Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes:

A Crime House Halloween Special – The Conjuring’s True Horror

From Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong, October 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This Halloween bonus episode, guest-hosted by horror enthusiast and creator Heidi Wong, pulls back the curtain on the Conjuring universe, revealing the chilling true stories that inspired some of Hollywood’s most terrifying films. Heidi dives deep into the real-life cases behind the original Conjuring movie—the nine-year haunting of the Perron family farmhouse—and the infamous Annabelle doll, separating fact from fiction and exploring why these tales have captivated believers and skeptics alike.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Perron Family Haunting: The True Story Behind The Conjuring

(03:23 – 16:18)

• Introduction to the Case

  • In 1971, the Perrons (parents Roger and Carolyn, plus five daughters) purchase a 250-year-old farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, seeking a peaceful life.
    • "The place was almost 250 years old... quiet, peaceful, perfect for raising a family. At least that's how it seemed." – Heidi Wong (04:22)

• Early Paranormal Activity

  • The warnings begin immediately: the prior owner ominously advises, "For the sake of your family, leave the lights on at night."
  • Initially, disturbances are subtle—strange sounds, unsettling silences, sudden feelings of being watched, and inexplicable swarms of flies, even in mid-winter.
  • "Within a few days of moving in, the house was infested with [flies], even though it was the middle of winter. That is when I would have left." – Heidi Wong (05:25)

• Escalation of Events

  • Carolyn narrowly survives a mysterious accident in the barn, convinced a malevolent force tried to kill her.
  • Apparitions begin to manifest, most notably a terrifying female spirit described as
    • "a swirling, rancid mass of rotting flesh resembling a desiccated hornet's nest, covered in what appeared to be a mesh of blackened cobwebs." (07:47)
  • Carolyn and her daughter Cindy are directly threatened by the entity—Cindy is invited by the ghost: "Come here, little girl. Come to me." (08:36)

• Unmasking the Spirit: Bathsheba Sherman

  • Carolyn’s research reveals the identity of the spirit: Bathsheba Sherman, a 19th-century woman rumored to be a witch who allegedly sacrificed a child and whose malevolent presence remains tied to the house.
  • Paranormal attacks continue, including a chilling moment when Carolyn is stabbed in the leg by an invisible force—eerily similar to Bathsheba’s alleged methods.

• Intervention: Enter Ed and Lorraine Warren

  • Ed and Lorraine Warren, prominent paranormal investigators, arrive in October 1973. Lorraine immediately senses danger, particularly for the children.
  • The Warrens conclude the haunting is demonic and recommend a séance for cleansing.

• The Séance (13:57 – 15:10)

  • A dramatic seance event: candles, a medium, a priest, and a professor assemble.
  • Carolyn undergoes possession, speaking in tongues and displaying violent strength as her chair levitates and she is thrown across the room.
    • "Carolyn's body jerked back...she started speaking in tongues...Then Carolyn's chair lifted into the air, rocketing back into the parlor and slamming her to the ground." (14:28)
  • The episode ends with a sense of relief—activity quiets, but the family and their relationships are deeply scarred:
    • "While there was still spiritual activity... it was peaceful, harmless, even. But in the process... Carolyn and Roger's marriage... became totally joyless." (15:25)

2. The Annabelle Doll: Hollywood Icon and Real-Life Nightmare

(17:17 – 27:02)

• Introduction to Annabelle

  • After the success of the first Conjuring film, the story of Annabelle is told—differing notably from Hollywood’s porcelain doll portrayal, she was actually a Raggedy Ann.
  • Recent tragedies tied to the doll: in July 2025, Daniel Rivera, a Warrens’ Institute investigator, dies mysteriously while touring with Annabelle (17:54).

• Origins: The Nursing Students’ Tale

  • In 1970, Donna receives the doll as a birthday present from her mother.
  • Mild oddness quickly turns sinister: the doll changes positions and locations on its own, despite both Donna and roommate Angie denying responsibility.
  • "Soon she'd come home and the doll wouldn't be on the couch at all. It would be sitting on her bed or even standing by the door, which is especially freaky because Raggedy Anns are super floppy." (18:35)
  • Disturbing notes ("help me") begin appearing—on parchment paper neither woman owns—and then blood appears on the doll.

• Lou’s Paranormal Attack

  • Angie's boyfriend, Lou, is attacked in both dream and waking life—first in a sleep paralysis-state, then physically slashed by unseen claws, the wounds healing rapidly.
    • "He looked down and saw that his shirt was stained with blood...seven deep gashes in his chest." (20:53)

• Desperate Measures: Seeking the Warrens' Help

  • A medium tells them the doll is possessed by a child spirit named Annabelle Higgins; the girls allow the presence to remain, but activity grows darker.
  • With mounting danger, they call in Ed and Lorraine Warren, who declare:
    • "Annabelle wasn't a ghost. According to the Warrens, they're not capable of possessing inanimate objects. No. Annabelle was a demon." (22:56)
  • The Warrens attempt an exorcism and remove the doll, but on the drive home, the car’s brakes fail—allegedly neutralized by Ed splashing holy water on Annabelle.

• The Aftermath and Continuing Legend

  • The Annabelle doll is never fully cleansed. She remains locked in a glass case in the Warrens’ museum. Disrespecting the case or the doll is said to result in dire consequences for visitors.
  • "It's been said that anyone who antagonizes her or questions her power immediately pays the price." (25:40)
  • The recent death of Rivera and other “witness experiences” perpetuate the mythos.

3. Fact, Fiction, and Ongoing Mystery

(25:52 – 27:02)

• The podcast openly examines criticisms and skepticism about the Warrens’ accounts and the commercialization of these stories, yet many still claim first-hand experiences or corroborate details.
• Heidi references Andrea Perron’s books (“House of Darkness, House of Light”) as sources, and notes the continued paranormal reports from guests staying at the Perron farmhouse, now open to the public.
• Notably, the Annabelle story is filtered mostly through the Warrens, as Donna, Angie, and Lou’s own voices are absent from the record.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the haunted beginnings:
  "The former owner handed over the keys to Roger Perrin, he gave an ominous warning: 'For the sake of your family, leave the lights on at night.'" – Heidi Wong (04:10)

• On the apparition’s appearance:
  "Her face had no features. It was described as, quote, a swirling, rancid mass of rotting flesh resembling a desiccated hornet's nest, covered in what appeared to be a mesh of blackened cobwebs." – Heidi Wong (07:47)

• On Annabelle the doll:
  "That's right. In real life, Annabelle wasn’t the porcelain doll you see in the movie … I'm not so sure about that, though. Tell me what you think in the comments or answer on our Spotify poll." – Heidi Wong (18:09)

• On skepticism:
  "Now I have to say that a lot of people are skeptical about these stories ... But there are just as many people who back up the Warrens accounts. Andrea Perrin insists that her family's experiences were real." – Heidi Wong (25:52)

Important Timestamps

• 03:23 – Introduction to The Conjuring’s true story
• 05:25 – The ominous infestation and strange phenomena begin
• 07:47 – Description of the primary haunting spirit
• 13:57 – Arrival of Ed and Lorraine Warren; background on their work
• 14:28 – Dramatic séance scene; Carolyn’s possession
• 15:25 – Aftermath: impact on family and marriage
• 17:17 – Real story of Annabelle the doll
• 18:35 – Annabelle’s escalating activities
• 20:53 – Lou’s violent paranormal attack
• 22:56 – Warrens’ diagnosis: Annabelle as demon, not ghost
• 25:40 – Annabelle’s future victims and ongoing legend
• 25:52 – Addressing skepticism and ongoing reports

Conclusion & Host’s Closing Thoughts

• Heidi wraps up by inviting listeners to share their own twisted tales and thoughts in the comments, pondering the boundaries between fact and legend, and hinting at more spine-tingling stories to come:
  • "There’s so much out there that we can’t explain and I can’t wait to explore it all together… Until then, stay curious and remember, there’s no reason to fear the dark—unless you try to hide from it." (27:00)