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The Watcher House

The Broaddus family bought their dream home. Then the letters arrived. 'I have been watching the house for decades. I am The Watcher.' It knew about their children, their renovations. They never moved in. The Watcher was never found.

2014 - 2019
Westfield, New Jersey, USA
6+ witnesses

The Watcher terrorized a family through letters.

The Purchase

June 2014:

  • Derek and Maria Broaddus
  • $1.3 million home
  • 657 Boulevard
  • Dream house
  • Three children

The First Letter

Days after purchase:

  • Addressed to owners
  • Knew their names
  • Knew about children
  • “I have been watching”
  • Decades of observation

The Content

What The Watcher wrote:

  • House needs “young blood”
  • Watched previous owners
  • Knew renovation plans
  • Mentioned children by name
  • Cryptic threats

More Letters

The terror continued:

  • Multiple letters
  • Increasingly disturbing
  • Police involved
  • No arrests
  • Mystery deepened

The Aftermath

What happened:

  • Family never moved in
  • Sued previous owners
  • Tried to sell
  • Eventually demolished renovations
  • Sold at loss

Never Solved

The mystery:

  • DNA inconclusive
  • Suspects interviewed
  • No charges filed
  • Netflix series made
  • Watcher unknown

Sources