The 2013 horror blockbuster, The Conjuring, captivated audiences worldwide with its chilling tale of a family terrorized by malevolent spirits. While the film presented a terrifying narrative, many viewers may not realize that it was actually “loosely based” on the real-life experiences of The Perron Family. However, according to the Perron family themselves, the movie only scratches the surface of the decade of paranormal events they endured in their Rhode Island farmhouse. This article delves deeper into the true story of the Perron family, separating fact from fiction and exploring what really happened to them, and where they are now.
Was The Conjuring Really Based on the Perron Family’s Story?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(997×542:999×544)/The-True-Story-Behind-The-Conjuring-Where-Is-the-Perron-Family-Now–01-138508e997964ce18c8e40b3f08fa974.jpg)
Roger and Carolyn Perron in a still from “The Conjuring House: A Homecoming” trailer, showcasing the real people behind the on-screen characters.
Yes, The Conjuring draws its inspiration from the experiences of Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters: Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April. In 1971, the Perron family moved into a seemingly idyllic farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. What they didn’t know was that their new home had a dark and unsettling history. Unlike the movie’s condensed timeline, the Perrons lived in the house for almost a decade, from 1971 to 1980, and during that time, they claim to have experienced a wide range of paranormal phenomena.
Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter, has become the family’s most prominent voice, documenting their experiences in her 2011 book, House of Darkness: House of Light. She has consistently stated that The Conjuring, while entertaining, is a heavily fictionalized account. ” The Conjuring is an excellent film for what it is, it’s about 95 percent fiction and about five percent hard truth,” Andrea Perron stated in a 2021 interview. According to Andrea, the spirits inhabiting their home were diverse, ranging from “benign to benevolent to oblivious to mean-spirited,” each with distinct personalities. The family reported experiencing everything from unsettling noises and foul odors to full-bodied apparitions and physical attacks.
The Perrons’ plight eventually reached the attention of Ed and Lorraine Warren, self-proclaimed paranormal investigators, who became heavily involved in their case.
Who Were the Perrons Before the Haunting?
Roger and Carolyn Perron were parents to five daughters, forming a large and close-knit family. At the time they moved into the Rhode Island farmhouse, Roger worked as a traveling jewelry salesman, often away from home to provide for his family. This frequently kept him separated from the escalating paranormal events in the house, leading to initial skepticism about his family’s claims.
Andrea Perron explained that her father’s reluctance to believe stemmed from a place of protection. He was often exhausted upon returning home and understandably resistant to the idea that he had unknowingly placed his family in danger. However, as the haunting intensified and became undeniable, Roger Perron eventually had to confront the reality of the supernatural forces at play in their home. He later admitted to his initial disbelief being a defense mechanism against the fear of having endangered his loved ones.
Ed and Lorraine Warren: Real-Life Demonologists or Showmen?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1109×326:1111×28)/The-True-Story-Behind-The-Conjuring-Where-Is-the-Perron-Family-Now–04-040811111a9c40c5b63e012359858b4f.jpg)
Ed and Lorraine Warren, photographed in 1980, became famous for their paranormal investigations, including their involvement with the Perron family.
Ed and Lorraine Warren were a husband-and-wife team who gained notoriety in the paranormal field from the 1970s through the 1990s. They positioned themselves as demonologists and paranormal investigators, involving themselves in numerous high-profile cases. Beyond the Perron family haunting, the Warrens are also associated with the infamous Amityville Horror case, the Enfield Poltergeist in England (which served as the basis for The Conjuring 2), and the Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial, known as the “Devil Made Me Do It” case. Lorraine Warren maintained a paranormal museum until her death in 2019, housing artifacts from their investigations, including the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll.
Lorraine Warren claimed to have possessed psychic abilities since childhood, stating she could see “lights around people” and felt she was communicating with the spiritual realm from a young age. The Warrens’ involvement with the Perron family case began after they heard about it through other paranormal researchers and offered their assistance. Lorraine Warren asserted that she knew the house was haunted as soon as she stepped inside.
However, the Warrens’ legacy is not without controversy. They have faced considerable skepticism regarding their methods and the veracity of their claims. Many critics argue that their cases lacked solid evidence and were often embellished or outright fabricated for publicity and financial gain. Despite the criticism, their work has significantly impacted popular culture, particularly in the horror genre, and their involvement with the Perron family remains one of their most well-known cases. Ed Warren passed away in 2006, followed by Lorraine in 2019.
What Truly Happened to the Perron Family in That Rhode Island House?
The Perron family’s experiences in the farmhouse were far more complex and prolonged than depicted in The Conjuring. While the movie focuses on the alleged malevolent spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, the Perrons claimed to have encountered numerous spirits, not all of them hostile.
According to Andrea Perron, the paranormal activity began subtly but gradually escalated. The family reported experiencing strange noises, doors opening and closing on their own, furniture moving, and cold spots throughout the house. The unpleasant smells, often described as rotting meat, became a recurring and disturbing phenomenon. As time went on, the daughters, particularly Carolyn Perron, became the primary targets of more aggressive paranormal events. Carolyn reported being pinched, slapped, and even levitated from her bed.
The Warrens’ involvement culminated in a séance conducted within the Perron home, intended to communicate with the entity or entities plaguing the family. Andrea Perron secretly witnessed this séance and described a terrifying scene where her mother appeared to be possessed, speaking in an unknown language and being violently thrown across the room. While The Conjuring portrays this event as an exorcism, accounts suggest it was primarily a séance aimed at communication, which seemingly intensified the paranormal activity.
After enduring nearly a decade of relentless haunting, the Perron family reached a breaking point. Carolyn Perron’s health deteriorated under the constant stress and fear. In 1980, fearing for his wife’s well-being, Roger Perron made the difficult decision to sell the farmhouse and move the family away from Rhode Island.
The Perron Family After the Conjuring House: Moving On But Never Forgetting
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1051×294:1053×296)/The-True-Story-Behind-The-Conjuring-Where-Is-the-Perron-Family-Now–02-c335020647854fbfa69df897aff630e1.jpg)
The Perron family, a picture capturing the bond of the siblings who faced the haunting together.
In 1980, the Perron family relocated to Georgia, seeking respite from the paranormal torment they had experienced in Rhode Island. Andrea Perron, who was away at college during the move, joined her family in their new home. However, Nancy Perron initially remained in the infamous farmhouse for a year after the rest of her family departed, eventually moving to a nearby town.
The impact of the haunting varied among the Perron sisters. Andrea, who claims to have always felt a connection with the spirits, had a different perspective compared to her siblings who experienced more fear and negativity. Despite her openness to the supernatural, even Andrea acknowledged moments of terror witnessing the effects of the haunting on her mother and family.
Tragically, in 2017, the youngest Perron sister, April, passed away due to an accidental prescription overdose after surgery. The surviving Perron family members have, for the most part, chosen to live private lives away from the intense public interest generated by The Conjuring franchise.
The Conjuring House Today: A Tourist Destination for Ghost Hunters
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(976×596:978×598)/The-True-Story-Behind-The-Conjuring-Where-Is-the-Perron-Family-Now-05-55037e31719d4575b268ad735ebf59be.jpg)
The infamous “Conjuring” house in Harrisville, Rhode Island, now a destination for paranormal enthusiasts and overnight stays.
The Rhode Island farmhouse that was once home to the Perron family and the site of their alleged haunting has become a popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts. After being sold for a substantial $1.5 million in 2022, the house is currently owned by Jacqueline Nuñez, who does not reside there. Instead, caretakers manage the property, offering daytime tours and overnight rentals for those brave enough to conduct their own ghost investigations. Visitors can now experience the house firsthand, attempting to connect with the spirits that the Perron family claimed to have encountered.
Where Are the Perron Family Members Now?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1058×578:1060×580)/The-True-Story-Behind-The-Conjuring-Where-Is-the-Perron-Family-Now–03-e542e888b0134342845b297a86a22485.jpg)
Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter, remains a prominent figure in sharing the family’s story and experiences.
Andrea Perron has remained the most publicly visible member of the family, embracing the supernatural and sharing her experiences. She has appeared on paranormal television shows like Ghost Adventures and Mysteries Decoded, further solidifying her role as the family spokesperson for their haunting narrative.
In 2021, Andrea, along with her sister Nancy and father Roger, participated in a live-streamed event where they revisited their former Rhode Island home, attempting to communicate with the spirits once more. Sisters Cindy and Christine, along with their mother Carolyn, joined virtually via livestream from their own homes, marking a rare public reunion centered around their shared paranormal history.
While Andrea continues to engage with the paranormal community and share her family’s story, the other Perron family members largely maintain a low profile. They have, in essence, moved on from the intense media attention surrounding The Conjuring, choosing to live their lives outside the spotlight, forever bound by the terrifying experiences they endured together in that Rhode Island farmhouse.
