Hello, today I will introduce you to Ed and Lorraine Warren, a couple who have dedicated their lives to paranormal events, which most of the horror movies you watch are inspired by their research.
Surely many of you adore the “The Conjuring” series. But would you believe me if I told you that there is a couple who witnessed all the events told in every series? Yes, you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s time to meet the embodiments of courage. Here are Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose research lies behind many of the horror movies you’ve watched…
In the mid-twentieth century, two names shone a light on the unknowns of darkness, making groundbreaking contributions to the world of paranormal research: Ed and Lorraine Warren. Considered pioneers of modern ghost hunting and supernatural investigations, this couple dedicated years to examining mystic, frightening, and sometimes unsolvable cases.
Their bond, starting from their youth, was not limited to love but transformed into a desire to work together on hundreds of cases. Even their deaths could not diminish the legacy they left behind. In this article, we will take a closer look at the lives, research, and contributions of the Warren couple to the paranormal world.
Known as some of the most famous names in supernatural research in America, Ed and Lorraine Warren are recognized for their paranormal investigations and the books they authored. In other words, they were both paranormal researchers and authors. Ed and Lorraine Warren, among the first names that come to mind when thinking of paranormal events, became authoritative figures in this field by working on many famous cases over the years. So, who were this couple, and what made them so special?
Ed, while working as a young police officer in America, began to develop an interest in demonology. This interest led him to become an official demonologist.
Lorraine was known for her medium abilities since birth. She claimed she could see the aura, the energy around people. In other words, Lorraine had clairvoyance abilities and often acted as a mediator in communicating with entities in most of the cases they undertook.
In 1952, the couple founded the New England Psychic Research Society and worked on over 10,000 paranormal events, especially cases of haunting.
Annabelle
The investigations of the Ed and Lorraine Warren couple have inspired numerous horror films. The ‘Conjuring’ series, ‘The Amityville Horror’, ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’, ‘Annabelle’, and ‘The Nun’ are just a few of these films. However, the couple’s research was not only met with admiration; they also faced criticism at times. Particularly in the 1970s, the New England Skeptical Society questioned the Warrens’ methodologies and findings.
Despite the achievements, contributions, and criticisms they faced throughout their lives, it is known that the couple did not charge for their consultation services, apart from travel expenses. Additionally, they often shared their knowledge and experience with younger generations by giving lectures at universities.
Thus, families who believed their homes or themselves were afflicted by an evil entity would seek the couple’s help. The couple claimed that they did not pursue their profession for money, stating they did not charge any extra fees beyond travel expenses.
Among these cases, the most notable was the Annabelle doll, which left its mark on popular culture. This Raggedy Ann-style toy doll, given as a gift to a young woman named Donna, reportedly began moving on its own.
Despite a medium’s claim that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a six-year-old child, the Warren couple had a different interpretation. They believed the doll was influenced by a non-human spirit and even claimed that interaction with the doll led to two deaths.
Annabelle is displayed in a special glass case at “The Warren’s Occult Museum,” founded by the couple, with a warning sign that reads “Do Not Touch Anything!” The Warrens’ investigations inspired many horror movies. The “The Conjuring” series, “The Amityville Horror,” “The Haunting in Connecticut,” “Annabelle,” and “The Nun” are just a few of these films. However, the couple’s work was not only met with admiration; they also faced criticism. In particular, in the 1970s, the New England Skeptical Society questioned their methodologies and findings.
Despite the achievements, contributions, and criticisms they faced throughout their lives, it is known that the Warrens did not charge for their consulting services, except for travel expenses. Additionally, they often shared their knowledge and experiences with younger generations through lectures at universities. Families who believed that their homes or themselves were haunted by malevolent entities often sought the couple’s help, and the Warrens maintained that they did not practice their profession for money, only charging for travel expenses.
Snedeker Family
Another intriguing case involving Ed and Lorraine Warren was that of the Snedeker family. This case became particularly famous among paranormal communities and horror cinema enthusiasts due to the events the family experienced.
Allen and Carmen Snedeker, along with their three sons, daughter, and two nieces, moved into a simple white farmhouse in Southington, Connecticut, which had once been used as a funeral home.
In the basement, they discovered various funeral paraphernalia, including coffin lifters, a medical gurney, blood drains, and toe tags. Shortly thereafter, the Snedekers began to report a wide range of malevolent occurrences.
Among the events they experienced and reported were sexual assaults, apparitions, sudden and violent personality changes in their eldest son who was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s disease, objects moving on their own, cold spots, strange odors, the sensation of unseen entities touching them, and terrifying hallucinations.
The family believed these oddities were linked to the house’s former use as a funeral home, especially due to the embalming equipment found in the basement. Alarmed by these paranormal events, the Snedeker family sought help from Ed and Lorraine Warren. After conducting a series of investigations and examinations in the house, the Warrens declared it to be haunted, affirming their belief in the presence of malevolent entities harassing the family.
The Warrens’ involvement in the case sparked a significant media campaign around the incident. The Snedeker family’s story was met with skepticism by many. Some believed the family exaggerated or even fabricated their story. Despite the Warrens’ involvement, these criticisms and doubts persisted.
While some accepted these events as genuine paranormal experiences, others viewed the story as entirely fictional or exaggerated. Nonetheless, the controversy didn’t prevent the story from gaining popularity. In 2002, a documentary about the events brought the Snedeker case back into the spotlight. The release of “The Haunting in Connecticut” in 2009 further popularized the story, cementing its place in popular culture.
Werewolf Event
Bill Ramsey’s story began when he was just nine years old in 1952. On a Saturday while playing in the garden, he suddenly experienced a fit of rage and attempted to tear down the garden fences. During this fit, Ramsey’s face took on a wild expression, and foam formed at his mouth. It seemed as though an external force had taken over his motor functions, completely controlling the young boy.
In fact, Ramsey managed to rip out a fence post that would have challenged even his father and swung it around wildly. What he did next forced everyone to retreat. Bill threw himself against the wire mesh of the garden and bit into it. This wasn’t a mild bite, but a full-fledged gnawing action, like that of an animal. His parents watched in horror until whatever had taken over Bill subsided, and he calmed down. For the next 15 years, there was nothing notable to report.
As Ramsey reached adulthood and was in his mid-20s, he had married and had children. In the first few years of his marriage, he began to experience regular nightmares filled with fear and unrest.
In the early 1980s, Ramsey, now an adult, started experiencing these rage fits again. Several times, during these fits, he attempted to attack people and was hospitalized. Ramsey claimed these rage fits resembled werewolf transformations.
For instance, in 1983 while socializing outside with friends, Bill began to feel the onset of the same emotions he had experienced decades ago in his parents’ backyard. He excused himself to the restroom, where in the mirror, he saw the reflection of a werewolf looking back at him.
This event was only a precursor to what would happen on the way home. During a taxi ride, according to the accounts, Bill’s hands transformed into claws, and he bit the leg of a fellow passenger. The driver maintained his composure, stopping the car in the middle of the street and attempting to eject Bill from the vehicle.
As December of the same year approached, Ramsey began to feel pains in his chest. Fearing a possible heart attack, he promptly went to the local hospital. While Ramsey’s blood pressure was being taken, he suddenly bit the nurse’s arm.
Emergency service teams immediately intervened. Witnesses to this bizarre situation reported seeing a man who seemed to be possessed by an evil entity, crouching on both shoulders and turning his fingers into claws. Ramsey retracted his lips like a wild animal. Several officers were required to halt this attack. A police officer managed to handcuff Ramsey’s wrists, but even that proved insufficient.
Ramsey was finally subdued with a sedative injection. He was kept under observation for a while. The only nurse who had tried to help Ramsey felt her life was in danger and left to find a doctor. Ramsey’s rage flared up again. Hearing of the incident, four police officers surrounded Ramsey. He growled and attacked each one for a few seconds. It took four people to finally restrain Ramsey. One of the officers received injuries that required a several-day hospital stay.
When they arrived at the local police station, a police surgeon was called. Ramsey was offered transfer to a mental health facility for special tests and potential treatments, but he seriously considered and ultimately declined the proposal. Due to his extended periods of normalcy, Ramsey was released after a 2-month detention.
Three years passed without incident, and then Ramsey found himself back at the same police station, this time after reporting a young man. As he parked his car, the youth ran towards the police station. At this moment, Ramsey felt the uncontrollable impulses he experienced in previous years beginning to intensify.
A taller and larger police officer approached and grabbed Ramsey’s arm. Ramsey reacted by throwing the officer to the ground. A dozen police officers, including two detectives, intervened. Ramsey was subdued only after receiving two injections.
Famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren heard about this case and immediately came to England to meet with Ramsey. They were already in London at the time and had heard about Ramsey’s experiences. Despite local authorities not actively pursuing the case, the Warrens believed Ramsey was possessed by an evil entity. They obtained permission to meet with him and suggested the best solution would be for him to come to their church in Connecticut for examination. Believing Ramsey to be influenced by a demonic entity, the Warrens brought him to the U.S. for an exorcism, with the expenses covered by “The People” tabloid newspaper.
When Bill arrived at the Warrens’ church, their consultant, the renowned Bishop McKenna, suggested performing a rite for him. The ceremony was conducted in Latin, and everything seemed normal for the first half-hour until Ramsey’s facial expression changed and he clenched his hands like claws.
McKenna commanded the evil entity within Ramsey to leave. This exorcism was recorded on video. After this ceremony, it was believed that the demonic influence on Ramsey had been lifted.
Meanwhile, Ramsey’s experiences began to receive global media attention. In 1992, Bill Ramsey appeared in public for the last time on Fox TV’s “Sightings” program, where he shared that the frequency of his experiences increased prior to his visit to America. In recent years, no new news or events about Ramsey have been reported.
Bill Ramsey’s story is commonly known as a “Werewolf” possession and gained further popularity due to the Warrens’ involvement. Although many of the Warrens’ investigations have been adapted into films, it’s important to note that Ramsey’s story has not been directly made into a Hollywood movie. However, as many horror film stories are inspired by real-life events, it’s conceivable that Ramsey’s story could have influenced werewolf-themed inspirations in the genre.
Union Cemetery
Many cemeteries are filled with history, mystery, and sadness, but Union Cemetery in Connecticut holds a unique place as one of the most haunting sites in America. Known as the home to several ghosts, including the legendary “White Lady” and “Red Eyes,” this cemetery both intrigues and terrifies its visitors.
The legendary “White Lady,” believed to reside there, has made Union Cemetery one of America’s most haunting places. Another famous ghost, known as “Red Eyes,” is said to occasionally peer at people from the bushes.
According to Only In Your State, some visitors have reported feeling a warm breath on the back of their necks and turning around to see mysterious red eyes gazing at them. This ghost is sometimes said to chase people around the cemetery. It’s believed that “Red Eyes” is the ghost of Earle Kellogg, who died in 1935 in a fire across from the cemetery.
The White Lady is often described as a striking figure wandering the cemetery in a white dress. Although she is mostly portrayed as sorrowful, the true identity and story of this ghost are subjects of much speculation. However, many believe she is the spirit of a woman who cannot find peace in the afterlife due to a tragic incident in her past.
Indeed, these haunted grounds have caught the attention of the renowned demonologist couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The pair visited Union Cemetery numerous times to investigate its mysteries and gather evidence of the paranormal. They compiled their findings in their 1992 book “Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery.” It is even claimed that Ed Warren captured the White Lady in photographs and videos. Lorraine Warren, in a 2008 interview with NBC Connecticut, mentioned that the video evidence was so valuable that they kept it locked away in their Occult Museum in Monroe.
The curse of Union Cemetery is not limited to just these two ghost stories. Visitors have reported various eerie experiences during their time at the cemetery, such as feeling warm breaths, hearing whispers, and encountering sudden cold spots.
In conclusion, Union Cemetery is known as one of the most haunting places in America, filled with numerous mysteries and legends that captivate its visitors. However, those considering a visit should be cautious; the enigmas of this cemetery can be dangerous, especially at night. If you dare, you may visit, but be warned – according to Monroe Sun, the cemetery is closed at night, and the town police issue fines to those who enter without permission.
Arne Cheyenne Johnson (The Case of the Killer Demon)
The murder of Alan Bono in Brookfield, Connecticut, became one of the most notable cases in the town’s history. In 1981, 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson and his 26-year-old girlfriend Debbie Glatzel were living under the supervision of Alan Bono at the management apartment of Brookfield Kennels. One day, a disagreement erupted between the intoxicated Bono and the couple. This disagreement escalated, resulting in Johnson stabbing Bono with a knife.
Following the incident, the Brookfield Police Chief stated that this murder was the first of its kind in the town’s long history. However, what really captured the public’s attention was Johnson’s defense: he claimed he was controlled by a demonic entity at the time of the murder. This claim resonated nationally.
Behind this defense were the famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The day after the incident, Lorraine informed the police that the murder was committed by Johnson under the influence of a demonic entity. While Johnson confirmed this claim, he also stated that he did not remember committing the murder.
The roots of the event lie in the strange experiences of David Glatzel, a young member of the Glatzel family. Prior to the murder, Johnson and his girlfriend Debbie believed that Debbie’s 11-year-old brother David was being harassed by a demonic entity.
David had told his family about an “old man” who was invisible to others and who threatened to harm him. As the situation escalated, the Glatzel family called upon paranormal experts and demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The Warrens conducted a series of exorcism rituals on David to determine the existence of the entity. During one of these rituals, Arne Cheyenne Johnson is said to have challenged the demonic entity, begging it to leave David and take him instead.
A few months before the murder, a dispute arose between Arne Cheyenne Johnson and Alan Bono, culminating in Johnson fatally stabbing Bono.
Since the Warrens had been involved from the beginning, witnessing the entity afflicting David, they believed Arne was not the true perpetrator. Ed Warren, in a 1981 interview with People magazine, stated, “We know the boy [David] was affected by 43 different spirits. We asked him to tell us their names, and he gave us 43 names.”
During the trial, Johnson’s defense was based on the claim of demonic possession. However, this defense was not accepted by the judge and jury, and Johnson was found guilty of the murder. He was later paroled after serving a few years in prison, as he was considered a model inmate at the Connecticut Correctional Institution in Somers.
The incident profoundly impacted both Johnson and the Glatzel family. Johnson and Debbie Glatzel married while he was still in prison on January 30, 1985, and went on to have two sons. In a 2006 interview, Debbie stated, “Our love only grew stronger. He was ready to sacrifice himself to save my brother.”
This was in reference to Johnson’s plea during the rituals for the evil spirit to leave David and take him instead. Debbie reported that after these rituals, Johnson began to act strangely, entering trances and claiming to see evil spirits, later remembering nothing.
The case garnered widespread media attention and was recounted in various formats. It has been featured in popular culture, movies, documentaries, and books. The third installment of “The Conjuring” film series, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” portrays this murder case from the perspective of Ed and Lorraine Warren.
As we come to the end of our discussion, it’s clear that throughout their careers, Ed and Lorraine Warren, known as some of the most famous paranormal investigators of the 20th century, have demonstrated that paranormal events are not merely tales or folklore, but can intertwine significantly with reality.
They were researchers who sought to understand the supernatural, undeterred by the challenges they faced. Throughout their lives, their passion for the unknown made them targets of criticism but also heroes in the eyes of many. Their story reiterates the importance of courage in confronting the unknown and the pursuit of understanding.
Despite the criticisms from some quarters, the contributions of the Warrens to the field of paranormal investigation are undeniable. Regardless of individual beliefs about the reality of paranormal phenomena, the impact of the Warrens in this field is unquestionably profound and influential. Ed and Lorraine Warren were true pioneers in the investigation of paranormal events. Their work drew the attention of both critics and admirers. Even today, their stories and investigations remain an integral part of horror cinema and popular culture. Thus, their contributions to the horror film industry are invaluable.
The cases experienced by the Warrens have inspired many popular horror films. The “The Conjuring” and “Annabelle” series are cinematic adaptations of these cases. These films have further increased the couple’s fame, turning them into a global phenomenon.
Death of Ed and Lorraine Warren
On August 23, 2006, Ed Warren passed away at his home in Connecticut. Lorraine Warren also passed away in the same home, in her sleep, on April 18, 2019.
Edward Warren had expressed a wish to be laid to rest in a cemetery dating back to the 1700s, which was rumored to be frequently visited by ghosts. There were tales of a glowing entity in the cemetery, described as having long black hair and wearing a white dress. Why do you think the Warren couple might have wanted to be buried in this cemetery?
Visit our page to examine paranormal events.
You can also visit our YouTube channel for more detailed information.