Ed and Lorraine Warren: two of the most controversial and famous figures in the history of the paranormal. Haven’t heard of them? Well, of course you have. Indirectly, maybe. The 2013 film “The Conjuring” had Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson playing the two adventuresome occultists as they tried to save a family from their severely haunted home in Rhode Island. But did you know that “The Haunting in Connecticut” and “The Amityville Horror” were also based (loosely) on some famous hauntings that they were involved in? And that’s far from all, as many of the most infamous haunted locations in the 20th century were investigated and reported on by the couple, who claim to have looked into over 10,000 cases over the length of their career.
Of course, there’s been no end of skeptics of the pair over the years. The Amityville Case was pretty much entirely debunked point by point and the pair’s claims on cases such as their exorcism of a ‘werewolf demon” got them more than a few sharp looks. But that has never stopped the legions of fans from following their exploits.
Recently with the exposure to their history that came with “The Conjuring” Lorraine (sadly now widowed) has appeared in lots of media to talk about their experiences and give tours of the museum they built below their home in Connecticut, filled with some of the creepiest artifacts ever collected in one place. Not the least of which, and certainly the biggest lure to seekers of the creepy, is their rag doll named “Annabelle”.
A creepier looking version of the doll was featured in “The Conjuring” but the actual doll’s story is just as frightening: bought in the 1970’s the doll would move about on its own and leave handwritten notes for the family who bought it. When it started spontaneously leaking blood, they thought it was time to get professional help and called in a medium who claimed the doll had been possessed by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle who had died under mysterious circumstances on their property, and just wanted a family to be loved by. Welcoming the spirit in their home, the family learned the most important rule about dealing with the dead: they lie.
After several of their friends were attacked by the doll (seriously), the fam got clued in that something was rotten in Denmark, and it probably wasn’t the ghost of Hamlet. Cue the Warrens who got called in by a priest who realized the case was beyond his abilities. Ed and Lorraine concluded it was an inhuman demonic spirit inhabiting the doll that was given power when attention was paid to it by the medium. They had an exorcism performed and took the doll with them when they left.
It didn’t take. Even on the way home with the doll in the car, their vehicle was buffeted about the highway dangerously. The doll would spontaneously levitate and move about their residence. Many people, especially those who verbally doubted the veracity of Annabelle’s power, were hurt and killed over the years while it took up residence in their home. Eventually they moved her into the basement and put her in a specially made locked case with warnings all over it. But even then, one loud doubter died on his way back from the museum.
You can still go to Lorraine’s home and take the tour, where you can see voodoo dolls, cursed mirrors, and any number of reportedly paranormally infested items that all have stories behind them and with some, fatalities. But Annabelle seems to be the one to be polite to. Or steer clear of entirely.
NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.