The cases of Connecticut paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose legacy has been cemented in "The Conjuring" movies, have taken ahold of horror pop culture for over a decade.
When the 2012 movie "The Conjuring" hit theaters, it began a cinematic universe of movies with the latest entry, "The Conjuring: Last Rites," releasing in September. The series is recognized by Guinness World Records as the highest grossing horror film series of all time.
The series spotlights cases and characters that have been investigated by the Monroe couple during their career.
Here is everything you need to know about the Warrens, Annabelle and "The Conjuring" movies.
Sitting in a glass case in the Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe is a Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle whose story has become one of the most famous paranormal cases due to the popularity of the eponymous movies.
The doll was given as a gift to a Hartford nurse in 1970. Once she brought it home, she and her roommates reported unexplained behavior coming from the toy, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research. It was said to have moved on its own, and in one instance, reportedly attacked the owner's fiancé. The Warrens were called in to investigate and they claimed that the doll was being manipulated by the spirit of an outside entity. After an exorcism at the apartment, the couple agreed to take the doll.
The story of the doll was the basis for the "Annabelle" movies that are part of "The Conjuring" universe.
The doll remains in the museum, behind a locked case with a sign made by Ed Warren that reads “positively do not open.” It has occasionally made visits to horror and occult enthusiasts, including this week when it was taken to New Orleans and West Virginia. The doll's activity has gone viral on TikTok, where videos of Annabelle have garnered million of views.
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Ed and Lorraine Warren
Synonymously tied with the world of the paranormal, Connecticut’s Ed and Lorraine Warren are often regarded as some of the prolific paranormal investigators of the 20th century. For the better part of 50 years, the Warrens have investigated alleged paranormal activity across the globe including the famous Amityville Horror and the Enfield Poltergeist. The duo’s investigations have spawned a frenzy across pop culture — leading to numerous books and movies solely dedicated to the Warrens’ experiences.
According to the New England Society for Psychic Research, Edward Warren Miney was born in Bridgeport in 1926. Less than a year later, Lorraine Rita Moran was born in the same city. The couple married in 1945, and in 1951, they gave birth to their only child, Judy Warren. Ed served time in the Navy during World War II and upon returning home, studied art at Yale’s subsidiary art school, Perry Art School. Ed and Lorraine traveled New England attempting to make a profit on Ed’s paintings but along the way, it was said that the two would often make stops at haunted locations, which were often the inspiration for Ed’s artwork. This was said to be the catalyst for their exploration into the paranormal, the society states.
Lorraine was said to have been clairvoyant — meaning that she was reported as having been able to gain insight on cases through “supernatural abilities.” She was also considered a “medium,” which means having the ability to communicate with paranormal entities, according to her biography on the New England Society for Psychic Research website. Ed was a self-taught demonologist and a devout Catholic. In 1952, the Warrens established the New England Society for Psychic Research, which is credited as the oldest paranormal research organization in the country. According to the New England Society for Psychic Research, the Warrens conducted over 100 individual paranormal investigations during their time.
Toward the end of their investigative period, the Warrens focused heavily on passing on their knowledge of the occult by hosting various lectures across the country. In 2006, Ed passed away at the age of 79. Lorraine continued to do the lectures on her own and served as the consultant on the first two “Conjuring” movies before her death in 2019.
The organization is currently co-directed by the Warrens' son-in-law Tony Spera and their daughter Judy Spera.
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Warrens' Occult Museum
The Warrens' Occult Museum was established in 1952 at around the same time that the Warrens established the New England Society of Paranormal Research. Over time, the museum has amassed a collection of “haunted” artifacts from all corners of the globe that range from satanic ritual items to the famous Annabelle doll.
While closed to the public, items from the Warrens' Occult Museum have been on display at the Warren's Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon as well as the current "Devils On The Run Tour." The paranormal convention was held at Mohegan Sun in 2022 and 2023 before being held in Gettysburg, Penn. last year.
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'The Conjuring'
The first "Conjuring" movie released more than a decade ago, which followed actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, as they portrayed the titular characters of Ed and Lorraine Warren respectively. The first case covered in the movies revolved around an alleged supernatural farmhouse in Burrillville, Rhode Island
The movie has since gone on to cover a number of notable cases and characters investigated by the Warrens including include the Smurl haunting (which is the topic of the upcoming movie), the Brookfield "Devil Made Me Do It" case and of course, the Annabelle doll.
To date, the movie series has grossed more than $2 billion, according to Guinness World Records.
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Andrew DaRosa is a SPJ award-winning journalist who has worked at Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2018. He currently works as a Senior Audience Producer and a Trending Reporter for CT Insider and also runs the SEEN section.
He can often be found covering Connecticut’s expanding music scene, supposedly “haunted” sites around the state or keeping track of big winners in the Connecticut Lottery. He has been at the forefront of multiple music-related stories around Connecticut, including the Sound On Sound music festival. With a passion for music, over the past decade, Andrew has interviewed members of Judas Priest, Goose, The National, Trey Anatasio Band, The Head and the Heart and Maren Morris.
Originally from Massachusetts, Andrew graduated from Fairfield University in 2018 with a degree in digital journalism. Since working for Hearst Connecticut, Andrew has become a four-time winner of Connecticut Society of Professional Journalism awards for his coverage of Connecticut band Goose, hiking the state and his human interest stories.
When he isn’t writing about Ed and Lorraine Warren or jam bands, Andrew can be found going to concerts with his wife or hanging out with his cat, Spud.