'The Watcher' Home Saga Continues; Former Owners Seeking Damages

Westfield, NJ -- The former owners of a Westfield home stalked by “the Watcher” has denied any claims that they knew of the mysterious person prior to the sale. In a report published by NJ.com, the former owners claim they have been defamed by the publicity the situation has gotten in the media.

“My clients have gone through having to experience serious allegations that have made their way to the Internet. They have been embarrassed and humiliated and subject to public ridicule,” said Richard Kaplow, the attorney representing the previous owners of the township home on the Boulevard, according to nj.com.

The former owners are currently being sued by a couple who purchased the $1.3 million “dream home” in Westfield in June 2014.

Just days after the purchase the new owners started receiving disturbing letters from a stalker who identified himself as “The Watcher.”

Such disturbing letters from the “The Watcher” reportedly included, “My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time.”

“Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Once I know their names I will call to them and draw them to me. I asked the (prior owners) to bring me young blood,” the stalker also reportedly wrote.

The couple, who have three children, say they were too scared to move in to the six-bedroom house due to alleged threats the letters contained such as “allow me to watch you and track you as you move through the house,” according to Courthouse News Service.

The couple is now suing the original owners claiming they knew of “The Watcher’s” threatening letters, but did not disclose any information while selling the home. They filed the lawsuit last June in Superior Court.

The couple also claims they can not sell the house because of all of the publicity and the creepy letters they received from “The Watcher.”

The former owners released their response to the lawsuit and a counterclaim for damages last week.

The previous owners admitted to receiving a single anonymous note in May 2014, days before the closing, but they “deny that the note was ‘disturbing’ or in any way claimed a right of possession and/or ownership of the premises,” the former owners said in their response, according to nj.com.

The owners go on to say that the “The Watcher,” who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, is completely fictitious and the suit should be dismissed, according to nj.com.

According to the former owner’s response, they say the current owners should have known the sale of the home would have been affected after the story became public on the media. They also claim the current owners have refused reasonable offers for the house, according to nj.com.

Lee Levitt, the attorney for the current owners, said they had not recieved offers on the home, according to nj.com.

The home has been removed from the market.

The address of the home and identities of the past and current owners are being withheld due to threats made against children.