The True Crime Story "The Watcher" is Based On

The 2022 Netflix series "The Watcher" is a fictionalized version of a true story about the Broaddus family, Derek and Maria, who purchased a home in New Jersey in 2014. Almost immediately they began receiving cryptic and threatening letters in the mail, all signed "The Watcher."

The first letters were brief and welcoming, but soon they unnervingly referenced personal details such as the number of children they had, the kids' names, the contractors coming and going, indicating their daughter had been drawing on an easel in their enclosed porch, etc.

Increasingly, the letters contained more disturbing info and threats like "Have they found what is in the walls yet? In time they will.”, and "Will the young blood play in the basement? ... I would [be] very afraid... If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream."

The Broaddus family made many attempts to discover the source of the letters, and filed police reports. They determined that they were being sent from nearby in Northern New Jersey. They also discovered the first letter was postmarked days before the sale was public.

Several letters stated that they were the 3rd generation to watch this house, so Derek made a map of the neighborhood to see who had been there for decades and would have sight lines into their home. The only one was the Langfords. Michael Langford was brought in for questioning.

The police were unable to find any hard evidence and insisted that "probably nothing would happen" as a result of the letters. However, the Broaddus family was unpersuaded. They installed alarms, priced out trained dogs and tried to hire armed security, but eventually opted out.

They decided it was not worth the risk to their children, so they never fully moved in. They completed their renovations, and 6 months after their purchase was complete, they decided to sell. They listed it for more than they paid, in order to reflect the renovations.

As part of the disclosures for the home, the Broadduses mentioned letters had been sent to them and they would offer all of them to anyone with an accepted offer. However, even after lowering the price at a loss, they never got a viable offer.

Finally they decided to rent the home instead. A family with two large dogs moved in with an agreement that they could pull out if the letters continued. The rent didn't cover the mortgage, but it stopped the financial hemorrhaging and allowed the Broaddus family to move on.

The Netflix series added additional elements such as tunnels and false leads, but in reality, the Broaddus family only ever sued the prior owner for not disclosing a letter they received from "The Watcher". In the end the letters stopped without a trace, with no charges filed.