What is the real story behind The Watcher? The new Netflix limited series The Watcher has been gaining plenty of traction online.
Fans are drawn to the show because it is inspired by a true story, a common approach for the series creator, Ryan Murphy.
Murphy is known for incorporating real-world events into his projects, such as American Horror Story.
Given this background, viewers are curious about the true story behind The Watcher and how accurately it is portrayed in the series. Let’s explore the real events behind The Watcher.
The Watcher Plot
The story begins when Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a new home in Westfield, New Jersey, for $1.3 million. Shortly after closing the deal, they received a disturbing letter. The letter, sent only days after moving in, contained an eerie message:
“657 Boulevard has been the subject of my family for decades now, and as it approaches its 110th birthday, I have been put in charge of watching and waiting for its second coming. My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s, and my father watched it in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know the history of the house? Do you know what lies within the walls of 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? I will find out.”
The chilling message was followed by another letter that specifically mentioned the Broaddus couple’s children.
Concerned and alarmed, the Broadduses reached out to the couple who sold them the house, John and Andrea Woods.
Astonishingly, the Woodses confirmed that they had also received a letter from “The Watcher” but dismissed it as a one-time occurrence during their 23 years of living there.
The situation escalated when the Broadduses consulted Detective Leonard Lugo, who advised them not to share the information with their neighbors, as they were now considered suspects.
At one point, the Broadduses filed a legal complaint against the Woodses for not disclosing the letter they received before moving away. However, the complaint was dismissed by a judge, and the Woodses chose not to comment further.
Two and a half years after the initial letter, the Broaddus family received yet another unsettling message.
This time, it referred to Derek and Maria as “vile and spiteful” and proclaimed the survival of 657 Boulevard, hailing “The Watcher” as its protector.
Over the years, a private investigator and two former FBI agents identified several suspects, including the Broadduses’ next-door neighbor, Michael Langford. However, Langford and his family were never charged.
In a surprising turn of events, the Broadduses themselves were accused of fabricating the letters, but no evidence supported this claim.
Six months after the letters began, the Broadduses made the difficult decision to move away from 657 Boulevard.
In March 2019, the house finally sold, and the Broadduses left a note for the new owners, expressing their desire for peace and quiet. They included a photograph of “The Watcher’s” handwriting to help the new owners identify any future letters.
Remarkably, the new owners never received any communication from the mysterious figure, indicating that the issue had seemingly ceased.
Although the Broadduses were loosely involved in the Netflix series, they were not adequately compensated for their losses on the house and requested that their real names be omitted and the cast members not resemble them.
The investigation into the case remains open, although it is currently inactive.
When And Where To Watch The Watcher
Ryan Murphy’s limited series The Watcher is available to stream on Netflix, offering audiences a glimpse into this unsettling real-life story.
As viewers delve into the series, they may find themselves captivated by the chilling events and intrigued by the lingering questions surrounding the identity of “The Watcher.”
