The San Pedro Haunting

From 1989 to 1996, Jackie Hernandez experienced one of the most thoroughly documented poltergeist cases in modern history. Multiple investigators witnessed violent phenomena, were attacked themselves, and captured evidence that has never been adequately explained.

The Beginning

In 1989, Jackie Hernandez moved into a small bungalow in San Pedro, California with her young children. Almost immediately, strange things began happening:

• Lights turned on and off
• Objects flew across rooms
• Strange noises throughout the house
• Foul odors appeared suddenly
• Her children were frightened constantly

Jackie initially thought she was going crazy.

Investigation Begins

Jackie contacted Jeff Wheatcraft and Barry Conrad, paranormal investigators with a local TV show. What they documented was extraordinary:

Physical Attacks:

• Jackie was choked by invisible hands
• Scratches appeared on her body
• She was pushed down stairs
• Objects were thrown at her

Attacks on Investigators:

• Jeff Wheatcraft was bitten, leaving teeth marks
• Conrad was pushed against walls
• Camera equipment was damaged or destroyed
• One investigator was hung by a cord in the attic

The Attic Incident

The most terrifying incident occurred when investigating the attic. Photographer Gary Beihm was violently attacked—pulled by an unseen force and hung by cables around his neck. He required other investigators to free him.

Beihm later captured one of the most famous paranormal photographs: a translucent face emerging from the attic’s darkness.

The Evidence

Over years of investigation, evidence accumulated:

Photographs:

• Anomalous lights and mists
• Apparent faces in mirrors and windows
• Objects suspended in mid-air
• The famous “attic face”

Video:

• Objects moving without visible cause
• Doors slamming
• Evidence of physical attacks

Audio:

• EVPs (electronic voice phenomena)
• Growling and screaming
• Communications via “ghost box”

The Entity

Investigators came to believe they were dealing with a specific entity:

• It identified itself as a man named “Herman”
• It seemed connected to the land’s history
• It claimed to have died there
• Historical research suggested someone matching the description

However, the entity’s behavior was more violent than typical ghosts—more consistent with poltergeist activity.

The Escalation

Over time, the activity intensified:

• Jackie moved multiple times, but the entity followed
• Her children were affected
• New locations became active
• The attacks grew more violent

Eventually, after an exorcism-like ritual in 1996, the activity decreased significantly.

Skeptical Analysis

Some have questioned aspects of the case:

• Some photographs are ambiguous
• The repeated documentation raises questions
• Jackie’s psychological state was never fully evaluated
• Financial stress might have motivated attention-seeking

However, the multiple witnesses—including skeptical investigators—and physical attacks on people other than Jackie argue against simple hoax.

Legacy

The San Pedro case is significant because:

• Years of documented activity
• Multiple credible witnesses
• Physical evidence (scratches, bites, photographs)
• Attacks on investigators
• Various forms of documentation

The case was featured in numerous TV programs and remains a touchstone for poltergeist research.

Sources

• Conrad, Barry, and Jeff Wheatcraft. “An Unknown Encounter: A True Account of the San Pedro Haunting” (1996)