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The Watcher: What Happened to the Broaddus Family in Real Life? Is the Netflix Series Based on a True Story? Where Are Derek, Maria & Their 3 Children Now in 2022? Family Picture & Reddit Update!

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Oct 17, 2022 @ 4:16 EDT
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The Watcher: What Happened to the Broaddus Family in Real Life? Is the Netflix Series Based on a True Story? Where Are Derek, Maria & Their 3 Children Now in 2022? Family Picture & Reddit Update!

The Broaddus family from Netflix's The Watcher did get threatened in real life as well just like in the series since it is based on a true story. Derek Broaddus, his wife Maria, and their 3 children were mailed by a stranger as soon as they bought the house. Similarly, some Reddit users wonder where they are now. As of 2022, the family lives in a different house in Westfield. Follow to know more about the family with their real picture.

Following the incredible success of Netflix's DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, producer Ryan Murphy is back with The Watcher, a true crime drama based on a case that has never been solved in reality. Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts, Mia Farrow, and Jennifer Coolidge make up the all-star cast of the show, which made its streaming platform premiere on October 13.

When a family moves into their new Westfield, New Jersey, house, everyone in the neighborhood treats them harshly, and they soon begin getting threatening letters from an unidentified stalker who goes by the name 'The Watcher.' The actual receivers of the threatening letters, Derek Broaddus and Maria Broaddus, never ever lived in the six-bedroom home at 647 Boulevard, according to a 2019 CNN article.

The Broaddus family has since left the $1.3 million home, but they are still trying to solve the mystery and identify the person responsible for the distressing letters, especially because one of their neighbors also received a letter from The Watcher. Since the release of the show, many of the viewers, especially some Reddit users, have been interested to know about the family, their real-life story, and where they are now in 2022. Well, we've got you covered.

Previously, we touched on the Graff family, Theodora Birch, Roger Kaplan, and Isabel Gravitt’s Wikipedia.

The Family From Netflix’s The Watcher in Real-Life: The Story About Derek Broaddus, Maria Broaddus & Their 3 Children Is Based on a True Story; Real Family Picture, Reddit & 2022 Update!

As shown in the series, the Broaddus family reportedly moved their belongings to 647 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey between June and August 2014, but they never lived there in real life as well because of the persistent threats they were getting in the mail. Even though the house hadn't been put up for sale yet, The Watcher had already sent the first letter to the new owners. They learned that John and Andrea Woods, the previous residents who had lived there for 23 years, had left two days before the closing.

The Watcher, according to The Cut's report, was well aware of all the property's specifics, including how many bedrooms it had and how old it was at almost 110 years old. Before the Broaddus family moved in, in the 1960s, they claimed in one of the letters to have spent time there.

In their second message, they addressed the Broadduses by name, misspelling their last name as "Braddus," and listing the names of their three children in chronological order. At first, they did not specifically mention the Broadduses by name. The Watcher was also aware of the vehicle brands and models owned by the Broaddus family.

According to The Cut, one of the letters read,

657 Boulevard is anxious for you to move in. It has been years and years since the young blood 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 second 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.

In 2015, according to CNN, the Broaddus family made an attempt to sue the Woodses for fraudulent concealment, intentional and negligent infliction of mental distress, as well as other issues they had encountered since moving into the property. The lawsuit was dropped, and it was revealed that the Woodses had only received one threatening letter from The Watcher, which they had ignored before leaving the property.

According to ABC News, Derek Broaddus, Maria Broaddus, and their three kids eventually left 647 Boulevard and sold the house in 2019 for $400,000 less than they paid for it. According to its Zillow listing, they first paid a little over $1.3 million for the house in 2014 and sold it for $959,000. According to a Distractify report, the Broaddus family relocated to a different house in Westfield and allegedly purchased it under an LLC to ensure the security of their family.

As of 2022, Derek is active on Twitter, where he discusses unsolved cold cases, stalking issues, and child safety. Occasionally, he writes about his personal encounters with The Watcher. The Broaddus family made two specific demands at the expense of their safety when they sold Netflix the rights to their story for the series. They requested that neither their last name nor the actors' real-life likenesses be used in the production. Their on-screen kids are two teenagers, and they play the roles of Dean and Nora Brannock. In real life, the Broadduses have three children who are still very young.

Additionally, The Watcher is now streaming on Netflix.

Before leaving, find out about the cast who plays the role of the daughter in The Watcher.

Visit Netflix Deed for more interesting stories about your favorite celebs.

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