Alexa Ray, Billy Joel's Daughter, Threatened With Rape And Murder By Alleged Stalker

Billy Joel's daughter was the target of terrifying threats made by a Minnesota woman who reportedly stalked her for several months.

Alexa Ray Joel was the victim of alleged stalker Sheryl Finley, a 40-year-old woman from Austin, Minn., who sent the young singer more than 60 messages about “pedophilia, sadistic-sexual behavior, violent physical assaults and murder,” according to court records quoted by the New York Post.

Finley was reportedly operating on Facebook under the alias "Rick Steenfield" to harass Alexa Ray with threats about rape and murder, according to the Telegraph. She used computers at Riverland Community College and the Austin Public Library to send threatening messages to a victim in New York, local ABC station KAAL reported.

Billy reportedly solicited the help of fellow musician Paul McCartney to get protection for Alexa and to track down the stalker. “Her mother, Christie Brinkley, was terrified that someone would harm her baby,” a source told The Post. “Billy Joel was worried but focused.” The Beatles singer referred the "Piano Man" to Europe-based private security firm NetDefense.

Finley, who previously was committed to a mental institution and declared bankruptcy, was caught by investigators naked in a wooded area of Austin in January. She told officials that she did not intend to enact the threats made against Alexa Ray "during this life," the Telegraph reported. She also said she hoped the 27-year-old would not "object to meeting with her" some day.

Finley pleaded not guilty to felony stalking for electronic messages sent by false impersonation and gross misdemeanor stalking for repeated messages in Mower County Court, according to the Austin Daily Herald. She has a pretrail date set for May 3.

Former FBI agent Brad Garrett explained to ABC News that celebrity stalkers are often propelled by delusion.

“Delusion that they either have a relationship with the famous person," he said. "Or they desire one … You have to separate the vile, violent words to the ability of the person or even the motivation of the person to actually carry them out."

Alexa Ray is the daughter of Billy and supermodel Christie Brinkley. She attended New York University and is currently working on her solo music career. She released her first EP, "Sketches," in 2006.