the betrothal he saw as holy providence, Carwyl decided the time for waiting was over.
On May 5, Carwyl crashed his vehicle through the front gate of Aniston's mansion in Bel Air, causing what prosecutors described as "substantial damage." Apprehended by security guards working for the actress, Carwyl was detained until police arrived. He did not enter her home or make live contact with Aniston at any point.
Mental Incompetence Is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail Free Card
Before Carwyl was to stand trial for felony stalking and felony vandalism charges, a court-ordered psychiatrist met with him and declared him unfit to stand trial due to mental incompetence. Carwyl, through his public defender, demanded a second opinion. By this action, Carwyl's attorney was implying that they did not want a finding of mental incompetence. This is not as surprising as many people might imagine. While stalking charges are serious, so too is a finding of mental incompetence, particularly when it is shown you are a danger to yourself or others. Once this determination is made, doctors can confine you until you can show you are no longer unwell.
After another mental health expert agreed with the diagnosis of the first, Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi suspended the criminal proceedings.
Carwyl is scheduled to return to court on June 26 for a hearing to determine what type of mental health treatment is best suited for him. Unable to post bond, he's being kept at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility until then. Fortunately, his mental health issues did not end up injuring anyone.
Related Resources
- What To Do if Accused of Cyberstalking (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Can Someone Declared Incompetent Stand Trial Later? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Orders of Protection and Restraining Orders (FindLaw's Domestic Violence Law and Research Center)
