I used to babysit for a family in high school, and the dad just got arrested for sexual battery and voyeurism.
A few days ago, my best friend and I (both F24) were talking about a family we both used to babysit for back in high school. We started out talking about general funny/crazy babysitting stories and then started to remember some weird details about one family in particular. They lived in a very nice neighborhood and seemed like a happy, put-together family from the outside. But there were always things that felt a little off—especially with the kids.
There were three children between the ages of 2-8. My friend and I both remember really odd behaviors they had, especially for kids that young, that we overlooked at the time. One specific memory came up that I’ve never forgotten. The first time we babysat for them, the mom and dad pulled us aside before they left and told us that their five-year-old son wasn’t allowed to have blankets in the living room. I asked why, and the parents told us (kind of laughing, kind of awkwardly) that it was because he used them for “stimulation” and they’d told him he had to do that in his room only. Being a very sheltered 17 year old, I was weirded out by it, but I brushed it off and just didn’t let the little boy bring blankets or pillows in the living room. He would still try to get away with it though.
Over the years, I babysat for them fairly regularly. The two older kids were often seeking that type of stimulation, even during everyday activities like sitting at the table eating dinner or watching TV. I don’t want to say too much because it’s regarding children, but when we talked about it the other day, my friend and I both agreed that it was very weird. I used to babysit for a lot of different families in high school, and none of the other kids I babysat had those behaviors.
I lost touch with that family after I went to college in a different city, and I haven’t thought about them much since, until today.
Two days after we talked about all of this—I was scrolling on my phone and saw a press release from a local police department. The dad had been arrested for sexual battery and voyeurism. Apparently he was groping and taking inappropriate photos of a minor at a school. Police have indicated that it might not be an isolated incident and are asking others to come forward.
I am so freaked out. It’s making me reconsider all of my experiences with this family through a different lens. He was always weirdly interested in me when I was babysitting. He’d talk to me for way too long before leaving, ask me a lot of questions, and his general vibe was off. For me, there’s always a weird, intense look in a guy’s eyes when you can tell he’s a little creepy, and he had that look. His wife would always have to pull him away so they could actually go. Now I’m spiraling, wondering if I was ever recorded without my knowledge, especially because he was taking pictures of teen girls in a school. I was 17 and alone in their house for hours at a time. I used their bathroom. I changed clothes there once or twice when I was coming from an event. I’m wondering if he ever planted recording devices in the bathrooms.
Aside from myself, I’m worried that the kids might have been doing those behaviors for reasons other than “curiosity”. Were those behaviors a sign of something deeper going on?
It’s just so disturbing. I feel nauseous thinking about it. I keep replaying everything in my head, trying to figure out if I missed signs. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea that I might be adjacent to a pending criminal investigation. What do I do??
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Backup of the post’s body: I used to babysit for a family in high school, and the dad just got arrested for sexual battery and voyeurism.
A few days ago, my best friend and I (both F24) were talking about a family we both used to babysit for back in high school. We started out talking about general funny/crazy babysitting stories and then started to remember some weird details about one family in particular. They lived in a very nice neighborhood and seemed like a happy, put-together family from the outside. But there were always things that felt a little off—especially with the kids.
There were three children between the ages of 2-8. My friend and I both remember really odd behaviors they had, especially for kids that young, that we overlooked at the time. One specific memory came up that I’ve never forgotten. The first time we babysat for them, the mom and dad pulled us aside before they left and told us that their five-year-old son wasn’t allowed to have blankets in the living room. I asked why, and the parents told us (kind of laughing, kind of awkwardly) that it was because he used them for “stimulation” and they’d told him he had to do that in his room only. Being a very sheltered 17 year old, I was weirded out by it, but I brushed it off and just didn’t let the little boy bring blankets or pillows in the living room. He would still try to get away with it though.
Over the years, I babysat for them fairly regularly. The two older kids were often seeking that type of stimulation, even during everyday activities like sitting at the table eating dinner or watching TV. I don’t want to say too much because it’s regarding children, but when we talked about it the other day, my friend and I both agreed that it was very weird. I used to babysit for a lot of different families in high school, and none of the other kids I babysat had those behaviors.
I lost touch with that family after I went to college in a different city, and I haven’t thought about them much since, until today.
Two days after we talked about all of this—I was scrolling on my phone and saw a press release from a local police department. The dad had been arrested for sexual battery and voyeurism. Apparently he was groping and taking inappropriate photos of a minor at a school. Police have indicated that it might not be an isolated incident and are asking others to come forward.
I am so freaked out. It’s making me reconsider all of my experiences with this family through a different lens. He was always weirdly interested in me when I was babysitting. He’d talk to me for way too long before leaving, ask me a lot of questions, and his general vibe was off. For me, there’s always a weird, intense look in a guy’s eyes when you can tell he’s a little creepy, and he had that look. His wife would always have to pull him away so they could actually go. Now I’m spiraling, wondering if I was ever recorded without my knowledge, especially because he was taking pictures of teen girls in a school. I was 17 and alone in their house for hours at a time. I used their bathroom. I changed clothes there once or twice when I was coming from an event. I’m wondering if he ever planted recording devices in the bathrooms.
Aside from myself, I’m worried that the kids might have been doing those behaviors for reasons other than “curiosity”. Were those behaviors a sign of something deeper going on?
It’s just so disturbing. I feel nauseous thinking about it. I keep replaying everything in my head, trying to figure out if I missed signs. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea that I might be adjacent to a pending criminal investigation. What do I do??
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I would get in touch with the police, tell them about your experience with this man!!
If you actually witnessed anything or have any evidence to support the claim he was harming the kids in any way definitely speak to a parent. And if you’re having a hard time yourself then same answer.
But this is a horrible thing that’s happening to the minor he abused and his family, and while he may have been creepy towards you… please don’t start trying to create drama for yourself around it where there wasn’t any. This doesn’t need to be about you.