Buzz
In 1984, Rockwell achieved massive success with his track “Somebody’s Watching Me.” Both the song and its accompanying music video featured Rockwell, the son of Motown Records’ founder and CEO Berry Gordy, expressing a primal fear—the unease of being observed. While the song’s narrator grapples with intense paranoia, many of us can relate to Rockwell’s profound discomfort with voyeurism. Voyeurs are individuals who derive excitement from observing private moments. While some may settle for discussing or documenting secrets, most voyeurs prefer to watch directly.
Psychologists have long recognized the connection between sexual deviance and voyeurism. Most definitions of “voyeurism” or “voyeur” emphasize that these individuals experience sexual gratification from their actions. A more alarming correlation ties voyeurism to sexual violence and even homicide. In her acclaimed true crime book The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule reveals that Ted Bundy would spend hours peering through windows of potential victims. Other notorious criminals have exhibited similar compulsions and a drive to violate boundaries.
The ten voyeurs listed here may not be serial killers, but they are undoubtedly disturbed in some way. Each has committed a series of offenses, from indecent acts to inflicting lasting psychological trauma on their victims.
10. The Watcher
Nestled in the affluent suburbs of Westfield, New Jersey, stands a charming six-bedroom, four-bathroom home. On the surface, it appears to be an ideal residence for upper-middle-class families seeking a balance between suburban tranquility and the bustling energy of nearby New York City. In 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased the property for $1.35 million, likely envisioning a peaceful and idyllic life. However, their dream home came with an unwelcome guest—The Watcher.
Just three days after moving in, the Broaddus family, including their three children, received a terrifying letter. The sender, who identified himself as “The Watcher,” claimed that his grandfather had observed the house in the 1920s and his father in the 1960s. Now, it was his turn to take up the role. A second letter added to the fear with ominous statements: “Have they found what is in the walls yet? In time they will,” and “I am pleased to know your names now and the name of the young blood you have brought to me.”
When the story made headlines in New Jersey and New York newspapers, former residents of the Westfield house shared their thoughts. Bill Shaffer, whose family lived there in the 1950s and 1960s, explained that locals believe The Watcher is an eccentric individual who derives pleasure from tormenting others without cause. The community also fears that provoking The Watcher could lead to violent retaliation.
Today, the Broaddus family is attempting to sell the house at a discounted price, but potential buyers remain scarce. Meanwhile, The Watcher continues to send unsettling messages inquiring about the family’s sleeping habits and other personal details. An FBI profiler hired by the Broadduses has concluded that The Watcher is likely a mentally unstable elderly person. The family is also pursuing legal action against the previous owners, accusing them of hiding information about The Watcher before the sale.
9. The Yukon Pooper
In March 2016, a repulsive intruder turned life unpleasant for a family in Yukon, Oklahoma. The Walkers first became suspicious when they found their dog smothered in excrement that didn’t belong to the pet. Upon checking their security footage, they identified the culprit as a mysterious trespasser who had defecated on their property. The cameras also captured the man peering into their windows and attempting to open their back door before the incident.
While some might find the story humorous, the Walkers were far from entertained. As the intruder roamed their property, their two children slept peacefully inside, unaware of the potential threat. Reports later revealed that the Walkers weren’t the only targets of this wandering defecator. Other Yukon residents had also spotted a suspicious man loitering near their homes at night. In the same week the Walker footage went public, neighboring families reported similar incidents, including one case of a car break-in.
To date, the unidentified suspect has only defecated in the Walkers’ yard, but there’s a possibility he could strike again. Currently, law enforcement is handling the case as an attempted break-in.
8. The Video Voyeur
As authorities built their case against Polizzi, they revealed his history of voyeurism-related arrests, including a 2009 incident where he was caught photographing women in a Jacksonville surf shop’s changing rooms. Spivey recounted that Polizzi had once approached her in a Publix supermarket, persistently questioning her about the details of her underwear. This led to his ban from the store. After the Target incident, Polizzi was also arrested for reckless driving.
While few have defended Polizzi’s behavior, some have debated whether Spivey’s reaction to chasing him out of the store was excessive. Two CNN writers noted that “asking questions is not against the law,” even if the questions are considered crude or inappropriate.
7. The Therapist Who Needed Therapy
Dr. Stanley Dobrowolski’s crimes were so egregious that Western University in Ontario issued a public apology. Having worked at the institution for 20 years before his sexual assault convictions, the university expressed deep regret for contributing to the “trauma and pain” caused by his actions.
Between 1985 and 1994, while employed at the university’s Student Health Services, Dobrowolski faced multiple allegations of misconduct from female students. Though the school’s statement was deliberately vague about the specifics of his “abhorrent” behavior, it is believed that the psychiatrist engaged in voyeuristic acts during his tenure. Notably, in his private practice, Dobrowolski secretly recorded nine female patients, likely during physical examinations.
Even prior to his 2014 trial, Dobrowolski had a history of unprofessional conduct. In 2004, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario found him guilty of inappropriately touching and hugging female patients without consent. More serious allegations included engaging in sexual relationships with patients. Upon examining his personal computer, police discovered that Dobrowolski not only possessed child pornography but had also produced it. He is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.
6. London’s Most Notorious Case
The Metropolitan Police have identified George Thomas, an Indian citizen and a parent, as the most notorious voyeur in the city's records. Starting in 2009, Thomas secretly recorded more than 3,500 people over six years, including minors and infants. His invasive activities extended to planting recording devices in various locations, from his own home's private spaces to public facilities across London. These recordings, primarily stored on his work computer, were used to fulfill his unusual sexual desires.
Thomas's extensive spying network was only uncovered in March 2015 when a female coworker at Ernst & Young found a hidden camera in the workplace showers. A subsequent search of his gym locker at the company revealed additional cameras and a memory stick with unauthorized images. By December 2015, Thomas was convicted and received a four-year prison sentence.
5. The Intruder Wearing A Ronald Reagan Mask
While the world celebrated New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2015, the Yancey family in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, faced an unsettling intrusion. At approximately 10:53 PM, a mysterious individual entered their breezeway. Security footage released by the family showed the man completely naked, save for a sock covering his genitals and a Ronald Reagan mask hiding his face. The entire incident lasted just 30 seconds.
Interestingly, the intruder might have been aware that the house belonged to Danielle and Bart Yancey. Danielle, a minor celebrity from the reality show Jersey Belle, and her husband immediately contacted the police after discovering the masked man on their property.
No further incidents have been reported since, leading to speculation that the man may have been under the influence or involved in a bizarre prank. Given the freezing temperatures that night, Vestavia Hills police suspect he likely escaped to a vehicle or a nearby residence.
4. Prelude To Something Horrible
Joshua Komisarjevsky exemplifies how voyeuristic tendencies can escalate into deadly violence. Alongside his accomplice Steven Hayes, Komisarjevsky highlights a troubling flaw in the US justice system, which sometimes underestimates the gravity of serious threats.
In the early hours of July 23, 2007, Komisarjevsky and Hayes broke into the Cheshire, Connecticut, residence of Dr. William Petit. After brutally assaulting Dr. Petit, they found Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17. Initially seeking to steal the family’s wealth, the intruders faced a setback when Jennifer explained she couldn’t access a large sum until later that morning. The duo then forced Jennifer to a bank, where surveillance footage captured her withdrawing thousands of dollars.
At this stage, the crime should have concluded. Tragically, Komisarjevsky and Hayes subjected the Petit family to seven hours of unimaginable torment. During this time, Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted and murdered Michaela, then assisted Hayes in dousing the house with gasoline and setting it ablaze. Astonishingly, Cheshire police officers stationed outside the home failed to intervene during the ordeal.
Following their arrest near the Petit residence, investigators discovered that Komisarjevsky had targeted the family after spotting Jennifer and Michaela at a local grocery store. Many believe Komisarjevsky, accused by some of being a pedophile, chose to follow them due to his sexual fixation on Michaela. Police records and confessions later revealed that Komisarjevsky frequently broke into homes to observe sleeping individuals, even using night vision goggles to silently watch couples.
3. No Longer Cold
The Jonathan Scott Graham case took a surprising twist when the convicted voyeur played a key role in solving a long-unsolved crime. On August 16, 1986, Gary Dale Larson and his fiancée were attacked in their Edmond, Oklahoma, home by an unidentified intruder. Larson, who had gone to investigate a noise, was stabbed 24 times in the chest and abdomen. His fiancée, upon checking on him, encountered the intruder, who then subjected her to a three-hour sexual assault at knifepoint before tying her up and locking her in a closet.
For years, the case remained a mystery to Edmond police. Eighteen years later, motion sensors at Scott Eggleston’s home detected Graham, who was found barefoot on the property. Arrested on April 5, 2004, for voyeurism, Graham was linked to the 1986 crime when his footprints matched those found at the scene. This crucial evidence led to his conviction for first-degree murder in January 2005, resulting in three consecutive life sentences without parole.
2. Sinful
Religious leaders like priests, pastors, imams, and rabbis are expected to be figures of unwavering trust. However, numerous cases of sexual abuse within major religions over recent decades have severely damaged that trust. Rabbi Barry Freundel’s actions are yet another example of why many are losing faith in such institutions.
Freundel, the former rabbi of Georgetown’s Kesher Israel synagogue, admitted guilt in 2015 for secretly recording women as they undressed in a Jewish bath. He filmed 52 women without their consent during the mikvah, a traditional Jewish purification ritual. For these offenses, Freundel was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.
In 2015, Freundel attempted to appeal his sentence, arguing he should face only one voyeurism charge instead of 52. A federal judge in Washington, DC, upheld the original verdict in July, ensuring Freundel would serve his term in federal prison. Interestingly, Jeffrey Shulevitz, writing in The Jewish Daily Forward, expressed that despite Freundel recording his wife, he believed solitary confinement was excessive. Some members of the Jewish community even publicly forgave Freundel for his crimes.
1. Holes
Anuj Parekh, a 20-year-old from Mumbai, India, is accused of engaging in extensive voyeuristic activities. Police observed Parekh entering an unoccupied apartment at the Terrace Apartments complex in Blacksburg, Virginia, where they found he had drilled holes in the walls and floors to secretly observe his neighbors. Authorities also recovered a drill, two cameras, a laptop, and several hard drives from the scene.
Following this March 2016 discovery, Parekh faced six charges, including felony burglary with intent to commit larceny, felony burglary with intent to commit a felony, two counts of voyeurism, misdemeanor property damage, and felony burglary with intent to commit a misdemeanor. While Parekh’s actions highlight his involvement in voyeurism, he appears to be part of a broader pattern of such activities in Blacksburg. His arrest stemmed from a wider campus investigation into similar offenses. Parekh is currently awaiting trial.
