The Perron Family Haunting

From 1971 to 1980, the Perron family experienced what they described as a decade of supernatural terror in their Rhode Island farmhouse. The case, investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren, formed the basis for the 2013 film “The Conjuring.”

The Farmhouse

Roger and Carolyn Perron moved into the Arnold Estate in Harrisville with their five daughters in 1971. The farmhouse dated to the 18th century and had a dark history including multiple deaths, suicides, and alleged witchcraft.

Almost immediately, the family began experiencing strange phenomena.

The Haunting

The activity started small: disembodied voices, objects moving, and cold spots. The five daughters reported seeing spirits, some benign and some malevolent. They named some of the ghosts and treated them as part of the household.

But darker forces were also present. The family attributed their worst experiences to Bathsheba Sherman, a woman who had lived on the property in the 19th century and was rumored to have been a witch.

The Possession

Carolyn Perron became the primary target of the malevolent entity. She reported being physically attacked, thrown across rooms, and feeling an evil presence trying to possess her. During a séance conducted by Lorraine Warren, Carolyn allegedly began speaking in an unknown language and was thrown against a wall.

The family lived in fear for nearly a decade but could not afford to move.

The Warrens

Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the case and attempted to help the family. However, after the séance incident, Roger Perron asked them not to return, believing their interventions made things worse.

Aftermath

The Perrons finally moved in 1980. Several daughters have spoken publicly about their experiences, maintaining that the haunting was real and that “The Conjuring” only captured a fraction of what they experienced.

Assessment

The Perron family haunting combines elements of classic haunting and possession. The long duration, multiple witnesses, and the family’s willingness to speak publicly give the case credibility, though skeptics note the lack of independent documentation.