The Perron Family Haunting: The True Story Behind The Conjuring
- Lyle Perez
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
When The Conjuring hit theaters in 2013, audiences were terrified by its chilling story of a family plagued by dark forces in their Rhode Island farmhouse. What made the film even scarier was that it was based on real events the haunting experienced by the Perron family in the 1970s. But how much of what we’ve seen on screen matches what the family says really happened?
The Perron family, made up of Roger and Carolyn and their five daughters, moved into a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island in 1971. Almost immediately, strange things began to occur. At first, the activity seemed harmless brooms would go missing, doors would creak open on their own, and small piles of dirt would mysteriously appear on the floor after the girls had just cleaned. But before long, the experiences took a darker turn.
The family reported seeing ghostly figures around the house, hearing disembodied voices, and feeling icy chills sweep through rooms. Carolyn Perron claimed to be physically attacked on several occasions. According to her, a spirit she believed to be Bathsheba Sherman a woman rumored to have practiced witchcraft in the 1800s tormented her relentlessly. Bathsheba’s legend grew into the central figure of the haunting, with claims that she had cursed the land after her death.
The case eventually drew the attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens visited the Perron home multiple times, conducting investigations and documenting the family’s experiences. While the Warrens became convinced the house was plagued by dark, possibly demonic forces, the Perron family lived with the activity for nearly a decade. Unlike the film, there was never a dramatic exorcism that ended the events. Instead, the family eventually moved away, leaving behind one of the most famous haunted house stories in American history.
Today, the farmhouse in Harrisville still stands, and it continues to attract interest from paranormal researchers, ghost hunters, and fans of The Conjuring. The current owners have even shared their own experiences, suggesting that whatever haunts the land never left.
The Perron family haunting is more than just the inspiration for a Hollywood film. It’s a chilling account of real people who lived with unexplained activity for years. Whether you believe every detail or not, the story captures what makes hauntings so fascinating it’s a mix of folklore, history, and personal experience that continues to spark debate decades later.
On the latest episode of The Halloween Podcast, I explore the Perron haunting in depth, comparing what the family actually reported with how the story was adapted for film. If you’ve ever wondered about the truth behind The Conjuring, this episode is for you.
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