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The Watcher House
Days after buying their $1.3 million dream home, the Broaddus family received terrifying letters from 'The Watcher' claiming the house had been watched by his family for decades and that he was waiting for 'young blood.' They never moved in. The stalker was never caught.
2014
Westfield, New Jersey, USA
6+ witnesses
A dream home became a nightmare before the family moved in.
The Purchase
June 2014:
- Derek and Maria Broaddus
- $1.3 million home
- 657 Boulevard, Westfield
- Dream house
- Three children
The First Letter
What arrived:
- “The Watcher” signature
- House “watched for decades”
- Family watched it too
- Knew their children
- “Young blood” mentioned
The Letters
Disturbing content:
- Knew kids’ names
- Knew room assignments
- Asked about “the walls”
- “What lies within”
- Threatened observation
The Investigation
Police efforts:
- DNA testing
- Handwriting analysis
- Neighbor interviews
- No suspect identified
- Case went cold
The Aftermath
Family’s fate:
- Never moved in
- Tried to sell
- Filed lawsuits
- Rented the house
- Financial devastation
The Netflix Series
Cultural impact:
- 2022 Netflix series
- Ryan Murphy produced
- Worldwide attention
- Case reopened
- Still unsolved