5 Chilling Facts About The Real 'Conjuring' Story: The Perron Haunting & The House's Shocking 2025 Status

The Conjuring franchise has terrified millions, but the most unsettling aspect of the original 2013 film is that it is rooted in a real-life account of paranormal terror. The true story centers on the Perron family and their traumatic seven years living in a 14-room farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, starting in 1971. This is not just a tale of bumps in the night; it is an alleged case of demonic infestation that required the intervention of the world’s most famous (and controversial) paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren.

As of December 10, 2025, the narrative surrounding the Perron haunting remains a cultural phenomenon, with new developments concerning the infamous house keeping the legend alive. From the specific torment of the mother, Carolyn Perron, to the shocking recent closure of the house to the public, here is the updated and in-depth true story behind The Conjuring.

The Real-Life Entities: The Perron Family and The Warrens

The core of The Conjuring true story involves two families whose lives became inextricably linked by an alleged demonic presence. Understanding the real people behind the movie characters is key to grasping the depth of the haunting.

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The Perron Family Biography

• Roger Perron: Father of the family, who struggled to protect his wife and daughters from the escalating phenomena.
• Carolyn Perron: Mother, who became the primary target of the malevolent spirit, Bathsheba Sherman.
• Andrea Perron: Eldest daughter, who has been the most vocal family member, chronicling their ordeal in her book series, House of Darkness, House of Light. She continues to give interviews about the events as recently as 2024.
• Nancy Perron: Second daughter.
• Christine Perron: Third daughter, who famously told her sister Andrea that she saw a spirit in her room that promised "death and despair."
• Cindy Perron: Fourth daughter.
• April Perron: Youngest daughter.
• The Haunting Period: The family lived in the Harrisville farmhouse from 1971 to 1980, a much longer period than depicted in the film.

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography

• Edward "Ed" Warren Miney (1926–2006): A self-taught demonologist and author. He was one of the first non-clergymen to be recognized by the Catholic Church as a demonologist.
• Lorraine Rita Warren (1927–2019): A self-proclaimed clairvoyant and light trance medium who claimed to be able to communicate with the spirits they investigated.
• Key Cases: The Perron family haunting was one of their most famous cases, alongside the Amityville Horror, the Annabelle doll, and the Enfield Poltergeist (the basis for The Conjuring 2).
• Controversy: The Warrens' work has been widely criticized by skeptics and other paranormal investigators, who argue that their methods were unscientific and their claims unsubstantiated.

The True Haunting: What Really Happened to The Perron Family?

The horror of the Perron haunting began subtly, with minor annoyances that quickly escalated into terrifying physical and psychological attacks. The family reported a multitude of phenomena that lasted for years, not just weeks.

The Escalation of Paranormal Activity

The earliest signs were classic poltergeist activity: unexplained noises, beds levitating a few inches off the floor, and objects moving on their own. However, the activity quickly turned malevolent. The Perron daughters reported seeing full-bodied apparitions, including a spirit of a boy who would watch them. One of the most terrifying aspects was the pervasive, foul stench of rotting flesh that would fill the house without any discernible source.

The spirits were not all evil; the Perrons claimed to have encountered many different entities, some benign and others indifferent. However, the malignant presence of Bathsheba Sherman was the one that targeted Carolyn Perron.

The Torment of Carolyn Perron

The film accurately portrays Carolyn Perron as the primary target. The real-life Carolyn was allegedly pinched, slapped, and shoved by unseen forces. The most dramatic event, which the film depicts, was when Carolyn was supposedly possessed by the entity. During a séance conducted by the Warrens, Carolyn reportedly began speaking in a strange voice, and her chair levitated before she was thrown across the room. Roger Perron, the father, eventually demanded the Warrens leave, believing their presence only intensified the activity, a detail often omitted or softened in the movie narrative.

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The Perron family finally moved out in 1980, not because the haunting stopped, but because Roger could no longer afford to keep the house and watch his family suffer.

The Legend of Bathsheba Sherman vs. Reality

The central villain of The Conjuring is the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, a suspected witch who allegedly cursed the land in the 19th century. This character is drawn from historical records and local folklore, but the "witch" label is primarily a legend.

Who Was Bathsheba Sherman?

Bathsheba Sherman was a real woman who lived in Harrisville, Rhode Island, in the 19th century. She was a neighbor of the farm that would later become the Perron house. However, there is no hard evidence or historical documentation to support the claim that she was a Satanic witch who murdered her children or cursed the land. The folklore surrounding her is a classic example of local urban legend that the Warrens and the film’s creators amplified.

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The Perron family, particularly Andrea Perron, maintains that the entity in the house identified itself as Bathsheba and was malevolent, but the historical facts about the real woman remain murky and are largely based on local rumor.

The Harrisville Farmhouse: Its Shocking 2025 Status

The Harrisville farmhouse, a 300-year-old structure in Burrillville, Rhode Island, is almost as famous as the haunting itself. Its recent history provides the most up-to-date and compelling angle on the true story.

The House's Tumultuous Ownership

After the Perrons left in 1980, the house was owned by several families, many of whom reported strange activity. In 2019, the house was purchased by paranormal investigators Cory and Jennifer Heinzen. They opened the house for paranormal tours and overnight stays, capitalizing on its fame.

However, in May 2022, the house was sold again for a staggering $1.5 million—much higher than the asking price—to Jacqueline Nuñez, a Boston developer who runs the company Bale Fire LLC. Nuñez initially promised to continue the paranormal business while respecting the house's history.

The 2024/2025 Closure and Controversy

The house’s status took a dramatic turn in late 2024. The owner, Jacqueline Nuñez, was arrested on DUI charges in October 2024, leading to a foreclosure auction being announced for Halloween. While the auction was later canceled, the controversy surrounding the owner led to a significant decision by local authorities.

In a major update as of December 2024, the Burrillville Town Council declined to renew the house's permits for commercial operations, effectively leading to the permanent closure of "The Conjuring House" to the public. This means the house, which once welcomed hundreds of paranormal enthusiasts, is now closed indefinitely, adding a new layer of mystery and inaccessibility to the famous location.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords Summary

The true story of the Perron haunting is rich with real-life entities and locations that enhance its topical authority:

• Locations: Harrisville, Rhode Island; Burrillville, Rhode Island; Arnold Estate; Dexter Richardson House.
• Individuals: Roger Perron; Carolyn Perron; Andrea Perron; Ed Warren; Lorraine Warren; Jacqueline Nuñez.
• Paranormal Entities/Concepts: Bathsheba Sherman; Demonic possession; Poltergeist activity; Clairvoyance; Warren Occult Museum (where the real Annabelle doll is kept).
• Media: House of Darkness, House of Light (Andrea Perron's book); The Conjuring (2013 film).