COLUMBIA--The state House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday aimed at strengthening South Carolina's anti-stalking laws in response to a 2003 slaying in Charleston.

The bill is called "Mary Lynn's Law" after Mary Lynn Witherspoon, a 53-year-old French teacher strangled in her Tradd Street home in November 2003 by a man who had become obsessed with her.

The House approved the measure by a voice vote. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Murrell Smith, a Sumter Republican, said the bill closes loopholes that left victims vulnerable.

"Though we can't go back to make amends for that horrible crime, this bill will hopefully strengthen the system for everyone else," he said.

Among other things, police would be required to give judges incident reports on stalking cases before bail is set. The bill also adds an aggravated stalking charge with a 10-year penalty, Smith said.

Amendments weakened a proposed requirement that psychiatric evaluations be conducted on accused stalkers within 10 days of their arrest, Smith said.

The bill now says that "every reasonable effort" must be made to meet that deadline, he said.

Also eliminated was a ban on the use of automated systems to notify stalking victims of a suspect's release.

The bill now requires law enforcement personnel to make personal visits if such systems fail three times to reach a victim, Smith said.

Jackie Olsen, Witherspoon's sister, called the vote "a truly bittersweet moment."

"Going through all of this and realizing that some little piece of good could come of that horrendous tragedy, it gives you a little sense of peace," she said.

Witherspoon was killed just days after the man who had been stalking her was released from jail and ordered to get mental health treatment. Edmonds Tennent Brown IV had been arrested five months earlier after breaking into her laundry room and stealing her underwear. She apparently was unaware of his release before he showed up at her door and strangled her.

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