The Chilling True Story Behind The Conjuring: 5 Shocking Facts About The Perron Family Haunting And The House’s Current Status

Contents
The 2013 film *The Conjuring* is not merely a work of fiction; it is based on the real-life, nine-year haunting of the Perron family in a secluded farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, which began in 1971. The film brought the controversial careers of self-proclaimed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren to a global audience, detailing their investigation into what they claimed was a demonic infestation centered around the spirit of a vengeful 19th-century witch named Bathsheba Sherman. This true story remains one of the most famous and chilling paranormal cases in American history, with new details and updates—including the current, troubled status of the farmhouse—continuing to emerge as of late 2024 and early 2025. The story centers on the family of Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters, who moved into the 14-room farmhouse and almost immediately began experiencing increasingly hostile and terrifying paranormal phenomena. While the movie compresses the events into a short period, the Perrons lived with the haunting for nearly a decade, with the eldest daughter, Andrea Perron, documenting the ordeal in her book series, *House of Darkness, House of Light*. The continued interest in the case, fueled by the entire *Conjuring* universe, ensures that the lines between Hollywood horror and historical accounts remain blurred, but the core events, according to the family, are tragically real.

The Perron Family and The Warrens: A True-Life Encounter

The foundation of the *Conjuring* universe is the deeply personal and prolonged struggle of the Perron family, whose account of their haunting is the most compelling evidence for the film’s authenticity.
  • Family Members: Roger Perron (Father), Carolyn Perron (Mother), Andrea Perron (Eldest Daughter), Nancy Perron, Christine Perron, Cynthia Perron, and April Perron.
  • Location: A 14-room farmhouse on Round Top Road in Harrisville, Burrillville, Rhode Island.
  • Years of Haunting: 1971 to 1980.
  • Paranormal Investigators: Ed Warren (1926–2006) and Lorraine Warren (1927–2019).
  • The Primary Entity: Bathsheba Sherman (1812–1885), a woman who lived on the property in the 19th century and was allegedly a Satanist who cursed the land.
  • Key Phenomena: Doors slamming, beds levitating, objects moving, strange smells, and a particularly violent incident where Carolyn Perron was physically attacked and possessed.
  • Resolution: The Perrons eventually moved out in 1980, unable to afford the necessary exorcism, ending their nine-year ordeal.
The Warrens were called in around 1973 after the phenomena escalated. Lorraine Warren, a self-described clairvoyant, confirmed the presence of multiple spirits, but identified the most malevolent as Bathsheba. According to Andrea Perron, a séance conducted by the Warrens was the final straw, as her mother, Carolyn, was allegedly possessed, leading Roger Perron to demand the Warrens leave the property. This critical moment highlights the family's deep conviction in the reality of the events, despite the controversy that has always surrounded the Warrens' methods and claims.

The Vengeful Spirit: Who Was Bathsheba Sherman?

The central antagonist of the *The Conjuring* film is the ghost of Bathsheba Sherman, portrayed as a malevolent witch who haunts the farmhouse. The film’s narrative suggests she sacrificed her own child to the devil and cursed anyone who would take her place as mistress of the house.

The Historical Record vs. The Legend

While the movie portrays Bathsheba as a confirmed witch and Satanist, historical records paint a more ambiguous, yet still unsettling, picture. Bathsheba Thayer was a real woman who married Judson Sherman in 1844 and lived on the Harrisville property. She died in 1885.

Fact Check: The Witchcraft Claim

There is no concrete historical evidence or official documentation proving that Bathsheba Sherman was a witch, a Satanist, or that she murdered her children. The legend of her being a witch seems to be a piece of local folklore that attached itself to the property over the years, likely fueled by the unusual circumstances of her death. She died of a stroke, which was described as a strange, paralyzing affliction that left her "turning to stone."

However, the Perron family, particularly Andrea, maintains that the entity they encountered identified itself as Bathsheba and was undeniably demonic in nature. This discrepancy between historical records and the paranormal account is a key element of the ongoing fascination with the case, raising questions about whether the entity was Bathsheba herself or an opportunistic demonic presence *claiming* to be her to terrorize the family.

Current Updates: The House’s Shocking Legal Status and The Perrons Today

To truly understand the story behind *The Conjuring*, one must look at the most recent developments, which prove the Harrisville farmhouse remains a source of both intense fascination and very real-world trouble. The current status of the property is anything but peaceful.

The Controversial Sale and Foreclosure Drama (2024/2025)

The farmhouse, now famously known as "The Conjuring House," was sold in 2022 for a staggering $1.525 million—far exceeding the asking price—to Jacqueline Nuñez, a Boston-based real estate developer and paranormal investigator. Nuñez had planned to continue operating the property as a paranormal tourist attraction, offering ghost hunts and overnight stays.

However, as of late 2024 and early 2025, the property’s ownership has been thrust into legal turmoil. Nuñez defaulted on her commercial loan with Needham Bank, leading to the sale of the property's mortgage note. While Nuñez technically still owns the property, a foreclosure process is underway, meaning the house that inspired one of the world's most famous horror films could soon be put up for auction again. This real-life drama, involving banks, lawyers, and a haunted house, adds a bizarre new chapter to the farmhouse's history.

Andrea Perron's Ongoing Involvement

Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter and author, continues to be the most vocal member of the family, sharing her perspective in numerous interviews as recently as 2024. She has consistently affirmed the truth of her family's experiences, maintaining that the events were not hallucinations or misinterpretations. Her book series, *House of Darkness, House of Light*, is considered the definitive, first-hand account of the haunting, providing far more detail than the film could ever contain.

The Topical Authority: Other Real-Life Cases That Fuel The Conjuring Universe

The true story of the Perron family is just one chapter in the extensive case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The film franchise has expanded by drawing on other notorious, real-life cases investigated by the demonologists, establishing a strong sense of topical authority for the entire cinematic universe.

1. The Annabelle Doll (The *Annabelle* Trilogy)

The terrifying doll seen in the Warrens' artifact room in *The Conjuring* is based on a real Raggedy Ann doll. The real case, which occurred in 1970, involved a nursing student who claimed the doll was possessed by the spirit of a deceased girl named Annabelle Higgins. The Warrens concluded the doll was not possessed by a human spirit, but manipulated by an inhuman, demonic entity.

2. The Amityville Horror (Featured in *The Conjuring 2*)

While not the main focus, the Amityville case is arguably the Warrens' most famous investigation. The case involves the Lutz family, who moved into a house in Amityville, New York, where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered six family members a year earlier. The Lutz family claimed to have experienced intense paranormal phenomena, fleeing the house after only 28 days.

3. The Enfield Poltergeist (The Conjuring 2)

*The Conjuring 2* is primarily based on the Enfield poltergeist case that took place in a council house in Brimsdown, Enfield, England, between 1977 and 1979. The case involved the Hodgson family, particularly 11-year-old Janet Hodgson, who was allegedly levitated, heard knocking sounds, and whose voice was reportedly altered by the entity. Ed and Lorraine Warren traveled to England to investigate this high-profile case.

4. The Smurl Haunting (The Conjuring: Last Rites)

The newest installment in the franchise, *The Conjuring: Last Rites*, is reportedly based on the Smurl Haunting. This case involves Jack and Janet Smurl, who claimed a demonic presence terrorized their home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, in the 1980s. The Smurls claimed to have experienced physical and sexual assaults by the entity, making it one of the most disturbing cases the Warrens ever investigated, and providing fresh, current material for the cinematic universe.

The legacy of the Warrens and the Perron family continues to shape modern horror. While skepticism remains high regarding the Warrens' claims, the Perrons' unwavering, decade-long account of terror in the Harrisville farmhouse provides a chilling foundation for the film series. The real-life drama surrounding the property's current ownership only adds another layer of unsettling reality to the legend of the house that inspired *The Conjuring*.

the conjuring is based on what true story
the conjuring is based on what true story

Detail Author:

  • Name : Mr. Max Barrows I
  • Username : josefa02
  • Email : block.garry@gmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1990-05-27
  • Address : 60639 Ceasar Walks New Chelsie, ME 62657-7299
  • Phone : +1.747.415.3442
  • Company : Monahan-Harber
  • Job : Etcher
  • Bio : Cum unde sint dolorum possimus. Rerum placeat sed omnis quae qui in. Consequatur ut vel accusamus et ab ad. Dolorem aut fugit earum quod in molestias ea.

Socials

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/beaulah_sauer
  • username : beaulah_sauer
  • bio : Perspiciatis sed et laborum nobis. Saepe esse vel officiis in eum.
  • followers : 3286
  • following : 85

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/sauerb
  • username : sauerb
  • bio : Commodi nihil itaque alias dolore sed quis. Quas aut dolorum rem voluptatibus et dolorem non.
  • followers : 3085
  • following : 115

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/bsauer
  • username : bsauer
  • bio : Enim inventore minus cum omnis dolorem. Quo laudantium minus eos temporibus accusantium eius inventore. Occaecati ab omnis dolor nemo.
  • followers : 2317
  • following : 1451

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@sauerb
  • username : sauerb
  • bio : Sed quas in consequatur omnis adipisci. Eius pariatur veniam vel placeat harum.
  • followers : 715
  • following : 16