A butler has been taken into custody after he reportedly asked his wife to hold his phone while he sought medical help. While doing so, she stumbled upon a nude video of her teenage babysitter that had been recorded using a hidden camera in their bathroom.
Christopher Thomas Collins, 42, who worked at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, faces nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after his wife alerted the authorities about the unsettling footage.
According to court records, Collins’ wife grew suspicious of his fidelity. She decided to check his phone, which he handed to her during a dental visit.
Upon further investigation, she discovered explicit videos of her former babysitter in a concealed folder, including footage capturing the teenager in a downstairs bathroom that seemed to have been filmed with a small hidden camera.
This camera was reportedly placed across from the shower and toilet, and at least one video displayed the girl noticing the camera while undressing.
Initially, Collins claimed to his wife that he had set up the camera to monitor for rats.
After making this discovery, his wife approached their church, Abba’s House, seeking advice. A counselor there suggested she contact the police. According to Local 3 News, authorities managed to find Collins and arrested him during a traffic stop. For safety reasons, they temporarily placed his wife and children in a hotel.
Law enforcement seized Collins’ mobile phone, with his permission, and also retrieved two SD cards from a small camera and an older phone.
Investigators reported finding nine video files on hidden cameras in the bathroom, showing over 2025 timestamps of the girl entering and exiting the shower, using the toilet, and changing clothes.
Collins allegedly recognized the minor in question and admitted to making the recordings during questioning.
Following his arrest, the church removed him from his deacon position.
Abba’s House released a statement, saying, “During marriage counseling, Chris Collins’ wife revealed that she discovered videos of minors on his phone. We immediately notified the police, and they are handling the matter. We are providing support for his wife and children during this difficult time. Collins had been a church member for four years and served as a deacon. He has been dismissed from that role.”
