Conan O'Brien's 'priest stalker' held without bail
November 8, 2007

A Boston priest was arrested last week trying to enter a taping of Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and has been formally charged with stalking the late night talk show host, according to New York City police. The priest in question, Rev. David Ajemian, has been placed on leave by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for Boston after the arrest became public.

46-year-old Rev. David Ajemian has been remanded to custody following his arrest outside the Late Night studio after he allegedly sent several communications to Conan O'Brien over the course of 14 months. Despite the fact they had asked Ajemian to cease communications, the priest continued to send letters to O'Brien, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office issued a warrant for his arrest. According to recent reports, Ajemian did not limit his contact to Conan O'Brien, as he also contacted O'Brien's parents, as well as former tennis legend John McEnroe.

According to the Boston Herald, a February letter stated, "This is your priest stalker again, the one who has been tracking you through space and time," and was signed "Padre 009." CBS News quoted another letter, that stated, "I want a public confession before I ever consider giving you absolution - or a spot on your couch." The note also stated, "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans?"

Most dangerous fans, indeed. A letter sent in April to 30 Rockafeller Center for Conan O'Brien noted, "I’m not Seung-Cho, even if I did once look out on that dark and dreaded doorway on West 72nd St." Seung-Hui Cho is the name of the Virginia Tech student who killed himself after he took the lives of 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus.

But it wasn't just Conan O'Brien who had something to fear from Ajemian. One letter claimed that he went to school with the hot-tempered tennis great, John McEnroe. "John McEnroe ... assaulted me once in the seventh grade when I wouldn't give up my seat to him ... (I’m) coming to Boston next week for an old-timers’ tournament at BU and I’ll be in the stands waiting for his confession," said a letter quoted by the Boston Herald.

Ajemian is currently due back in court on Friday. Ajemian is charged with stalking in the fourth degree and two counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree.