I had a gut feeling boyfriend hacked into my phone. Could this be an indicator?

If that is possible. I would save everything, Contacts, photos and whatever. Do a factory reset on the phone. It would wipe anything and everything on it. Then reinstall the stuff you had on it.

Unfortunately there is information missing in order to be able to tell you.
Is it an Android phone? Then yes, possible?
Is it an iPhone? Then it is only possible if it is Jailbroken. If you have an iPhone, and it is not Jailbroken, there is no possibility that the PHONE itself has been hacked, and the things you are describing can not happen from any source other then a software glitch.
You worried about security. Get an iPhone, DON'T jailbreak it, and keep your passwords to yourself. unless your passwords can be guessed, 100% secure.

The only way to be sure in your case is to use professional help. All other security steps listed here in answers can be easily guessed, prevented and rounded. It is lot of ways to camouflage hacking and give you the cheering idea that you've won or that was just an innocent virus or bug unrelated to that man's addiction to control you. Stalking can be very addictive, you know that? Especially for computer nerds. It is natural that every man loves the most what he is the best with and will use it. With your ex that isn't a wisdom, good look or masculine charm. And if it was brutal break off — that's the case, ask any psychology student. If it was with me I would first use some simple tricks — set a false date with very arousing details in location which is very convenient for me to watch out and be sure that hi is on my tail. But here is two biiiig issues. First one — he most likely reads my answer already. Second — it's no way for you you to outfox him if he has any issues with hacking and controlling. For every your trick has ten or more countertricks in his toolbox. Ask for help. Don't hesitate to shop and bargain — your case is very easy.

If he has access to your Google account he knows where you are at every minute. There is a location tracker that can be turned off in the settings. Change your password and cut him off. This happened to a friend of mine and she was being tracked for 1.5 years without knowing it. All her emails were read and she didn't even know it. He showed up 50 miles from where she lived and he was on her bumper. She changed her password and hasn't seen him again.

I used to be an IT professional for three years. Anyone can hack a cellphone if they had the equipment too. Every hear of the ghost vibration in the pocket? That is one. Anyone can get into all the contacts and data through a data line so get a data block and just use your phone as a voice only phone.

Use Leo Privacy 3.0 to hide your stuff so even after he hacked he won't get to know about your stuffs in your phone more.

It's apparent that you were looking for any reason to break off your LDR.
It is highly unlikely that your bf hacked into your phone, even more so since he lives far away from you.
In your case, it's called paranoia

I think the problem is how good is your ex-boyfriend in tech, if he is just some kind of crazy smart coder, no matter what phone you are using or how many time you change your password, he is still able to steal your info. But if he is just some soso guys who may just have your password, then just simply change your password is fine.

If he is the first case, the only thing you can do is talk to him and make sure he get away from your life.

It's really unlikely that someone could hack into any phone and manipulate it in the way you describe. It's likely a software bug. However there usually aren't any sings when someone hacks, he could be snooping around your iCloud account, I'd reset my phone and change any passwords he might know.

It had av on it. Not sure what kind now that i think about it. Although my phone was encrypted he could have taken it while i slept. He's really advanced it this stuff. It's his career if that doesn't say enough