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Family Sues Their Town Because Of Creepy Stalker Known As 'The Watcher'

by Hope Schreiber
ABC

Derek and Maria Broaddus are suing their town after they rejected their bid to demolish their home.

This is a normal rejection due to demolition and code enforcement, especially in historic districts or if zoning ordinances don't comply with the request.

What is not normal is the reason why Derek and Maria want to tear down their $1.3 million six-bedroom home, which is located an ideal 20 miles from New York City.

The New Jersey couple, who are parents to three children, want to tear down their home because of anonymous letters sent by "The Watcher" who has plagued their home since 2014.

I have seen enough episodes of "Scooby Doo" to realize "The Watcher" is probably just some salty person who got outbid when the family bought the house, but the letters are truly unnerving.

The Watcher claims his family has watched over the house for over two decades. His grandfather watched in the 1920s, and his father in 1960s. The Watcher says it is "now [his] time."

Honestly? Cool. Free surveillance, right?

Except then, the creep starts referring to the children as "young bloods," which is just scary and obviously not what you call children.

The Watcher even wrote things like,

Who has the bedrooms facing the street? I'll know as soon as you move in. It will help me know who is in which bedroom then I can plan better.

Honestly, if I dropped $1.3 million on a house, I'd take my chances, but getting a letter like the following makes me rethink my choices:

All of the windows and doors in [the house] allow me to watch you and track you as you move through the house… Will the young bloods play in the basement?

Now, after their inability to sell the house because of The Watcher, who was not disclosed when the family originally bought the house, the family wishes to destroy the house.

Citations: New Jersey couple sues to raze house over creepy letters (BBC)