AITA for sueing my mother after i found out she has cameras in my home?

Imagine waking up in your own bed, groggy and half-asleep, only to spot a glint in the vent—a hidden camera staring back. For this young couple, that nightmare became reality when the husband discovered his estranged mother had planted cameras and bugs throughout their home. What began as a chilling invasion of privacy spiraled into a legal battle, with Reddit cheering the couple’s fight for justice. Was pressing charges too harsh, or a necessary stand against a shocking betrayal?

This Reddit saga, dripping with betrayal and boundary violations, resonates with anyone who’s faced a family member crossing unthinkable lines. The community’s outrage and the couple’s raw shock fuel a story that’s equal parts horror and empowerment. Let’s dive into this unsettling tale and untangle the threads of trust, privacy, and accountability.

‘AITA for sueing my mother after i found out she has cameras in my home?’

So I (24m) and my (24f) wife were sleeping in our bed. Now our bed faces a vent. So I woke up and I saw that something was in there. And I have never noticed, but my mom had put a CAMERA in that vent my mother is a narcissist I went NC with her when I hit 18. And when I saw that camera I thought ' holy s**t there's a pervert who likes to watch my and my wife sleep'.

then I found all of the cameras and bugs my mother put. oh, and how she got in was she contacted my dad who I still talk to and lied to him and told him to give her a key to my house to ' go feed and take care of my dog' because ' I was away' but I was just at work.

anyways I took the cameras and bugs to the police station they found out it was my mom and I pressed charges. so I want to know. am I the ass for doing so

Discovering hidden cameras in your home is a gut-punch violation, especially when the culprit is a parent. The original poster (OP), already no-contact with his narcissistic mother, faced an egregious breach of trust when she used a lie to access his home via his father. Planting cameras and bugs, particularly in intimate spaces like the bedroom, isn’t just intrusive—it’s illegal and deeply traumatic. OP’s decision to press charges reflects a need to reclaim safety and hold his mother accountable.

This scenario highlights a broader issue: privacy violations within families. A 2022 study in Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that 15% of domestic surveillance cases involve family members, often linked to control dynamics like narcissism (Source: SAGE Journals). As therapist Dr. Ramani Durvasula notes, “Narcissists often disregard boundaries to maintain control, but legal consequences can be a necessary wake-up call” (Source: Dr. Ramani’s Blog). OP’s mother’s actions, from deception to surveillance, scream control, not care.

Pressing charges was a justified response—laws in many regions classify unauthorized recording as a felony (Source: Cornell Law). OP and his wife should also consider a restraining order and changing locks to prevent further intrusions. A calm talk with OP’s father about enabling this breach could rebuild trust.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

The Reddit crew roared in like a SWAT team, unloading shock and support with a side of righteous fury—think a neighborhood watch gone feral. Here’s what they had to say:

whynousernamelef − Nta. Omg camera in the room facing the bed? As in recording you guys being intimate? I hope that's as illegal as it sounds. That's so wrong and disgusting. Damn right you should sue her or have her prosecuted! It makes my skin crawl to even imagine, I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Good luck.

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hermitcrabs42 − NTA. 1. Broke into your house with out you knowing. 2. Filming you 24/7. 3. Recording everything you say. Dude I don't care of she is family send her to jail what the hell. Edit: Have your wife sue her too!

DragonHyourin − NTA and get a restraining order. Jesus.

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ediblepizza − NTA. Your house is your house and you are obligated to have your privacy. That’s disgusting.

[Reddit User] − NTA. Although the confusion between “suing” and “pressing charges” makes this story seem pretty not-legit.

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[Reddit User] − YTA for making me decipher your writing.

pizzaroll94 − Obviously NTA-Holy crap that is really scary

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DrunkMarcAntony − NTA but as an fyi you aren't suing your mom. Suing is for civil court, this is criminal.

[Reddit User] − would you SERIOUSLY be asking this question if the person who had violated you in this way was not genetically linked to you? if somebody wrote here 'i used to have a good friend in high school but we went no contact after i took issues with her behavior

But i recently found out that she broke into my home and put bugs and cameras there, would i be an a**hole if I took issue with this?' *would you even for a second deliberate the answer?* this is repulsive. this is criminal. **family is not an excuse**. NTA

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(edit: just to be clear since i take a very aggressive tone in my comment it is not at all meant to be hostility towards you or your question i just wish i could scream at the entire world to stop letting people do horrible things to them in the name of 'family'.)

nannab247 − Take the keys away from your dad aswell

These electric Reddit reactions spark a question: Is pressing charges the ultimate boundary enforcer, or could it deepen family rifts?

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This camera-in-the-vent horror show exposes the chilling lengths some family members go to control others. OP’s choice to press charges isn’t just about justice—it’s about reclaiming his and his wife’s sanctuary. While family ties tug at the heart, his mother’s actions demand consequences, not forgiveness. A restraining order and new locks could seal the deal. Have you ever faced a betrayal that pushed you to take drastic steps? What would you do in this creepy crisis? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep the convo rolling!

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