Connecticut socialite and financier’s wife 53, admits inappropriately filming kids

A Connecticut socialite has pleaded guilty to inappropriately filming minors as part of a mysterious plea deal in which other more serious child sex abuse charges were dropped. 

Hadley Palmer, 53, is a mother-of-four, financier’s wife and the daughter of a wealthy hedge fund owner. She lives in Belle Haven, Connecticut, in a $10million home and has four kids with her estranged husband Bradley. 

Palmer is a regular on the Connecticut social scene and is regularly photographed at charity events. In October last year, she was arrested on charges of felony voyeurism, felony invasion of privacy and felony causing injury to a child. 

The voyeurism charge against her involved recording someone, naked or in their underwear, without their consent or knowledge, with ‘intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of such person (defendant) or any other person.’ 

It related to an incident in 2017 and 2018.  

But more serious charges of employing a minor in an obscene performance, a Class A felony, and possession of child pornography, were on the table. 

Palmer immediately filed an application for a special probation program which immediately sealed the file. She then negotiated a deal with prosecutors, in which they will drop the more serious charges in exchange for her pleading guilty to the voyeurism. 

Now, she has begun a recommended 90 day sentence at a women’s prison in Connecticut while awaiting formal sentencing in August. She will also have to sign the sex offender’s registry if the deal is accepted.  

Hadley Palmer, 53, is a mother-of-four, financier’s wife and the daughter of a wealthy hedge fund owner. She is shown in her mugshot from October, after being arrested for filming minors sexually in her home

She lives in Belle Haven, Connecticut, in a $10million home and has four kids with her estranged husband Bradley (shown). She filed for divorce in 2020. He has not commented on her arrest

Prosecutor Daniel Cummings has not commented publicly on the case. 

Much of it remains unknown. Judge John Blawie, in Stamford, ruled Thursday that the entire file should be sealed to protect the victims’ identity. 

He said it would be impossible to keep the victim’s identity secret through redaction, and that seal was necessary. 

Legal experts tell the Associated Press – whose reporters opposed the seal – that it was a highly unusual move.  

Palmer is due in court on August 1 for sentencing. The plea deal suggests she should serve 90 days to five years in prison. 

It remains unclear what led to her arrest last October.  The New York Times first reported it today, along with details of the plea deal. 

According to that report, both she and the minor victims involved asked the judge to seal the case.  

Along with Palmer, a psychologist has also been charged in the case for failing to report what she is alleged to have done.  

Dr. Jerome Brodlie was charged with intentionally not reporting Palmer’s alleged crimes to the authorities – as he is legally bound to do. 

Hadley Palmer filed for divorce from her financier husband Bradley in June 2020. It is unclear if their divorce has been finalized. 

The pair are understood to have four kids together, including one who is 19. The ages of the other children are not known. 

Property records put place Palmer in the family’s $10million home in Belle Haven, Connecticut, at the time of the alleged crimes in 2017 and 2018.