Beware The Watcher: A Family Terrorized for Decades
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- Опубликовано: 23 ноя 2023
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Today's case is on the mysterious “watcher”, who terrified a suburban family for years sending them anonymous, threatening letters. ‘The Watcher’ had been observing 657 Boulevard for decades, waiting for its “second coming”. This unsolved mystery went viral, inspiring countless stories, news articles, and even it's own Netflix series called: The Watcher.
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Disclaimer: I mean no disrespect to anyone that I talk about in this video. Everything in this video is publicly available information that myself and my team have found and compiled into one piece. This video will cover especially sensitive topics, viewer discretion is advised.While we make every effort to fact-check our sources and make sure all our information is correct - no action should be taken in reliance upon the information in this video. Please keep the comments respectful and kind. All opinions in this video are mine alone.
Thank you for watching!! Xx
Prank or no… still psychological torture. It would be nice for them to be held accountable. Like literally just explain themselves and apologize.
A
B
Girl this wasn’t a prank at all 💀
If the person came forward they'd be facing stalking and trespassing charges, it's not as easy as 'just explaining themselves'
Elderly busybodies with either a grudge, or nothing better to do. Sad world we live in😕
I feel so bad for Derrek. A lot of men feel obligated to take care and protect their family. I completely understand why he became so obsessed and misunderstood.
I thought that too. If it wasn't him writing all the letters which, I doubt it was; as a father and a husband he must've felt completely powerless to protect his children and wife. How can you protect someone from something you can't see?
Cult data found those missing Native American women #MMIW -------- #Durangocide --------
💀🪶=T👕 $$$ @@Arcane_Corpse
Exactly, plus all he did seemed very much sensical to me given a creep was stalking his family and threatening them. Had it been me I too would've gone to hell and back to find out who this person was and if my family was in danger or if it was just a weirdo (either way, even if it were a prank, someone that does this kind of psychological torture needs to be stopped)
Even if it WERE a prank, the watcher is still threatening them. They’re sending multiple messages full of angry threats with a ton of information about them inside. I have severe anxiety and paranoia and this would drive me insane. It’s psychological torture. The watcher needs to be held accountable.
I don't care if this was intended as a prank, that's not a freaking prank, any good parent would be terrified for their children, whether they were scared for themselves or not
I don't understand the carelessness of the police. "Just move on, the watcher obviously stopped" Excuse me??? They threatened CHILDREN in the letters. MORE than ONCE. Absolutely disgusting, those people need to be fired and replaced with actual competent people who care about not only adults being threatened but CHILDREN. Just disgusting, the neighbourhood, neighbours, police, everyone. Poor family.
Most people think it was a prank by the homeowners themselves. But the more I learn about it I don’t know if that’s the case. It’s creepy. I mean imagine if this really was happening to you and no one believed you yet it was definitely true. 👀 everyone gaslighting you… it would make you question your own sanity, spooky. But also I wonder if it was a jealous high school ex or someone who used to be obsessed with the wife when she lived in the town growing up.
Either way they still stalked and threatened them too
@@Travel__Spin That's exactly what I considered (it was determined to be a female). It's far too personal to be a stranger, and indicates someone who truly wanted to cause psychological harm. Females are more likely to do passive things like this, as opposed to overt violence.
the fact that they didn’t check the walls of the house is actually quite terrifying
and when the neighbors fought to keep the house up and refused to let it be torn down…
interesting
omg word
Man, if I read a letter telling me there's something in the walls, I'm getting them walls broken down, I've seen enough horror eps to know something up
and what about the neighbour that hired a lawyer for the meeting thing
The fact people are making fun of them is actually disgusting
As someone who has had their trauma brushed off, it just adds to it so much. But it being made fun of?! Thats even worse.
Well, if you get consistent treatment it’s a lot less bothersome but I get what you’re saying it’s not okay to do to begin with.
Because the most likely solution to this case is that the were writing the letters to themselves.
I completely agree how having the trauma you’ve experienced brushed off and made fun of or even being told “you shouldn’t feel that way” just makes things worse, I’ve had the same thing happen to me.
I really can't believe people said the letter wouldn't have affected them ESPECIALLY if they had kids of their own. I mean he's threatening his kids so they would be willing to gamble with their kids?
@@benc6252 Even so, they don’t know the facts so that’s so so wrong. Treat others how you want to be treated.
Serial killers are scary as hell and all, but watchers like this are honestly twice as terrifying for the simple reason that the fear of the unknown is more frightening than anything. You don't know their motive, their intentions or how dangerous they really are
Edit: fuck me! 1.5k likes in less than a DAY??? This is a new one for me
Most of them have some labedo problem and can't perform in real person
I would have been so scared if I had received these type of letters. My personal feeling is that I think all the neighbours were involved.
@@christiedawn7663you mean libido?
@@elizabethpace1591yeah I think it’s some narcissist who didn’t want renovations on the house and for the new owners to move out - and a female would know how much threatening the children would affect them. The neighbors are totally suspect.
okie 🎉
My question is, if the letters were coming from a post office, why couldn’t they check cameras to see who came in and posted a letter to the address? Or have a flag on letters being sent there, so they could easily confront them?
Exactly what I was thinking
right!!! ESPECIALLY since the letter came in a particular white envelope like?????
I assumed they meant that it had been postmarked at a specific office which means it was local, but it could have been dropped in any mailbox that they pick up from (without a camera).
there normally aren’t cameras in post offices because there are addresses on everything and doxxing people is illegal lol
@@sugarwookieethat makes sense, but they could try to monitor all mailboxes to see where it was coming from... I think.
Because it was local, right? So how many mailboxes would there be to monitor? Put a camera near each of them, idk
The amount of effort put in to keep the letters anonymous makes me think it wasn’t just a prank; the fact that there weren’t any fingerprints is very telling imo
Yes! Idk I feel like if it were teens doing a prank, or anyone most likely they wouldn't have tried so hard to keep their identity hidden. I think it could've been the neighbor's though.
Yes! I don't tjink that anyone would put this much efgort for a prank. It deffinately had the alterior motive
That's honestly horrifying. Being watched? That's a lot of people's biggest fear
If you have a cell phone, it's a reality.
You say it's a lot of people's biggest fears, but a lot of people have Alexa and cellphones in their houses that listen to them 24/7, So I really don't understand your comment.
where did u get ur pfp? that’s my photo, my hand is on the right 😂
@@definitelynotmady7663 oh- sorry, I got it from pinterest. Do you want me to change it?
@@D0ntTickleMeoh god stop
One of mine
Personally, I think some of the neighbors worked together. They likely went so hard against turning it into two houses because it could lower their property value or just "ruin" the aesthetic of the whole neighborhood. People are way too intense about that shit, and it does turn deadly sometimes.
The part of that that doesn't make sense is, that ot sold for so much less, bringing all the property values down, yiu know?
What if it was the Neighbors but they were doing it for Michael and his family? Like they were friends with them since they were there the longest. Also, what if Michael and his family were watching because there really was something in the walls? He said his grandfather started it in the 1920s. What if they inherited the house in 1960 from the grandparents and the grandfather actually did hide something in the basement? Like maybe he hid a body or money. He hinted he used to play there. Maybe they were close to the other owners, that were there in 1920 and they helped him. Then the renovations start and they get nervous thinking the family will find the body/money. Actually kind of makes since.
@@psychokittyletsplayandmore8589 No, that is absolutely ridiculous. The goal was to instill complete fear and terror in the family. It's clearly personal. Furthermore, there is no indication that the writer was/did anything she included within the letters, making them likely deceptive in full.
People are quite crazy about the stuff.
RIGHT! I had our neighbor yell at me the other day for being a tenant in the back house next door (my uncles house) saying we shouldn’t be shoving “18 people into the same house”. Some people are crazy about the “makeup” of the neighborhood
The fact that one of the neighbors hired a whole ass LAWYER to prevent Derek and his family to sell the house just adds onto the theory that most of the neighbors of this neighborhood were in on it.
Tbf it is a rich neighbourhood, in America
to me it maybe was the mother?? i mean she’s been there for years, she knows the house and the the ppl and the private investigator said it was someone older 🤷🏽♀️
My perspective is somewhat limited due to me only knowing UK equivalents, but this isn't THAT strange I don't think? My mum is an architectural planning consultant, aka the person who puts all the information together and sends it to the council on behalf of those building (or extending) the house, basically just saying "here's why you should let them build this house, there are no reasons to stop them" but more eloquently. Part of that is also writing the reverse, where someone is building a house and someone else doesn't want them to, then she would write "here's why you shouldnt let them build the house". It is *very* rare that things ever get to in person meetings, but it is also part of her job to go and speak at those, either for or against the changes, if necessary. Idk if lawyers fulfill a similar sort of role in the US, but if they do, coupled with the weird HOA shit the US has going on, someone bringing a lawyer doesn't sound that strange
I live in a neighborhood that is batshit. These neighbors will aggressively fight against even the tiniest changes. They have lawyers, they harass people, it is the absurd shit I have ever witnessed. So I 100% believe the whole neighborhood could do this.
My neighbor is disabled (bum knee but he can walk and do low impact things) and has a lawncare service, he goes around our neighborhood and reports people’s lawns if their grass is slightly too tall or if they have too many leaves. He’s had us cited before because myself and my roommate were very busy at the time but we cut our grass before we got fined. He tries to talk to us specifically all the time about how our lawn is “unacceptable”. We don’t have a pigsty yard, sure we could be a little more quick on the draw sometimes but it literally just looks like any other random yard that wouldn’t catch your eye, but for some reason this is enough for him to come around constantly and pretend that he’s not trying to extort us.
you americans scare me. some days yall sound dystopian as hell. @@HellCat_Kenny
@@HellCat_KennyHow is your lawn anyone else’s business?
same! the neighbours will tell on you if you have an unused car even sitting in your own driveway because it "ruins the appearance of the neighbourhood" smh
people care so much about the aesthetic and perception of the neighborhood but could not care less about the actual people living within it
I think it’s bizarre the police never investigated the contractors working on the house because those were the only people who had access to the property regularly. I think it’s also crazy that no follow up investigations were done on Michael and that he was ruled out. It seems almost obvious that it was him and especially because of the tone of the letter towards Derrick and Maria after they tried to rent out the property to the next family.
and the guy that wouldn’t show up to the police interviews
I think it’s weird that the Broadus family never offered to have their DNA tested to prove they didn’t send the letters themselves (I don’t think they sent em themselves, but it would’ve stopped ppl speculating)
@@ayarose273548:12 they did though lol
@@ayarose2735they literally took the mothers dna and the daughters…did you even watch the video? people like you are so annoying
@@ayarose2735Did you even watch the video?They already tested Maria.
As someone who has been harassed and threatened, people trying to brush off their anxiety and stress surrounding the situation are absolutely disgusting.
Big facts. I had someone who tried to ruin my life by calling animal control, CPS, & my housing ppl w/ lies. The only thing that stuck was I had 3 cats but my housing ppl only allowed 2. So then I had to deal w/ constant threats of eviction & investigations from June 2021 until March 2022. Almost an entire year of that sh** & my family fr wonders why I went off the deep end & ended up in a psych hospital for over 4 weeks in July 2022 ✌🏽
Be so serious that's not disgusting at all, if there's literally no evidence you can't rule anything out. Grow up
@@QuadElementals ‘not ruling anything out’ doesn’t mean make fun of someone for what could be a real situation. It’s not hard to not be a d**k 💀
17:39 I remember hearing that the reason the Watcher spelled their name wrong was because they had heard it, not seen it spelled out! I found that really interesting, because it meant that the Watcher hadn’t done any physical research, and was solely relying on what they heard
Exactly what I was thinking!! I have a feeling it wasn't exactly a prank, because who spends that much effort and time listening, watching, and hiding their identity for a PRANK?! ESPECIALLY if it's a teen. And if it's a grown person, they have some issues and is a stalker
@@trinitykenyon3846anyone who does this to someone in such a cruel way definitely has something wrong with them, to scare a family to this extent is crazy
My guess is some neighbours didn't want kids there (to be quite and peaceful). Eleanor didn't mention any other kids and by the looks of it, it was mostly elderly people. Eleanor just covered a case where the neighbours threatened and poisoned the new family in town because they were loud so it's possible other people would do the same
Which video was that?
@@evaherrera7535 the one titled ‘Genius’ Murderer Exposed his own Crime
@@evaherrera7535 I’m pretty sure it was the post before this one
Edit: it wasn’t, it was 3 posts ago. But it was a very interesting case, would recommend watching it.
That would make sense and they all came together because the police wouldn't do anything and they knew that so that's why they only sent a letter to the family from before just the once sounds like they didn't have young kids x
But then they wrote another letter begging for the kids back?
It's always that one line "one day I will learn their names and call them to me" that immediately sets my hair on end. I think if I got a letter like that I'd be sitting up with a shotgun staring out my windows every night.
Right? And then people are making fun of you for believing in it? I would leave the state and take the loss of money..
The series on Netflix of this case is chilling. It’s how I found this case, nervous to hear an actual breakdown of this case as it’s technically unsolved. Thank you Eleanor for such care of the victims, lots of love to you and amazing videos!
The show on Netflix isn't a documentary and barely has an ounce of truth in it. I was so disappointed by it since I already knew the real story.
@@maddie8415THANK YOU!! I was just in this comment thread with someone who argued with me about it being total crap, insisting it was great… ummm, no, it sucked!
There is absolutely no truth on the Netflix show. They use people from different cases and put it into one. It’s absolute bs and hated that I wasted my time watching it.
@@staceymarie5125 hadn’t realized, good to know, thanks
I’m happy you branched out the coverage you do normally do is heavy and I know your intentions are well you’re always so tactful and compassionate about the people you cover and it seems like you want them to be remembered. I can imagine that take a big toll on you because it’s so heavy. So I’m happy it’s a little lighter stuff that’s still spooky ooky cooky.
I feel like those letters would eventually stop scaring me and start ENRAGING me. Like, how dare you threaten my family, prank or not? I don’t know if anyone else feels like this, but I can already imagine the impotent anger of not being able to confront this person who’s frightening my kids, and I don’t know if it’s better or worse than being frightened.
People who said they wouldn’t let threat letters deter them from living in a nice house, they’re just admitting that they see their kids’ lives as less important than luxury.
They probably don't even have kids.
I would have just installed floodlights and security cameras (especially pointing at the mailbox) to defer the letter writer. The way it’s written is very theatrical and it seems very clear that it’s one or more of the neighbors just trying to spook them… the fact that the DNA evidence showed the letter writer was female also makes it extremely unlikely that anything violent would actually happen. I would also try to befriend the neighbors or at least get closer to them to make the watcher feel like they were under suspicions… there are many options besides just giving in to bullies and giving them what they want
I don't have kids, but that letter would've made me sell the house immediately
exactly
That must’ve been downright terrifying for the family…I wonder how they’re doing, and if they recovered from this event
I agree with your theory that it was a group of the neighbors who got together and wrote the letters. People who have lived in a neighborhood for a long time get weirdly possessive of what you do when you buy a property here in the States. It's crazy. They think they have the right to tell you what to do about everything in your home. If it was the neighbors, I hope every single one of them are just real proud of themselves for the mental anguish, and loss of money they caused this family. It was an a##hole, immature thing to do just to have things kept their way. If it was the case. If not, then someone is sick and twisted, and needs some serious psychological help.
I agree with you and they can reap the rewards of now a neighborhood lower home value…. It likely hurt the value of everyone’s home there, no one wanted to move into that home, that low price hurt everyone’s value
People who undermine this or make fun of it really don't understand. That's truly scary. You're being vaguely threatened and your children are mentioned in worst ways. That's psychological warfare
Even if it’s a prank watching someone’s kid as they play than threatening them is not a prank. That’s a psychopath who needs to be locked away.
8:23
"i just can't imagine buying a house and then finding it comes with a stalker included."
you make a very relatable point eleanor
I think that the police could have done more. They could have installed cctv and watch it back to find out who sent the letters. I do feel for Derek and Maria and their kids
I can’t understand why they couldn’t just put cameras at the post office if they knew which one the letters were sent from.
@@jennacummings505I was thinking exactly this ! they could’ve watched video footage from the post office a day or two before the letter was posted to see who it was, so frustrating
@@jennacummings505 I was thinking this too they could’ve easily installed a camera
it was mentioned that the parents themselves set up cameras on their property and looked at them all the time to find any weird patterns. but i don't think that would've helped, would've been better to get cctv from the post office to see who is consistently sending the letters
This video hits far too close to home for me. My mum has been receiving anonymous, threatening post from a stalker for the past 8 years, with the police doing little to nothing to help resolve. The trauma that its caused our whole family is something I would never wish on my worst enemy.
I’m sorry your mom is going through that. I just read a book called “The Gift of Fear” and it was helpful in learning how to pinpoint whether a threat will be likely to escalate or not and how to handle it. I encourage you to check it out.
Sweet and innocent Eleanor, you should know that everyone in America cares what their neighbors are doing to their house. It’s the most ridiculous thing you will ever experience! They will even dictate what type of tree you can plant in your yard.
Eff that. That’s for people who live in cookie cutter track house neighborhoods that have HOAs and tons of rules for you on your property that you own. No thanks. I have never had a HOA in any of the homes I have bought, I wouldn’t like that at all
@@tellmeofyourhomeworldusul6060 Exactly lol, those are the rich suburban neighbourhoods (granted, I’m Canadian so I’m speaking on my experience in Canada, not America). Those are the neighbourhoods that throw alley parties, lol.
Not true at all. We live in a very rural area. Our neighbors are lovely people who wouldn’t care if we painted our house like a unicorn.
@@_kikizaman_ My neighbours and i threw street parties growing up, however im not American and no one cared about what others were doing with their houses because they had their own lives
That’s so weird to me. As an Australian I can’t imagine caring about other peoples properties. Do people not have their own lives to worry about?
Can’t quite describe it but this series feels like a cosy sleepover with a friend and makes me feel safe? love it
Same! I'm making smores..well I'm doing them in the air fryer 😅 not perfect but goood! You want one?
oooh when I get home from my shift yes please? keep it warm for me 🥹 i’ll bring blankets
@@notadoch5978I've got 2 saved! Get here soon! 😊
I can bring some hot cocoa… 🥹
This comment thread is so wholesome 🥲 I'll bring the snacks 🙋♀️
I have the biggest fear of being watched like I couldn’t even imagine going through something like this 💀
Realll 😭
I would pass away from the stress
This story is wild - their dreams crushed, life long trauma and not really any justice. I feel so bad for the family.
I just thought of a potential theory. What if the watcher wanted to buy the house but it was too expensive, the first letter to the Woods was their first attempt at dropping property value, but then they realised it wasn't scary enough so once the new family moved in, they went on a mission to get them out and to drop the proper value. They only bought the house after 2.5 years to not raise suspicion.
I’m not even done with the video yet but what if the watcher was one of the people who wanted the house but didn’t win the bidding and then got incredibly upset over it? Unhinged people often get set off by thing the rest of us would think of as just part of life for everyone.
Ikr it would‘ve been smart to look onto these people especially because the new family doesnt receive letters so this must‘ve been personal
@@linaelui and didn’t the first letter to the Woods’ family only come when it was almost time for the new family to move in? Other comments are saying there is another case like this where the culprit was a woman who lost the bidding for the house… seems very possible
I thought so too but why didn’t if I was another bidder who lost they come back when they were attempting to resell the house to get out? Idk this whole situation is crazy
My theory too
i’ve heard this case a couple times over the years, and each time it’s brought up i’m sucked back into that rabbit hole
This is just psychological torture. The way the watcher threatened them in the letter after 2,5 years is just gross, because it is so vague and lists so many things that if you're already scared, stressed and anxious anything can seem like an attack from the watcher. It just always keeps you guessing and being anxious of anything happening and not knowing if they're actually in danger. Being watched like that or having a stalker is so scary. I hope they one day figure out who it was, but I feel so bad for the family. I really doubt they had anything to do with it. Nothing has come of it that benefits them..
I'm a grown adult who has been into true crime since middle school. I'm not easily scared. Not at stories, movies, people, myths...but this one freaked me out. It made me feel as if someone was watching me, standing right behind me. I think I'm gonna keep my curtains on this whole week
I may have heard about a similar case. While listening to this case, I thought it was the same case. In the other case, the culprit was a woman who was upset because she lost the bidding war to the family that bought the house. She became obsessed with the house and would send anonymous letters threatening the family. In the end, she was caught via DNA on the envelope when the police looked at the other bidders on the house.
The woman also ended up visiting the house on Halloween with her disabled daughter, just so she could interact with the owner that she had been harassing, so it wasn't just DNA that caught her.
I remember hearing about this a while ago...
When you were reading one of the letters, there was a part that stuck out to me & got me thinking... when the watcher was saying 657 Blvd had turned on him but that he would be patient and wait for it to pass... then he said, "... and for you to bring the young blood back to me. 657 Boulevard needs young blood, it needs you to come back. Let the young blood play again LIKE I ONCE DID..." I think this person grew up in the house!! That's how they know it so well in & out.
Did the police or the Derek, or the former FBI guy ever look into the family, especially the children, who lived there from the late 1950's early 1960's and raised their children there?
I watched the Netflix show based on this case. I only found out afterwards that it’s based on a real case. I’m so happy you covered it.
Eleanor always gives me big sister vibes so I'll share some news. Just had a trial shift at a restaurant for my first ever job. Cash in hand. I liked everyone and enjoyed myself. Really hope I get the job during Monday Callback!
Did you get the job???
Do you guys remember the Hooked app with the text stories? In like 7th grade my friend and I read one called 'the watcher' and I still think about it sometimes. This sort of thing is absolutely horrifying. I like to think I have good awareness of my surroundings, but who knows what could be hiding in the shadows. Brb gonna go tell my parents I'm never moving out
Edit: I forgot to say that it’s very similar to this case obviously so I’m back to being terrified
Edit pt 2: Was anything found in the walls? What was that all about?
Edit pt 3: After reading through many comments, I think the timing of the first letter to the Woods family (only coming in around the time the new family was about to move in) implies the theory other ppl are sharing that maybe it was someone also looking to buy the house and when it sold to someone else, they took it too far. My next question was why the house was so hard to sell afterwards? My conspiracy now is that the last family that bought the house and stayed there despite knowing the case + having a letter of their own maybe had smt to do with it… I don’t understand why this isn’t solved yet with dna and everything.
YES THAT APP OH MY GOD SOME OF THE STORIES RESLLY FREAKED ME OUT
Same here, I still have nightmares from some of there stories years after undownloading the app
I watched people read them on RUclips religiously 💀 I’m pretty sure I’m which one you’re talking about. I had nightmares as my little pre teen self. I was a baby tbh.
@@taylorhagen3916 seeing this makes me feel better about having nightmares from that app. I thought I was silly for that but omg those scared me so bad.
I think nothing was in the walls, they just wanted the house, so they wanted to say something that would make the family leave
I have heard this story before but for some reason I always thought it was happening in like the 80s and that’s why they couldn’t catch the guy because there wasn’t as much technology such as DNA like there is now. Here it was 2014 and they still couldn’t get the guy is a bit baffling. LOVE the freaky Friday episodes keep them coming.
I had the same thought, it seems like an archaic case when it isn't, DNA definately, plus hand writing on the front of the envelope, camera footage at the home or post office? So yup a prank, nasty neighbours, real estate fraud type thing or the family trying to make a quick buck (I mean absolutely no disrespect here, I would be terrified. If it were me, just saying well it's one of three theories really, I simply don't see a 'watcher' being the culprit here.could be wrong.) They lost money on the house I know so don't want to accuse anyone it's just quite strange, no letters until just before they moved in then only one from the new tenants? Don't get it.
@@dianajarvis1559 the only thing that makes me think it might not be the new owners is that the last owners got a letter too, even if it wasn’t as threatening. If they hadn’t bought the house yet why would they send the letter to the other couple?
@@PrettyAliceNight I think the timing of that implies the theory other ppl are sharing in the comments that maybe it was someone also looking to buy the house and when it sold to someone else, they took it too far. My next question then would be why was the house so hard to sell afterwards? My conspiracy now is that the family that bought the house and stayed there maybe had smt to do with it…
@@zie8238 oh maybe!
Didn't the post office have CCTV or camera's? Also he installed camera's I don't understand how nobody was caught posting the letters. At the end once the female DNA was discovered why wasn't the girl caught parked outside their house tested? Her gamer boyfriend who ghosted the police was never followed up? So many questions yet it's still unsolved. There's no way this family orchestrated this, they lost out, not gained.
I can't believe people thought they were ridiculous for not moving in. It would be absurd to move in under these circumstances, and god forbid something had happened you know those same people would immediately blame them for putting their children in harms way. I certainly would not move into that house having received those letters.
As an estate agent in the UK, you as a seller have to provide information on how your living experience was, whether there is a stalker, any neighbour issues etc etc. I wonder if cases like these ever have any impact on why we do this 🤔
Well that's clearly a lie, because I've had harrassment from my neighbour since I moved in (lonely middle aged man who won't leave me a lone). Police have been terrible about it, so you most likely won't hear anything similar happening here, because they don't really care. Sounds like he has been a dick to previous owner too
@@hollyh9569 Hi, i’m an estate agent in the East Midlands and this is protocol that we do, sometimes it’s not until later in the sale sellers mention this. But this is something WE do and SHOULD do as estate agents. Sorry your experience hasn’t been the best.
I heard of this one - how terrifying. A family just trying to live their lives, wanting this new start, a perfect start. I have 3 kids as well and I would feel so unsafe!
I am positive that multiple neighbours, including the ones that made the gingerbread house and hired a lawyer, partook in this sick harassment campaign. At least a small portion of all the people who rallied to keep them tormented imo
I cant blame derek sending letters to the people who enabled or maybe even caused the harrassment and fear his family went through for years. All of those people got no where near the taste that he did. All of those people, being the most critical, at best made the harassment worse and at the worst case deserved to feel the same fear their victims did imo.
This has always struck me as a major case of sour grapes. Like, maybe there was someone else who wanted to buy the house but then for some reason couldn't and the other family got it instead. So, in an attempt to get back at them or get them to leave, they start these creepy letters. Maybe when the house finally goes up for sale, the culprit realizes that it would be sus as hell to buy it or it's been renovated to the point where they no longer wanted it.
Honestly this story sounds like a nightmare to me. Once almost 5 years ago an old friend pranked me into thinking I had a stalker, it took me like 2 days to realize it was him but I was TERRIFIED, I didn't wanna go alone anywhere and was thinking about moving to a different area.
Needles to say once I confirmed it was him I blocked him and ended the friendship because that shit wasn't funny.
I honestly believe it was the mother of the neighbours. If she was in her 90s it means if she lived in that house for a while especially as all her children live there is seems like a family home. Also since the new residents haven’t heard anything it would make sense if she passed away being in her 90s. Also if she was in that neighbourhood her life some neighbours may see her as the matriarch of the whole neighbourhood. So hypothetically speaking, if she said anything negative about the family wanting to knock the house down, many would help her and agree with her.
The watcher would hate me. Never leave the house, never raise the blinds, exclusively blast cursed music. Would probably paint the house neon green if I could. Idgaf, watch me. I'm gonna be pantless dancing at 3am.
😂😂
i kind of found it odd that the police didn’t look into the mother of the next door neighbors after finding out the fact that the DNA was from a female. they ruled out the son and daughter after not finding a match but what about the mom? she lived there too. and if they’re being truthful abt the time, she’s been living there for a while. the hand writing seemed sort of old and wispy or whatnot, so why not look into her? she could be some cranky old lady that has it out (did have it out) for her new neighbors.
You did a fantastic job telling this story. I have to admit this one creeped me out a lot more than most lol. 👀 was anyone else looking around there house feeling like they were being watched while listening? 😅
Love how the show exaggerated what actually happened. Guy worked in my company until recently. They never even moved into the house. But I appreciate your content Eleanor!
I worked there as well and agree with you!
I tried watching the Watcher on Netflix because this case is fascinating to me, but it was so inaccurate, I couldn’t make it through the first episode.
I also watched it and I enjoyed it. It’s just based on the case after all. But I heard they wanna make a second season. Which is disappointing. It works best as a one season show.
to me it sounds like the watcher was angry at the changes/construction being done to the house which explains why they weren't angry at the family who rented it or the woods family just the people changing the house. this could point at the neighbors as they fought so hard not to have the house knocked down but idk
i agree.... and construction can be really loud and annoying for months, so i can understand if that was their motive
(in a VERY messed up way...can't just talk and say "hey construction is really loud can you consider not doing all this, or maybe only after a specific time so i can get my sleep", no gotta watch the kids play and make threats and say there's something inside the walls)
This is so scary. I can't imagine knowing that I was being watched, and not being able to do anything to stop them. And not only being watched, but getting threatened. With the letters specifically mentioning something in the walls, I'd be tearing down the house to see in something was actually in the walls. Damn the consequences. I'd have to know. The letters also sound a little sad about how it used to be. Almost like this person used to live there. Did they ever look into previous owners of the house, besides the Woods family? My other thought was that this sounds like it should be the plot of a show. I'd watch it.
This is one of the cases that has always intrigued me just for how creepy it is and I'm really happy to see you covering it now that it fits the theme of this series!
I live in front of a busy parking lot and a few buildings, and one of my worst fears is finding out someone has been watching my family. So this case really is my worst nightmare (especially since I also live in New England) and I can’t even begin to imagine how the family must’ve felt
I still want to know why did they NOT CHECK INSIDE THE WALLS!???
no matter how many times i've heard a case, if eleanor covers it, i'm gonna watch again 🙌
Sounds like the whole neighborhood was in on it. Also how they shund the family.... yes you know they did! And how they got letters too but not weird ones? Made this family out to be crazy. Like you said in the beginning, people like that in those neighborhoods are jealous of everything! They were remodeling , happy family, and they couldn't have that. Plus they told on themselves the last letter 😂 I don't blame the dad for giving it back to the neighbors a little.
I'm from the town over, it is a wealthy and established area and has been for more than 100 years. When this happened I was in my very early 20's and we were all creeped out by this. The whole area especially those living in old homes was so concerned by this. I swear we didn't leave the house without checking if we were being watched.
With how weird the whole neighborhood was being about the whole situation, at this point I'm convinced it was a group effort done by the whole neighborhood to drive out the new family.
And if I'm wrong, then that whole neighborhood is just weird.
I think it was multiple neighbors in on it since they all banded together to stop them from tearing down the house. Like someone else said, I think they targeted the family because they had children. It's frustrating that the police didn't do more to figure out who the culprit was because this family was mentally tortured prank or not.
I agree with you Eleanor. I think it was multiple people from the neighborhood. People hate noises and inconveniences of neighbors rennovating. Why did the cops never run the gamer gfs DNA or find the gamer. That's pretty shady too. Anyway, just my thoughts. Great video as always! Happy Holidays!
Its definitely all the neighbours, they were probably upset that they were renovating the house because they all wanted the houses to have the same aesthetic. It also explains why they would get mad at the house being changed into 2 houses because it would change how the street looked.
Yeah but why would they go on about the walls and “young blood” they spoke about the children alot too ..idk it seems like too much for all of them to get behind I think it was a solo act
maybe they didn't want children there, sounded like an "old" street, neighbours probably wanted piece and quiet
@@Princessaxoxperhaps in an attempt to scare them away? Threatening someone’s kids is almost guaranteed to make them reconsider their plans. Children’s lives are not worth the risk of it not being a prank.
I've heard of this case and listened to multiple things about it because it is so interesting. This is the most in depth covering of it I've ever seen. Amazing job! I feel sorry for what that family went through. Prank or not they were treated horrible by their neighbors. No one should have to live with their children being threatened
Neighborhood are sus. But as some comments said, it doesn't matter if it's a prank or not, some don't grasp how mentally draining it is to have a stalker. Not only because of the constant fear, but because most people would undermine the situation (including police) if they don't physical attack their victims. But if they attack it's usually too late.
Always love the way you cover cases no one else id rather watch!! Thank you for covering this!!!
How is that not a single one of the documentaries, at whatever level, have considered the possibility that it was an angry would-be owner who was beaten at the bidding war? Someone who had lived in the town and was passionate about their nostalgia, likely upset they could not afford the house and blamed 'greed'. It's an obvious possibility, yet nobody even brings it up, or mentions the police thinking it.
It's a horrible and terrifying thing to experience for sure, the mental torture that both Maria and Derek had to experience just for it to be brushed off and used against them...the only question that I have is, Why they didn't test the DNA of that 90+ lady when her kids where tested, lived the longest and if the stories are true she would have the biggest motive. But if it was a prank people responsible stepped over the line.
Why didn’t the police just tell post office staff to watch out for anyone handing in a letter with this address on? Or check cctv of the local post office they knew it came from?
Maybe I’m short fused, but I found the letters and how they were written to be so annoying like shut the fuck up 💀 That being said if I personally received one I would most definitely shit my pants
GIRL THIS SENT ME 💀
@@elizabethbacon3980 LOOOOL
I love your videos as always! You are one of the few true crime youtubers I can watch because you don't romanticize the murders and you acknowledge the victims. Absolutely love you Elenor! Great video as always!
Eleanor & Danelle Hallan are so👑💞😙🤌
I’m LOVING Freaky Fridays, and this is one of the most intriguing cases I’ve ever heard… loved your telling of it and the ‘in the walls’ bit always scares me so much too!
I've heard this story told at least two other times, but you added many more details I had never heard before! Of course I should expect nothing less from the fabulous Eleanor! 👏🏻
When the girl said her boyfriend played a game where you play as “The Watcher” has always made me think she meant “The Witcher” which is an actual game lol
I have heard about this case but you have a lot more info than the other one. You're so excellent at this Eleanor! ❤ your channel. Am excited each week for a new episode❤ from Oklahoma
I would be terrified in their position, I feel so bad for their family, and I completely understand why the husband became mad. I feel bad for them being accused of lying and exaggerating, that’s horrible. I watched the series of Netflix, it’s really good, it’s not completely the same as the true story but very similar.
While watching this video, I got an ad for a new movie called “The Watchers.” … what a crazy coincidence
I always wait for Fridays for Eleanor’s creepy series❤
I’ve already seen and heard so much about this case, but I’m still curious about your take on it! ☺️❤️
i am actually loving this freaky friday series eleanor!🤗its so different from your normal topics and you make it JUST AS interesting! xx
Hi Eleanor,
I think you might be right, these neighbors are controlling and blocking the family from rebuild. Showing up with their own attorney. They act like it’s their street and didn’t like young blood. Feel bad for the family.
Unfortunately, I kind of know what they went through. I had neighbors talking about me and their jealous behavior towards me because I was younger than theses older women who live around here. They were just watching me and would come up to me to ask about my family and bf who came over, they were my watchers. Just just annoying and creepy but not scary.
Awesome video! Other true crime podcasts have covered this,but you by far have done the best job 👏
I have never sprinted to a notification faster I love the series about this case but I haven't found much on the original case at all !! thank u Eleanor !!!
It’s so cool to watch the views go up. While watching your videos. I always immediately start watching when you upload 🙌
i love how you tell this story because every person that covered this story kinda think that the family is just making up "The Watcher". you have a point the neighbors is probably the watcher.
Okay by why did they let the daughter paint on the porch alone after the first letter?? Hello?
I was just looking for this comment. If I got a letter essentially threatening that my kids would be taken there’s no way I’m letting them outside alone???
Omg new Eleanor Video! At work so makes my day so much better🥰 have a great day! Hope you had a great thanksgiving💜 P.S. this case always scares me and gives me so much anxiety thinking someone can just be watching me and my whole family and never know it. Then they still don’t know who it is makes me feel so much more uneasy🥲
I live 10 minutes away from this house. It’s so creepy that I grew up right around the corner from here.
this one hits pretty close to home. My ex-best friends brother stalked and cyber stalked me for a year without my knowing and eventually i had to move in with my friend and her family. he 🍇’d me and after alot of struggling and court he was sent away. Family also found pictures of me in his phone and pictures that he took of me, SLEEPING. Its been years but i still get sick when i think of him😕.
The whole neighborhood is giving some weird cult vibe... The last letter cmearly points to them and in general randomly showing at the meeting about the house that they should have no interest in... So weird. But this kinda reminds me of the Wacker stalking case, where an elderly couple randomly started and randomly stopped being stalked. It did involve physical violence tho, but it was also so mysterious and they were also accused of just doing it themselves for attention. And its also unsolved.
But when the husband sent out the ketters it was almost like a movie plot... A house that makes you go insane to the point that you become the watcher yourself.
Been watching you for a couple years now. I love your stories
Are you The Watcher?
@@MalloryKnox. Yes
I love you so much, I’ve been watching your videos for so long and you entertain me so much and help me in the moments I need some distraction. Never stop doing this, i swear when I’m 90 I’ll still be watching your videos.
I now need to watch the documentary again! I'm loving this Freaky Friday series please keep them going!
i have watched countless videos on this case, and will continue to do so. it fascinates me especially when you realize that this person is still out there. i’m so excited for the watcher season 2!!!
I literally just yesterday watched Mr Ballen’s video covering The Watcher! His was only 20 minutes long so it’s nice to hear a quite a bit more about the story from Eleanor 😊
Ellie I've been watching you from the start and I'm loving Freaky Friday thank you so much for this!!
Learned of this case from Netflix, The Watcher. Thank you for going more in depth with this case!