Derek and Maria Broaddus – The Watcher

Derek and Maria Broaddus thought their dreams had come true.  That feeling of excitement and anticipation of achieving something you’ve always wanted, but what happens when those dreams are snatched away by an unknown person? The Watcher would become Derek and Maria Broaddus’s nightmarish dream crusher.

Dream House – 2014

In June 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus and their 3 children are anxious to move into their newly purchased $1.3 million, 6 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 3,920 square foot home located at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, NJ. Westfield, NJ is located about 45 minutes from New York City. There are approximately 30,000 residents in this well-to-do town. In 2018 it was named the 99th richest city in America (18th in NJ) by Bloomberg Magazine 

657 Boulevard is located on one of the most desirable streets in Westfield. The street is lined with trees and stately homes.  657 Boulevard was built in 1905 and was one of the grandest homes on the block. Derek and Maria Broaddus had purchased the home from John and Andrea Woods, who had lived in the home for over 23 years (from 1990-2014). They wanted to do some renovations prior to moving in that involved bringing in contractors.  Derek had taken on some of the painting. 

Taking a Break

On the evening of June 2, 2014, around 10 pm Derek had taken a break from painting and had gone to retrieve the mail and found a white, card-shaped envelope addressed to “The New Owner”, but had no return address.

The Letter

Dearest new neighbor at 657 Boulevard,

Allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood. How did you end up here? Did 657 Boulevard call to you with its force within?

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.

I see already that you have flooded 657 Boulevard with contractors so that you can destroy the house as it was supposed to be. Tsk, tsk, tsk … bad move. You don’t want to make 657 Boulevard unhappy. You have children. I have seen them. So far I think there are three that I have counted, are there more on the way? 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.

Who am I? Hundreds of cars pass by the house every single day. Maybe I am in one. Check all of the windows that can be seen from 657 Boulevard. Perhaps I am in one.

Welcome my friends, welcome. Let the party begin.

The Watcher

Derek Calls Police

Derek ran back inside turning off all the lights so no one could see in.  He contacted the Westfield Police Department and they sent an officer to the house who read the letter and is to have said,  “What the fuck is this?” The police officer asked if Derek had enemies and recommended moving a piece of construction equipment from the back porch in case The Watcher tried to toss it through a window. Derek returned home to his family. They were still living in the home they had previously owned but needed to vacate soon as it had been sold. 

They Reach Out to Previous Owners

Derek and Maria decided to reach out via email to the previous owners, The Woods, asking if they had any idea who The Watcher could be or why The Watcher had written:

“I asked the Woods to bring me young blood and it looks like they listened.”

Andrea Woods got back to them the following morning informing them that a few days before they had moved out they had also received a letter from someone calling themselves The Watcher. She went on to write that the letter had been odd and she mentioned that The Watcher had written that they had been observing the house over time. Andrea claimed that was the first time in 23 years that they had ever received any letter like that from someone calling themselves The Watcher. She and her husband just ended up throwing the letter away thinking it an odd prank.

That same day Andrea Woods had gone to the police station with Derek and Maria Broaddus to meet with Detective Leonard Lugo. The detective advised the family not to tell any of their neighbors about the letter as they were now all possible suspects.

Derek and Maria Broaddus were freaked out, to say the least.  Derek ended up canceling a business trip and Maria kept a closer eye on their children, especially when they went over to 657 Boulevard and the children were outside. The only thing that was done physically to the property was a construction sign that the contractor had hammered into the ground was found to have been ripped out of the ground by the next morning, but no damage was done to the house itself.

More Letters

On or about June 18th another letter was received and a month later on July 18th a 3rd letter was mailed in the same card-shaped envelope with thick black lettering, but the writer had misspelled the Broaddus’s last name.

The letters went like this: “Welcome again to your new home at 657 Boulevard. The workers have been busy and I have been watching you unload carfulls of your personal belongings.  The dumpster is a nice touch. Have they found what is in the walls yet? In time they will. I am pleased to know your names and the names of the young bloods you have brought me”

The letter went on to identify the Broaddus’s three kids by birth order and by their nicknames.  It asked about one child in particular. The Watcher claimed to have seen her using an easel inside the enclosed porch.

“Is she the artist in the family?”

“657 Boulevard is anxious for you to move in.  It has been years and years since the youngblood ruled the hallways of the house.  Have you found all of the secrets it holds yet? Will the young blood play in the basement?  Or are they too afraid to go down there alone. I would be very afraid if I were them. It is far away from the rest of the house.  If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream.

Will they sleep in the attic? Or will you all sleep on the 2nd floor? Who has the bedrooms facing the street? I’ll know as soon as you move in.  It will help me to know who is in which bedroom. Then I can plan better.  

The Letter Continues

All of the windows and doors in 657 Boulevard allow me to watch you and track you as you move through the house.  Who am I? I am the Watcher and have been in control of 657 Boulevard for the better part of two decades now. The Woods family turned it over to you.  It was their time to move one and kindly sold it when I asked them to. You have changed it and made it so fancy. It cries for the past and what it used to be in the time when I roamed the halls.  When I ran from room to room imagining the life with the rich occupants there. And now I watch and wait for the day when the young blood will be mine again. Boulevard is turning on me it is coming after me.  I am in charge of Boulevard Let the young blood play again like I once did and stop changing it and let it alone.

I pass by many times a day.  657 Boulevard is my job, my life, my obsession.  And now you are too Broaddus family. Welcome to the product of your greed! Greed is what brought the past three families to 657 Boulevard and now it has brought you to me. Have a happy moving in day.  You know I will be watching.

The Watcher

Third Letter

“657 Boulevard is turning on me.  It is coming after me. I don’t understand why.  What spell did you cast on it? It used to be my friend and now it is my enemy.  I am in charge of 657 Boulevard. It is not in charge of me. I will fend off its bad things and wait for it to become good again.  It will not punish me. I will rise again. I will be patient and wait for it to pass and for you to bring the young blood back to me.  657 Boulevard needs young blood. It needs you. Come back. Let the youngblood play again like I once did. Let the young blood sleep in 657 Boulevard  Stop changing it and let it alone.

The Watcher

After the 2nd letter, Derek and Maria Broaddus did not bring the children to the house with them and have yet to formally move into their new home.

The Watcher Investigation

The police noted that all the letters were handwritten. In addition, they were mailed and all were processed in Kearny US Postal Services Distribution Center in Northern New Jersey. 

The first letter that was postmarked on June 4th was received before the sale was made public. The Woods had never put out a for sale sign nor was it ever out on the multi-listing. June 4th was only one day after the contractors had started on their interior work. The easel mentioned in the second letter can not be seen from the street due to vegetation growing beside the house.  It can only be seen from the side or back of the home.

At a barbeque held by a neighbor after the first letter was received by Derek and Maria Broaddus, they found out about The Langfords, who lived two houses down from them. Peggy Langford was in her 90s and had several adult children (in their 60s) living with her. One of her children, Michael Langford was described as a bit eccentric, but harmless.

Derek Broaddus told Detective Lugo about the Langfords fitting some of the criteria The Watcher had stated in their letters as having watched the house for decades. Michael Langford was brought in my Det. Lugo for questioning after the first letter was received. Michael denied knowing anything about The Watcher, but as he talked the narrative that Michael gave matched the writing style of the letters. Lugo did not get a confession and told Derek and Maria Broaddus that short of a confession there wasn’t much they could do as there was no hard evidence.

Broaddus Investigation

Since the police were unable to help, Derek and Maria Broaddus began their own investigation.  First, they set up webcams and a new security system around the house. Michael continued to sit in the dark at night to see if anybody was watching the house. They even brought in a priest to bless the house.

The Broaddus’s developed a map of the neighborhood displaying a history of when families had moved into the neighborhood. They overlayed the map with sightlines to the side porch where the easel could be seen and within earshot of their home that one could overhear when Maria called for the children. Only a few homes hit all of the criteria, the Langfords being one of them.

They Try Everything

Derek and Maria hired a private investigator who ran background checks on the Langfords and nothing turned up. They even reached out to former FBI agents to conduct threat assessments. Robert Lenehan felt that the letter pointed to an older writer who liked to read.  The letter had a lack of profanity given the level of anger they seemed to express. Lenehan didn’t feel The Watcher would act upon their veiled threats, but the letters did imply erraticism and anger over new money moving into Westfield.

“Are you one of those Hoboken transplants who are ruining Westfield.  The house was full of life and young blood. Then it got old and so did my father.  But he kept watching until the day he died. And now I watch.”

Lenehan recommended looking into former housekeepers or their descendants who were jealous because they could never afford a home like 657 Boulevard. They hired a security firm to look into the handwriting matches, but they also found nothing. Next, they hired Robert Leonard, renowned forensic linguist, and former Sha Na Na band member. Leonard felt the author might be a Game of Thrones watcher as Jon Snow is one of The Watchers on the Wall.

Moving In?

Derek and Maria Broaddus sold their previous home and were currently living with Maria’s parents.  They were not able to move into their new home due to the fears that The Watcher letter had invoked. The letters caused Derek to start taking medication for depression and to see a therapist while Maria was dealing with PTSD symptoms.  There was also the financial strain of having to pay the mortgage and taxes.

Six months after the first letter arrived the Broadduses decided to sell and initially listed their home for a higher price than what they had purchased it for to reflect the cost of the renovations. They also insisted that any likely buyer be told about the letters they had received not wanting to deceive anyone who may end up buying their home.

On June 2, 2015, Derek and Maria Broaddus filed a legal complaint against The Woods’ arguing that they should have disclosed to them the letter that they had received 3 days after closing, which was prior to the closing records being made public. According to reporting by Lauren Barr, it takes up to 2 to 3 business days from the time the deed is filed to those records being made public.

Derek and Maria Broaddus were asking for a refund of $1.3 million-plus renovation costs and attorney fees.  The Broaddus’s had hoped to reach a quiet settlement. Derek and Maria Broaddus had not told their children about The Watcher letters. At the time their attorney told them that their story may go out on a small legal news wire and may be picked up. No one had any idea how much their story would blow up

The Today Show

Tamron Hall from the Today Show featured a story on The Watcher only a few weeks after the lawsuit was filed. She told viewers that The Watcher story was in the top 10 creepy stories they had covered.

The Watcher Story soon took off and the Broaddus’s had over 300 media requests and reporters camped outside 657 Boulevard. Derek and Maria Broaddus decided not to speak publicly based on the advice they were receiving from a crisis-management consultant that a friend had referred them to.

Since the story was being covered nationally the Westfield town council and the mayor came out and assured the public that no letters had been received for over a year and that the police investigation had been “exhaustive.”

This proclamation surprised some of the neighbors on the Boulevard as no one had been contacted and questioned.  These neighbors even wrote a letter to the local paper stating so. The national attention and local residents disputing the “exhaustive” investigation prompted the police to reopen the investigation. They assigned a new investigator, Barron Chambliss, a veteran detective with the Westfield Police Department to look into the case with fresh eyes

Detective Chambliss

In looking over the files Detective Chambliss discovered that Michael Langford’s sister, Sandy was questioned and had told the police that Michael was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger. She said he may do strange things she didn’t believe he was capable of writing The Watcher letters.

There was also DNA testing done on one of the envelopes and it was determined that the DNA belonged to that of a woman. This caused him to look into Abby Langford, who was another of Michael’s sisters and worked as a real estate agent. In working with a security guard he procured a discarded water bottle. DNA testing showed that it did not match the sample on the envelope

The county prosecutor’s office notified Derek and Maria Broaddus that the Langfords were all ruled out as suspects. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office DNA testing also did not match Maria Broaddus. DNA samples were also taken from Andrea Woods and her 21-year-old son was interviewed.

What seemed to be missed in the original investigation was that around the same time that Derek and Maria Broaddus received their first letter another family on the Boulevard had received a letter from The Watcher. These homeowners had lived in their home for years and had grown children so like the Woods they just threw out the letter thinking of it as a prank. When The Watcher story broke one of their children had posted about also receiving a letter from The Watcher. The post was then deleted. This just added to the confusion of who The Watcher was.

Stakeout

Chambliss and a partner even conducted nightly stake-outs and around 11 pm one night they grew suspicious of a car that had stopped outside of 657 Boulevard. In tracing the license plate they found out that the car belonged to a young woman who lived in a nearby town and whose boyfriend had lived on the same block as 657 Boulevard. When questioned by police she admitted that her boyfriend was into playing some violent video games including one with the character of The Watcher.

Darksider was a 2010 video game with Mark Hamill voicing the character.  The Watcher is also a character who appeared in a Fantastic Four comic book penned by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the #13 1963 edition.  This character watches other species across the universe. In addition, The Watcher is a movie starring Keanu Reeves as a serial killer who stalks a detective trying to catch him.

The boyfriend was contacted and agreed to come into the station and talk but failed to show up twice. Since there was no evidence against him they could not compel him to appear and with the media attention finally dying down the case was once again put on the back burner i.e. dropped.

The police looked into a variety of potential suspects during their investigation:

• The Langfords
• Area Sex Offenders
• People who had lost out on the bidding war for the property
• The Woods

Detective Chambliss is quoted as saying in an article written on The Cut website that he felt Derek and Maria Broaddus were victims and didn’t get the support that they needed.

The Watcher Theories

At one point, after The Watcher became public some neighbors got together to discuss the situation and came to the consensus that Derek and Maria Broaddus had gotten buyers remorse and had written the letters themselves. This whole thing was an elaborate scheme to get out of the sale. The Broaddus’s were ostracized by some of Westfield because they thought the same thing or were worried about their property values due to the stigma that was brought onto the town.

The last theory is interesting since this was not the first incident that brought negative notoriety to Westfield (more on that later).

Other theories (on Reddit) were that it was someone the Broaddus’s knew who had a vendetta against them or a business rival of Dereks.

2016

In 2016 Derek and Maria Broaddus put 657 Boulevard back on the market and looked to sell the property to a developer who would tear down the house and split the lot and put two homes up. This needed approval by the Westfield Planning Board to grant an exception as the two lots would be slightly smaller than the current size mandate. Apparently, this was big doings and after a 4-hour meeting, the Broaddus’s were denied their exemption even though a smaller lot around the corner from 657 Boulevard was later granted. Two weeks after the planning board meeting Derek and Maria Broaddus found a renter.

Lifetime filmed a movie entitled The Watcher which was released in 2016 against the wishes of the Broaddus’s. They filed a cease-and-desist letter through their lawyer. The movie was slightly different in that it involved an interracial couple and instead of The Watcher the letters were sent by The Raven. It scored 2 ½ stars.

2017

In February 2017 Derek had gone over to 657 Boulevard to take care of some squirrels that had gotten into the attic when his renter handed him an envelope dated February 13th.  This time it was addressed:

To The Vile & Spiteful Derek & his wench of a wife Maria

“You wonder who The Watcher is?  Turn around idiots. Maybe you even spoke to me, one of the so-called neighbors who had no idea who The Watcher could be.  Or maybe you do know and are too scared to tell anyone. Good move. I walked by the news trucks when they took over my neighborhood and mocked me.  I watched as you watched from the dark house in an attempt to find me….telescopes and binoculars are wonderful inventions. 657 Boulevard survived your attempted assaults and stood strong with its army of supporters barricading its gates.  My soldiers of the Boulevard followed my orders to a T. They carried out their mission and saved the soul of 657 Boulevard with my orders. All hail The Watcher!

The new renters were also mentioned in the letter and it went on to talk about getting revenge the Broaddus’s

“Maybe a car accident.  Maybe a fire. Maybe something as simple as a mild illness that never seems to go away but makes you feel sick all day after day after day after day.  Maybe the mysterious death of a pet. Loved ones suddenly die. Planes and cars and bicycles crash. Bones break.

“You are despised by the house.  The Watcher won.”

This would be the last letter the Broaddus’s were to receive. 2017 would also be the year their lawsuit against the Woods’ was dismissed

2019

In March 2019 657 Boulevard was back on the market with an asking price of $999,999. It sold in July 2019 for $959,000. The Watcher story will soon be hitting Netflix.  The beat out 5 other studios for the rights package that includes the Broaddus’s story and the article by Reeves Wiedeman published on New York Magazine website, The Cut..  Netflix paid 7 figures.  

Other Notorious Westfield Incident

Westfield may sound familiar to some, and it should, as this was the town that on November 9, 1971, John List murdered his entire family

• 46-year-old wife, Helen
• 84-year-old mother, Alma
• Daughter Patty, 16
• Son John, 15
• Son Frederik, 13

The family lived in an upscale upper-middle-class home on Hillside Avenue in Westfield. John List was a deeply religious man who worked as an accountant for a bank. He was let go from his job and was unable to find another. Even though he left for work like he always did he just hung out on the steps of a local church until it was time to go home.

The days prior to the murders John had notified his children’s school that they would be out of town for a few weeks due to a family emergency involving his wife’s mother in North Carolina. He also stopped the mail and all deliveries to the home.

On November 9th, John first killed his wife and then went up to the third floor where his mother resided and shot her dead.  He then waited for each of the children to enter the home and shot them one by one. John placed all of the bodies, except for his mothers, in the dining room and covered them with sleeping bags. He then turned on the house intercom system radio and set it to classical music, turned on all the lights and air conditioning system and drove away leaving his car at the airport.

It wasn’t until December 7th that the police called upon the home acting on a phone call placed by Patty’s drama teacher. The police then discovered the bodies.

Unsolved Mysteries

John List was not captured until 1989 due to an airing of Unsolved Mysteries. Unsolved Mysteries hired forensic sculptor Frank Bender and criminal psychologist Richard Walter to come up with a bust of what John List would look like 18 years after he killed his family. Unsolved Mysteries aired the segment on May 21, 1989. At the time it had a viewership of 22 million and one of those viewers recognized the bust as their neighbor. 

John List was living under an assumed name. He first traveled out West and then resettled in Virginia where he joined a church, remarried, and worked as an accountant. John was arrested, and fingerprints confirmed his identity. He was convicted in 1990 on five counts of 1st-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

After his conviction, in an interview with Connie Chung, he claimed that he wanted to spare his family the humiliation of losing everything they had due to the loss of their financial status and he thought this was the best way.  When asked why he didn’t kill himself he replied that suicide would keep him out of heaven and he wanted to see his family again.

John List died in March 2008 after serving 18 years.

Resources

• The Haunting of 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey
• The Mysterious Watcher of Westfield
• The Eerie Case Of The Watcher 
• 657 Boulevard, Westfield, NJ 07090
• Westfield ‘Watcher’ Facts Revealed; History of House Told
• ‘The Watcher’ house ex-residents say there’s NO stalker but couple want triple price
• New Jersey Family Terrorized by ‘The Watcher’ Sells Home at a Loss

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