Renter Moves Into Westfield 'Watcher' House: Report

WESTFIELD, NJ — A renter has moved into the infamous Westfield "Watcher" home which remained empty for almost three years due to unsettling threats by a stalker, nj.com reports.

The renter, who would only identify himself as "Chris," has been renting the house located at 657 Boulevard since Feb. 1, according to nj.com. The renter claims to be unfazed by the allegations of the property.

Much drama surrounded the property when in June 2014, when a couple with three young children purchased the property for more than $1 million. The excitement of purchasing their dream home quickly went south, though. The new owners claim within days of moving in, they began receiving letters from a stalker who called himself "The Watcher."

Disturbing letters from the “The Watcher” reportedly included phrases like: “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 previous owners have publicly admitted to receiving a single anonymous note in May 2014, days before the closing, but they deny that the note was disturbing.

The family is suing the previous owners, saying they were aware of the stalker but did not disclose the information when selling the home.

• See Related: Westfield 'Watcher' Lawsuit Won't Be Dismissed, Judge Rules

The family eventually put the property up for sale for $1.2 million in March 2016, but had no luck claiming they can not sell the house because of the publicity surrounding the home, known as the "Westfield Watcher House."

• See Related: 'The Watcher' Home Saga Continues; Former Owners Seeking Damages
• See Related: Westfield 'Watcher' House Listed For Sale

As a result the family then tried to subdivide the property into two lots, remove the existing dwelling, and construct two new homes. That was ultimately denied by the Westfield Zoning Board on Jan. 4, 2017.

• See Related: Westfield ‘Watcher’ House Will Not Be Demolished

The current lawsuit against the previous owners is still pending in court.

(Photo, Westfield Realty)

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