A church deacon’s secret life unraveled in a shocking instant when he asked his wife to hold onto his phone during a medical procedure — only for her to stumble upon disturbing videos allegedly showing their teenage babysitter secretly filmed nude in their bathroom. Police say the footage was recorded using a hidden camera, leading to his arrest.
Christopher Thomas Collins, a 42-year-old deacon at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, is now facing nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after his wife turned over deeply disturbing videos to police — a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the community.
Already suspicious that her husband was having an affair, Collins’ wife decided to look through his phone after he handed it to her while undergoing a dental procedure — a split-second decision that would uncover far more than she ever expected, according to court documents obtained by WTVC.
Christopher Thomas Collins, a 42-year-old deacon at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, is now facing nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after his wife turned over deeply disturbing videos to police. Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Collins’ wife decided to look through his phone after he handed it to her while undergoing a dental procedure — a split-second decision that would uncover far more than she ever expected, according to court documents obtained by WTVC. Facebook
According to police, she then stumbled upon a hidden folder containing explicit videos of their former baby-sitter — footage that appeared to show the teenager inside the couple’s downstairs bathroom, secretly recorded by small concealed cameras.
Police allege the cameras were positioned directly across from the shower and toilet, and in at least one chilling clip, the girl appeared to notice the device while she was undressing.
When confronted, Collins initially claimed he had installed the cameras to catch rats — an explanation he later gave to investigators, according to her account.
Shaken by what she had uncovered, Collins’ wife turned to their church, Abba’s House, for guidance. A counselor there urged her to contact police, and for her safety, the church arranged a hotel stay for her and her children — all as authorities tracked down Collins and arrested him during a traffic stop, according to Local 3 News.
Police seized Collins’ cellphone and searched it with his consent. Investigators also recovered two SD cards from the small cameras, along with an older phone — devices they believe hold key evidence in the case.
Christopher Thomas Collins now faces nine felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, a shocking development that has rocked his community. Facebook
Investigators said police recovered nine video files, all timestamped from 2025, recorded by hidden bathroom cameras showing a girl entering and exiting the shower, using the toilet, and changing clothes.
After discovering the videos, Collins’ wife turned to their church, Abba’s House, seeking guidance — and a counselor there urged her to contact the police immediately. Facebook
Collins, who was familiar with the teenager, allegedly confessed to recording her during an interview with police.
Following his arrest, the church removed Collins from his position as deacon.
'Through the course of a marriage counseling session, Chris Collins’ wife revealed that she had found videos on her husband’s phone of a minor,' Abba’s House said in a statement addressing her allegations.
“We immediately reported it to the police and they are handling the situation. We are caring for his wife and kids during this tragic time. Chris Collins had been a member of the church for four years and served as a deacon. He has been removed from that role.”
