From Amityville To Conjuring 4: Here Are Some Of The Most Terrifying Cases Of Ed And Lorraine Warren

If you are a horror enthusiast, you are likely familiar with the world-renowned paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Yes! The same Warrens who inspired The Conjuring franchise and have been involved in some of the most notorious haunting cases in recent history. Ed and Lorraine made a power couple, not just in their personal life, but also in their professional life, with a gift that not many possessed. Ed, who lived from 1926 to 2006, was a demonologist, while Lorraine, born in 1927 and died in 2019, claimed to be a clairvoyant. 

Together, the couple became America's most notorious paranormal investigators. However, over the years, several sources have often questioned the authenticity of their stories. While it's impossible to know what happened and what didn't, their case files have been adapted into several movies. From The Conjuring to Annabelle, they have given the horror world some of the highest-grossing horror media franchises of all time. Nonetheless, not all were turned into films, so without further ado, let's take a look at some of the biggest cases by the Warrens.

The Union Cemetery and the ghost of the 'White Lady'

Among the cases that were not turned into a film or a TV show is the Union Cemetery case. Located in Easton, Connecticut, it is considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. However, it did earn a place in the Warrens' 1992 book, Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery. In the book, Ed claimed that he saw and filmed the presence of the 'White Lady', who was also seen near the Stepney Cemetery. But, as there were no major instances and the lack of significant human interaction or narrative may have kept it offscreen. Nonetheless, the cemetery has since remained one of the most haunted lands.

The nine-year-old boy who experiences violent seizures

Another one of Warren's most bizarre cases was the Southend Werewolf. The incident involved a carpenter named William Ramsey, who experienced violent 'seizures' as a nine-year-old boy. However, his conditions worsened as he grew older, leading him to the Warrens. The case was noted in their 1991 book, Werewolf: A True Story of Demonic Possession. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that it didn't involve any literal transformation but was considered a rare form of demonic possession. 

The Smurl haunting: S**ual assault by a demon

The Smurl haunting of 1974 was another one of the most eerie cases investigated by the Warrens. The Smurl family lived in Pennsylvania and, for over a decade, faced assault and the strange noises of a demon. Ed and Lorraine got involved with the family in 1986. The former revealed that a message on the mirror told them to 'get out'. The story of the Smurl family was documented in the 1988 book by the Warrens, titled The Haunted: One Family's Nightmare, and later adapted into a 1991 movie, also titled The Haunted. This marked the first on-screen adaptation of the couple.

The haunted funeral home in Connecticut

In 1986, the Snedeker family relocated to a funeral home in Connecticut. However, soon after, they started facing some disturbing experiences. While initially they thought the incidents were caused by poltergeists (a type of ghost), the Warrens later concluded that they were indeed demonic. The case became the basis for In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting in 1992 and was adapted into the 2002 Discovery special, A Haunting in Connecticut and later a film titled The Haunting in Connecticut.

What happened to the Johnsons?

In 1981, the Warrens and the Arne Johnson case made headlines after Arne Cheyenne Johnson claimed demonic possession as his legal defence after killing his landlord. While it might seem like the lamest excuse, the Warrens were contacted to find out the truth, and they believed the demonic presence had first targeted a younger boy and then Johnson. The case was featured in the 1983 book, The Devil in Connecticut, and you guessed it! It was adapted into The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

The haunted Perron family from Rhode Island 

We all know the story of The Conjuring; it was one of the most terrifying horror films of the time. It was also Warren's earliest investigation into the Perron family haunting in Rhode Island, which was said to be caused by the ghost of a witch named Bathsheba Sherman. The case inspired the film, which earned 319.5 million US dollars and introduced Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens, helping to launch the entire Conjuring universe.

The Hodgson family

Set in late 1970s London, the Enfield Poltergeist centred on the strange occurrences in the Hodgson family's home. Though the Warrens only briefly visited the site, The Conjuring 2 (2016) expanded their role in the story. The film linked the haunting to the demon 'Valak', who would become the central figure in The Nun subfranchise. 

The raggedy doll that still haunts the horror world

One of the most popular tales in the horror world is that of Annabelle, a raggedy doll originally owned by two roommates, which has become one of the most iconic entities in the horror realm. The doll's story has been shared in detail across the trilogy, comprising Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, and Annabelle Comes Home. However, her appearance was altered to be more disturbing than that of the original Raggedy Ann doll. The doll is currently locked away in a protective box.

The horrors of Amityville

The most infamous works of the Warrens, the case of Amityville began with the Lutz family, who fled their Long Island home after 28 days of terrifying paranormal activity. The house that was previously the site of six murders by Ronald DeFeo Jr. in 1974 became a nightmare for the family. Jay Anson's 1977 book about the incident became a best-seller and led to multiple movie adaptations, starting with The Amityville Horror (1979). The Warrens' involvement was dramatised briefly in The Conjuring 2's opening scenes.

While there is no certainty about the accuracy of the Warrens' investigations, the cases are truly some of the most terrifying in history. What are your thoughts on their cases? Let us know.

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