The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports that they detained a man last month on suspicion of placing hidden cameras in a woman’s bedroom and recording her.
The 38-year-old suspect worked as a handyman in the victim’s home and attic, installing wiring. According to the police report, the man left one of his phones at home so the woman could “use it for Wi-Fi purposes.”
The woman stated that she searched through the phone he had left behind and discovered an app called Home Eye, which uses a device’s camera as a security monitor.
According to his arrest report, the woman discovered two active recordings, one in her bedroom while another woman slept and one in her living room.
She stated that she raised her hand to acknowledge that it was a live recording in which she saw herself.
According to police, she learned that the suspect had a three-month subscription to the app, which allowed him to record 24/7 and preserve the film for two weeks.
She claimed she discovered naked film of herself in her bedroom from a few days prior and captured it with her smartphone.
The victim informed authorities that the man previously installed cameras in her home, but she discovered them and confronted him about it.
JSO stated that he informed her it was because he was obsessed with her.
According to investigators, she did not report it at first due to fear of revenge. He’s also texted her phrases like, “If I can’t have you, nobody can.”
Police then investigated her bedroom for hidden cameras and discovered one in the base cover of a ceiling fan, which had a hole for the lens.
The camera targeted mirrors reflecting the victim’s bed. It was powered by a battery pack with wires running through the roof and attic.
The second woman was present when the camera was discovered and claimed that the suspect had worked in the attic in the previous year for “rodent issues.”
JSO then instructed the woman to text the male to return to the house to grab his phone while cops parked a few blocks away.
The woman texted JSO that he was in the vicinity, and the suspect spotted the marked police cars. He then drove away from the victim’s residence and ran a stop sign.
Police pulled him over for a traffic infraction, arrested him, and carried him back to the victim’s home.
JSO then looked for the second camera discovered in the living area. Police discovered a DVD player missing three screws, two of which had tool markings.
They disassembled the DVD player and discovered another camera with a power pack spliced into its power supply.
During questioning, the man admitted to leaving his phone, describing it as a spare, and revealed that he had worked in the attic a year ago with another man who he claimed was helping him..
The other man told police that he only helped him briefly and that the suspect was alone in the attic.
The suspect stated that the second man was working with him because the woman informed him that it was for “her safety.”
When asked why her safety might be jeopardized with him inside her home, police said he hesitated and said it was because of previous issues and conflicts they had and did not want to talk about it.
The suspect further stated that he was unaware of any other cameras in the home.
JSO conducted a final check of the victim’s attic and discovered the power cord that connected to the hidden bedroom camera.
The victim supplied JSO with a thumb drive with video footage. We seized both suspects’ phones.
The man, who faces two counts of video voyeurism, was booked into the Duval County Jail on February 25 and released two days later on a $20,000 bail and instructed not to contact the victim.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March 19.
According to Tom Hackney, a crime and safety analyst, this circumstance occurs more frequently than you realize.
In the past, I would have kept my stuff hidden to prevent theft, but now people want more than just jewelry. Hackney remarked, “There are your secrets, your dignity, and everything else, and it’s getting scary.”
He advised you to ensure that a contractor is licensed to work in your home, as well as to verify evaluations and references from others.
“Trust your gut if something’s out of place, something just doesn’t feel right about somebody coming in your house,” Hackney told us.