NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Wednesday, a group of Nashville women sat and told their stories at the state’s highest level.
These women appeared before lawmakers, sharing painful details of a crime that spanned years. All of them were the alleged victims of a scheme to secretly record them while having sex.
“In June of 2024, I came across a file with my first name on it on my then-boyfriend’s computer,” Christiana Werner testified before state lawmakers.
Though it’s not the typical place where you would hear this kind of story, behind the doors of a House Committee hearing, Werner shared a moment of honesty and reflection.
“I didn’t expect it to be one of the most horrific and disturbing discoveries I have ever experienced,” Werner said. “Numerous sexually explicit videos of us — all recorded without my knowledge or consent.”
At the time, Werner had access to her then-boyfriend’s computer after he had given her the passcode to his computer while he was out of town. Werner described the terrifying moments when she realized that her private moments in the bedroom were captured on camera.
For the past several months, News 2 has followed the case. Matthew Vollmer was arrested for allegedly recording their sexual interactions with a hidden camera. The camera was supposedly capturing dozens of women.
“The oldest recorded dated back several years. It was at this moment this point all attempts to rationalize went out the door,” Werner said. “There were other women involved who had no idea what this man had done to them.”
However, even though the evidence was seemingly stacked in Werner’s favor, she couldn’t file a criminal case against Vollmer.
“I was not granted my order of protection because unlawful photography did not meet the criteria for one,” Werner testified. “I was not protected by the law and I still live in fear to this day.”
Before the new legislative session began, Werner and several other alleged victims went to the Capitol with the hope of working with lawmakers to create a bill that would protect future victims from the exact crime they experienced.
It’s being called the “Voyeurism Victims Act,” and it’s already gained bipartisan support.
“[This crime] takes the feeling of power away from people,” Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) said. “If they feel powerless to make a difference, and if this bill passes, we’re going to give these women some power back.”
They hope the bill will extend the statute of limitations for any future victims, giving them up to one year after the discovery of content like this to press charges instead of one year after the creation of the content. In addition, they expressed hope to focus on unlawful photography.
As of publication, the crime is a misdemeanor in Tennessee; if the bill passes, it would become a felony. The law would also close possible loopholes in similar cases.
“We are here today because our lawmakers chose to hear us, support us and stand beside us in our time of need,” Werner said.
Vollmer faces eight counts of unlawful photography. His case is set to go to trial March 20.
