Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters
By Lorraine Warren, Ed Warren and Robert David Chase
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Back to a less angry Sexton Ghoulies. This is more of a review of the more noteworthy cases of the Warren’s. Chase writes in both a narrative biographical style as well as in interview style. There are comments and introductions to the cases by both Lorraine and Ed. We are back to the more informational type style. So definitely less anger here, but not completely free and clear.
Case File: West Point
The Thayer Home at West Point
This is the second time that the West Point case has been discussed. This is not mentioned in this particular telling of this case but I guess they were told that they could not speak about it by the government/Army. Unfortunately there was someone in their ranks that made the decision to make what happened public. Ed and Lorraine obviously felt that they were treated with respect. It should not surprise that a military installation is haunted. There is a lot of history, many people pass through here. It’s common sense that there would be some sort of event that was not perhaps completely on the up and up.
Case File: Murder Most Violent
This is not a case per se. This was a time where Lorraine used her abilities to help the police solve a murder. I’m glad that she did because the men who perpetrated the crime deserved a lot worse than they got. Jail time is not good enough for pricks like these. But it’s the best we can do considering how soft and ineffective our legal system has become (More concerned with the perpetrators rights than the victims). I digress. This chapter is a little more brutal in its details as Lorraine sees it in a vision during an automatic writing session she experiences after visiting the scene of the crime. Because of the details she saw they were able to send these worthless men away.
Case File: Bigfoot
Okay so this one is sad and infuriating. One: that student needs to grow up or have his testicles removed so that she can’t spread stupidity with his seed. Two: I disagree with Ed on this one. I don’t think that “Bigfoot” is a projection of any black magic. I don’t think that it is so outlandish to think that there are creatures on this planet that we have not yet encountered. In fact it’s probable. Cryptids are no less likely than that of ghosts and demons. This is my opinion, of course, but consider this…if black magic is able to produce these kinds of projections then is it not safe to say that it’s the same for hauntings and infestations as well. If we cross that line we are giving credence to the naysayers who simply think the supernatural is nothing but a product of the human mind. We give humans way too much credit in most things. For me the emotions that Lorraine felt were real. Not the production of some scam artist using magic. I have the utmost respect of Ed and would consider him an expert (lifelong learning is the only way to achieve this); however, he is still human and none of us get everything right 100% of the time. To err is to be human. Of course I encourage you to draw your own conclusions.
Case File: Jane Seymour
Really this has nothing to do with Jane Seymour but that she and Lorraine had a mutual friend and happened to spend some time hanging out together when Lorrain was in California. This was really just this friend asking if Lorraine would be willing to check out a house that another friend of theirs was living in. I guess a house guest, who happened to be a priest, was having some experiences. It seems he is not the only one as the house had an unspoken reputation for being a little off. This is an interview with Lorraine about what occurred.
Case File: The Exorcism and the Teenage Girl
First off let me say that this girl brought this shit on herself and her family. Mostly herself. The Ouija was the first mistake. Especially one that had an obvious history but then to add insult to injury and perform occult rituals is just plain dumb. I don’t believe she wanted to become possessed and it’s possible that the performing of rituals was the idea of the entity but still. She was a lonely, love starved teenager who, while not unattractive, never seemed to get dates like her other friends. It was suggested that she was a bit over eager when she was shown interest and that put the boys off. I guess she showed the same desperation with the Ouija as well. The tragedy here is that while an exorcism was performed (during her stay in a psychiatric facility) by a lovely man she is never really free of the entity. I suppose the consequences of her actions will be lifelong. The lovely man, the exorcist that performed the ritual and had become great friends with the Warrens disappeared after he went back to his native Nigeria. I guess the powers that be over there were on a witch hunt for those of Christian belief. Was it them or because of the Exorcism? Either way it’s a damn shame. He sounded like one of the good ones.
Case File: Killer in the Mist
This is a case where Lorraine was called in to help with a cold case murder investigation. I would imagine that there is nothing more frustrating to a detective than an unsolved murder case. Can you imagine that feeling? Knowing that someone took a life yet still walks free to potentially do it again? That would drive me bonkers. I can imagine no worse feelings of failure. I am an avid true crime show watcher and reader and cases get solved in many different ways. Sometimes all it take is a fresh set of eyes, or new technology (DNA evidence has solved so many cold cases!). I would consider Lorraine to be a fresh set of eyes. It’s interesting that her visions were so clear on this one. I wonder why that is? I am glad that there was a resolution to the case and her family (and everyone involved) could have some closure.
Case File: Demonic Infestation
Here we revisit the Smurl case. This case has an entire book dedicated to it that I have read and commented on already (recommended). The things that this family went thorough were horrific. Interestingly enough they remained strong, a bit worse for the wear but strong because they were never truly able to get rid of the entity that had attached itself to them. The unfortunate part of this is that they did absolutely nothing to bring this thing into their lives. All they did was move into a new home. That’s it. No Ouija, no occult practice or even interest, no negative aura, nothing. In this book Chase interviews Ed and Lorrain about the case.
Case File: The Unspeakable
I know that some people might be sensitive to things like what is discussed in this chapter. And while I agree that having relations with the dead is disturbing and gross at least he was not rapping living women. Not saying it’s right but psychologically he’s really only hurting himself. Now I think it’s interesting that this is the way that he invited an inhuman spirit into his life. It’s really sad to me that he was so lonely that he resorted to this end. It was mentioned that he went to confession often…can you imagine being the priest listening to those confessions? It would be hard to simply tell him to say 12 Hail Mary’s and let him go on his way. Although I’d imagine that there are several occasions where things heard in confession are hard to swallow and keep to yourself. I’m not talking about gossip but the psychological and emotional injury of others. That would be a hard pill to swallow.
Case File: The Darkness After
First off, she needs to stop babysitting for those people. Satan worship is no place for children…well you know what I mean. Sort of reminds me of the people that David Glatzel and his family used to visit. You know the ones that cursed them. Yeah those assholes. Why is it that people think that this stuff is a joke? It’s not a joke people. I’m not saying you have to believe, in fact, this incident is proof that you don’t have to believe to have your life invaded. Just respect that there are things that we don’t understand and don’t do anything to piss the powers that be off. I mean why is this shit out there in paperback form for anyone to get their hands on? Even those that are part of the Satan worship/black magic community would not necessarily want that. Due to the flippant attitude of a stupid teenager (they’re supposed to be stupid, it’s their job) we have a life that may always be touched by a realm that no living person should touch.
Case File: The Terrified Minister
An interesting case. This started waaaaay before the Warrens were even a twinkle in their father’s proverbial eye. Today the house sits empty and left to rot. You know one of those houses that is used for hazing and dares. Interestingly enough there have been several police officers that have had experiences related to the house in this chapter. This is the history of where it all started and the experiences of two of these officers.
Case File: Amityville
This chapter is in interview style and really does not give us much. Really, as the Warrens were not directly involved with what happened in the house and were only there after the Lutz family had moved out (invited by a local TV station). They really only got impressions of what had specifically happened from other parties. The book written by Jay Anson is mentioned several times and Ed gives his two cents about what was described in the book. I can’t blame them for not wanting to discuss this particular case. There is a lot of controversy and wide ranging opinions on what actually occurred there both in the DeFeo incident and the incidents surrounding the Lutz family.
Case File: The Haunted Village
Photo: Unilad article by Emily Brown
Dudleytown…a place cursed by hubris, madness and violence. Sounds like the ideal spot for a holiday away with the family. This chapter tells the history behind this tranquil town that was long abandoned. Many writers have written pieces on this cursed land, including one of my favorites, Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Sounds like his kind of place. A place filled with strange mists and roaming monstrosities. Many stories have developed over the years, some thought to be true and others the things of legend and myth. Read that chapter and decide for yourself.
Case File: The Petrified Policewoman
I have a quick question…how is this woman afraid of anything? Not only is she a police officer but she is the mother of SIX girls. That’s enough to give anyone a thick callous. The story went that her grandfather would haunt any family member who tried to place ownership of the home out of the family. As it turns out that was correct, to a point. It was not a curse but the concern of a man that just wanted to protect his family. Once his intensions were understood all was well. I will say he could have been a bit gentler about it.
Case File: A Poltergeist Explosion
I had only heard about this case during my research for my posts. I have seen pictures of this house multiple times but this book is the first that I have heard any details about what occurred there. It seems that there were many witnesses to the events that transpired here. Reliable witnesses too. Unfortunately once the local upper level law enforcement officials cited it as a hoax no more investigations were done. Interestingly enough many of the witnesses included the officers under their command. I suspect this was done to get the thousands of people, who had decided to descend on the house, go away. This chapter is once again done in the interview style. It sounds like even they tried to place the blame on the young adoptive daughter of the couple that lived in the house. What kind of shit is that? You know because a kid can levitate tables and TV’s and fling them all over the house. Sure...and I’m super model material. I feel for the child.
Closing thoughts:
The specific details of each case can be found in the chapters of this book. I recommend the read. This one is kind of a hodgepodge of styles. Everything from narrative form to interview form. It’s done in such a way that it’s not distracting. So many people bring these things on themselves. Some out of ignorance, some out of pure stupidity, some from hubris and some do it on purpose for their own personal gain. The latter two I feel need to be allowed to sit and stew in the consequences of their actions. The Warrens however are not the kind of people to turn their backs on anyone.
