The incident, which began in 2021, came to light when Ms Andrade noticed something strange about the smoke detector in her bedroom. She noticed that Esposito was repeatedly adjusting the device, which always seemed to be repositioned, the New York Post reports. Growing suspicious, she examined the detector and found a hidden camera inside, with a memory card filled with hundreds of recordings.

Many of the videos captured Ms. Andrade in vulnerable, intimate moments, often when she was undressing or nude. As soon as she found the device, Espósito arrived home within minutes, which only added to her fears. Recalling the moment, Ms. Andrade said, “When he arrived at the house he seemed very nervous and very anxious.” Concerned for her safety, she quickly escaped through the window as Espósito knocked on her bedroom door.

After escaping, Esposito was arrested for illegal surveillance, a crime that could have landed him in prison for four years. However, he ultimately avoided prison by agreeing to two years of probation and mandatory counseling. Despite this leniency in criminal proceedings, the legal battles did not end there.

In a civil trial, a Manhattan jury awarded Ms. Andrade $780,000 in damages for emotional distress against both Esposito and his wife, Danielle. Additionally, Esposito was ordered to pay $2 million in punitive damages. Reflecting on the outcome, Ms. Andrade expressed her dissatisfaction with the compensation: “It's not enough for all the circumstances I've been through these three years. It's not enough. I was angry because the damage he did to me cannot be compensated.”

Now living in New Jersey with her husband, Ms. Andrade is focused on healing and moving forward after her traumatic experience. She says the trial forced her to confront painful memories she had long wanted to suppress. By sharing her story, she hopes to raise awareness of the issue of surveillance and ensure that perpetrators like Esposito are held accountable.