Tennessee woman checks husband’s phone. Then she discovered something that got a church deacon arrested

Christopher Thomas Collins, a deacon at Abba’s House church in Hixson, Tennessee, has been arrested after his wife allegedly found hidden videos on his phone showing a teenage girl being secretly recorded inside the family’s home, according to police and court records.

In January 2026, Collins’ wife reportedly searched his device, initially believing she might uncover evidence of infidelity. Instead, she allegedly found a concealed folder containing explicit videos of a 15-year-old girl who had been babysitting for the family. Collins asked his wife to hold his phone while he underwent a medical procedure.

Tennessee authorities say the videos showed the teen in a bathroom, including footage of her undressing, showering, and using the toilet. Investigators allege the recordings were made without the girl’s knowledge or consent, using hidden cameras installed in the bathroom.

Some reports say Collins’ wife was aware of the cameras, but he told her they were for rats.

Deleted videos, recovered images

According to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office records cited by local news outlet WDEF, Collins’ wife then deleted the videos after discovering them. Later, she recovered some images from the phone’s “recently deleted” folder. She then contacted law enforcement and provided the phone and SD cards believed to be connected to the hidden cameras after first consulting with church leaders for marriage counseling. Detectives say the SD cards contained additional video evidence consistent with the images found on the phone.

Police arrested Collins and charged him with nine counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony under Tennessee law. Court records show he is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on a bond reported at approximately $450,000. The alleged recordings occurred in a space where the teen had a reasonable expectation of privacy, a key factor in the charges Collins now faces.

Abba’s House church confirmed that Collins had served as a deacon for several years but said he was immediately removed from his position once church leadership became aware of the allegations. The church has stated it is cooperating with authorities and supporting the affected family members, according to WDEF.

As of the most recent reporting, Collins remains in custody and has not publicly entered a plea. Jail and court records indicate he is scheduled for an initial court appearance later this month. It is unclear whether he has retained legal counsel. Authorities say the investigation remains active. Anyone with additional information related to the case has been encouraged to contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.