Ed and Lorraine Warren are perhaps the most famous paranormal investigators ever, with over 10,000 cases under their belts. They’ve worked on so many compelling stories, some of which have become blockbuster movies. “The Conjuring” series is based on their efforts, and today, let’s dive into some of their most chilling cases. Get ready for a spooky ride!
Let’s start with the infamous Amityville Horror. In December 1975, George and Kathleen Lutz, along with their kids, moved into 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. Despite its appealing price, the house came with dark history. Just a year earlier, Butch DeFeo brutally murdered his family in that house. Soon after moving in, the Lutz family experienced terrifying supernatural events. From strange noises and voices to green slime oozing from the walls, they saw it all. George woke up at 3:15 AM every day, the same time as the murders. After just 28 days, they fled the house, and the Warrens took over, identifying demonic presences. This case became the foundation for the book and movie, “The Amityville Horror.”
Moving on to the Annabelle doll, one of the creepiest stories out there. In 1970, nursing student Donna received a Raggedy Ann doll from her mother. Soon, Donna and her roommate noticed the doll moving to different rooms and finding eerie notes in a child’s handwriting. Things escalated when red substances appeared on the doll, and her roommate’s boyfriend Lou felt the doll attacking him. A medium revealed the doll was possessed by a spirit named Annabelle, but later Ed and Lorraine identified it as a demon. Annabelle now resides safely locked up in the Warren’s Occult Museum, but not before causing a series of dangerous events.
The Perron family’s story in Rhode Island inspired another terrifying film in “The Conjuring” series. They moved into an old farmhouse in 1971, where strange occurrences began almost immediately. Ghosts appeared regularly, and the mother, Carolyn, was targeted by the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, an alleged witch from the 19th century. The Warrens intervened, leading to a dramatic seance that briefly exorcised the spirits.
Next, there’s the Enfield Poltergeist of 1977 in North London. Peggy Hodgson and her children experienced furniture moving on its own and ghostly voices, notably from her eleven-year-old daughter Janet. The Warrens investigated and identified an old man’s spirit named Bill, who lived and died in the house. This case featured multiple credible witnesses and became another cornerstone of paranormal research.
The Snedeker house in Connecticut rounds out these chilling cases. Carmen and Allen Snedeker discovered their rented house was a former funeral home. Their son Phillip experienced violent hauntings, which soon extended to the entire family. The Warrens deduced the presence of an evil spirit, stemming from a necrophiliac mortician who had worked there. An exorcism concluded the terror, but not without causing significant trauma to the family.
Despite the spine-chilling nature of these stories, the Warrens have their critics who allege exaggerations and doubts about their evidence. Some skeptics argue that certain details match popular horror tropes and films too closely to be coincidental.
So, regardless of whether you’re a firm believer in the supernatural or a staunch skeptic, the Warrens’ cases offer some of the most fascinating and fear-inducing tales in paranormal history. Remember, always keep an open mind and maybe a light on!
