The story goes back to 1996 and a car chase in New Jersey in which Lit led police to Wilmington, Delaware. When he was finally caught he told police that he did it all because he was in love with NBC 10's Steve Levy. His quote which almost every local resident remembers was "I love Steve Levy in Paris in the Summertime." It seems that Lit had been stalking and writing to Levy for months.
Following this incident Lit was jailed for a period of time, ordered to undergo psychological treatment and ordered to have no contact with Levy. That, however, was not the end of the story...by far.
In May of 2002, Lit placed a package containing nails and notes that read "Free Palestine" and "Al Qaeda" into a curbside mailbox. For that incident he was again jailed and put on federal parole.
Lit once again struck Wednesday, February 18, 2004, leaving a package at NBC 10 as well as leaving two threatening packages at the Philadelphia International Airport, one of which was addressed to President George W. Bush. In both incidents he was caught on video tape. In addition, Lit's backyard is filled with posters and signs threatening NBC 10's early morning news team.
After an all-night stakeout at Lit's home, authorities entered the property this morning. Lit was not found. He remains at large. Reports later in the week place him at a Hilton Hotel in Northern New Jersey on Friday, February 20, 2004, claiming to be Jesus Christ. However, after leaving graffiti and religious slogans on the walls and mattress of his room, and defecating on the bathroom floor, he disappeared once again, before authorities could locate him.
The obvious question is why is this man allowed to constantly remain at-large. Why is he continually released from custody when his mental condition has clearly not improved at all in the past eight years? Many lesser-known and less-threatening individuals are locked up for years until they are deemed competent. Lit is allowed to return home after relatively short jail terms under the belief that he will undergo treatment on his own.
Perhaps involving the President of the United States will now result in some more serious action taking place. This man needs to be arrested and confined until he is cured. Steve Levy certainly deserves this and so do his neighbors and all residents of the Greater Philadelphia/South Jersey area.
Do you have an opinion on what should happen with Preston Lit? Drop me a note at philadelphia.guide@about.com and I'll print your responses on this site.
If you see Preston Lit, contact the Philadelphia Police at 911 immediately. Do not attempt to approach him.