In a harrowing saga that spans over four years, Michael Arnold, a 65-year-old retired Merchant Marine, faces a litany of charges, including criminal contempt, for allegedly using a single-engine Cessna plane to terrorize Cassie Wilusz and her family in Schuylerville, New York.
The nightmare began in November 2019 when Arnold, a seemingly regular customer at Wilusz’s Revolution Café, escalated from alarming emails to stalking after a rejected advance. Wilusz, 42, blocked him on Facebook, triggering an unsettling obsession. Arnold took to the skies, flying his plane over her home multiple times a week at dangerously low altitudes, causing windows to rattle and the roof to shake.
Wilusz, already dealing with her husband’s battle with colon cancer, found herself in a state of constant fear. Her complaints to the Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Police yielded no action. Despite at least five prior arrests related to his aerial harassment, Arnold persisted.
The latest charges stem from Arnold’s alleged threats on social media against Wilusz’s daughter. He reportedly used a fictitious Facebook account to send ominous messages, including, “Change your wicked ways, girl. Karma is a wonderful thing, [your daughter] will be next. You will see them all pass before you.” Additionally, he posted a disturbing message on her late husband’s obituary page, stating, “When times(sic) up, times(sic) up. We all have to live with our Karma.”
Arnold was arrested in Vermont for flying over Wilusz’s home in violation of a protective order. Despite pleading not guilty to a slew of charges, he promptly posted bail. Wilusz, with the assistance of Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputy Nikki Voegler and the FBI, hopes for an end to her ordeal.
The relentless stalking took a toll on Wilusz, who lost her husband in May. Even in the midst of grieving, Arnold continued his menacing behavior, circling her home just a day after the funeral. A protective order with a no-fly provision was issued, but Arnold, undeterred, altered his flight departure locations.
Wilusz, with a glimmer of hope for justice, stated, “I just want [my daughter] to see justice because she shouldn’t have to see in 2023 a man do this to a woman and nobody listens.” The community rallies behind the victim, hoping that the legal system will put an end to this distressing chapter of persistent airborne harassment.
Efforts to reach Arnold for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The case continues to unfold as authorities work to bring closure to the long-suffering Wilusz family.
