Netlfix's latest drama series The Watcher landed last week, with viewers hooked on the mystery thriller. The miniseries tells the chilling true story of a family from New Jersey, who find themselves living in terror when a stranger starts sending cryptic letters to their new home.
It centres on couple Dean (Bobby Cannavale) and Nora Brannock (Naomi Watts), who along with their two children move to the wealthy suburb of Westfield. However, their dream house soon turns into a nightmare when they start receiving creepy messages from a stranger who is watching their every move.
While the thriller may seem far-fetched, it is actually based on the real-life events, according to the Mirror. In 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus moved to 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey and couldn't wait to start their new life in the neighbourhood.
However, things weren't as blissful as they seem, and soon after they moved in the couple got a letter addressed to 'The New Owner.' The note saw someone identify themselves as The Watcher as they informed the new inhabitants that they would be there to see the house arrive at its 'second coming.'
The family shared one letter with The Cut who published the missive. It read: "Dearest new neighbour at 657 Boulevard, Allow me to welcome you to the neighbourhood.
"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 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."
Another letter read: "Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Better for me. Was your old house too small for the growing family? Or was it greed to bring me your children? Once I know their names I will call to them and draw them to me."
As time wore on The Watcher started to add more personal information about the family to their notes - including details about their children. Despite involvement from the police, investigators, and an ex-FBI agent they were none the wiser as to who the letters were coming from.
When the Westfield Police Department found themselves at a dead end in their investigation, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office took on the case and began investigating a DNA sample from an envelope the family received. The profile told them the perpetrator was a woman and in December 2018 voluntary DNA samples were requested from everyone in the neighbourhood with all but two residents complying.
However, the case remains open to this day. In 2019 the family packed up and moved out of the house, selling it for 400,000 less than they'd paid.
The Watcher is out now on Netflix.
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