The Snedeker family moved into a house in Southington, Connecticut in 1986. They were looking for a place to stay near the University of Connecticut hospital where their son was receiving treatment for cancer. Little did they know that the house they had chosen had a dark and disturbing history.
The house had once been a funeral home and the Snedekers soon began to experience strange and terrifying events. They reported seeing apparitions, hearing disembodied voices, and feeling cold spots throughout the house. The family also claimed to have been physically attacked by unseen entities. The Snedekers eventually contacted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who documented their experiences and declared the house to be haunted.
Historical Background
The Snedeker Haunting is a paranormal case that occurred in Southington, Connecticut in the 1980s. The Snedeker family moved into a former funeral home, which they later claimed was haunted by malevolent spirits. The family reported experiencing various paranormal phenomena, such as unexplained noises, foul odors, and apparitions.
According to the Snedeker family, the previous owners of the house had used the basement as a mortuary, and they had left several coffins and other funeral equipment behind. The Snedekers believed that the spirits of the deceased were still present in the house and were tormenting them.
The family eventually contacted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who conducted an investigation and claimed to have found evidence of demonic possession. The case gained national attention and was the basis for the book “In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting” by Ray Garton.
However, the veracity of the Snedeker Haunting has been called into question by skeptics and critics. Some have accused the family of fabricating the story for financial gain, while others have suggested that the alleged paranormal activity could be explained by natural causes or psychological factors.
Read Also: What Hauntings did Ed & Lorraine Warren investigate?
Despite the controversy surrounding the case, the Snedeker Haunting remains a popular topic among paranormal enthusiasts and has inspired numerous books, documentaries, and films.
The Snedeker Family
The Snedeker family consisted of Allen and Carmen Snedeker and their four children, who moved into a former funeral home in Southington, Connecticut in 1986. The family was looking for a larger and more affordable place to live, and they thought the home would be perfect.
However, shortly after moving in, the family began experiencing strange occurrences. Carmen reported seeing ghosts and shadowy figures, while Allen claimed to have been physically attacked by unseen forces. Their son, Philip, who was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, claimed that the ghosts were trying to possess him.
The family eventually contacted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who conducted an investigation and claimed that the home was haunted by malevolent spirits. The Warrens convinced the family to move out of the home, and their story was later turned into a book and a movie, both titled “The Haunting in Connecticut.”
Despite the popularity of the story, some skeptics have raised doubts about the Snedeker family’s claims. Some have pointed out that the family had financial troubles and may have fabricated the story to make money. Others have suggested that the family may have been experiencing hallucinations or mental health issues.
Regardless of the truth behind the story, the Snedeker family’s experiences at the former funeral home continue to be a subject of fascination and speculation among paranormal enthusiasts.
The Haunting Events
Initial Occurrences
The Snedeker family moved into a house in Southington, Connecticut, in 1986. Soon after, strange occurrences began to happen. The family began to notice unexplainable smells, such as rotting flesh and excrement, coming from various parts of the house. They also witnessed strange shadows and heard unexplained noises, such as footsteps and whispers.
The family initially dismissed these occurrences as their imagination, but things took a turn for the worse when their son, Philip, began to experience terrifying nightmares. In these nightmares, he saw a man with long black hair, who threatened to harm him and his family.
Intensification of Paranormal Activity
As time passed, the paranormal activity in the house intensified. The Snedeker family reported seeing apparitions, hearing voices, and experiencing physical attacks. One of the most chilling incidents occurred when Carmen Snedeker, the mother, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a demonic entity.
The family eventually sought the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators who had dealt with similar cases in the past. The Warrens conducted an investigation and concluded that the house was haunted by several malevolent entities, including a demonic presence.
The Snedeker Haunting gained national attention when it was featured on the television show “A Haunting” in 2002. Despite skeptics’ claims that the family had fabricated the story for attention, the Snedekers maintained that the events were real and had a lasting impact on their lives.
Investigations
Ed and Lorraine Warren
The Snedeker Haunting gained national attention after Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators, were called to investigate the house. The Warrens claimed that the house was infested with demons and that they had conducted an exorcism to rid the house of the evil spirits. According to their account, the exorcism was successful, and the family was able to live in the house without further incidents.
However, some skeptics have criticized the Warrens’ investigation, claiming that they were more interested in promoting their own careers than in conducting a thorough investigation. They point out that the Warrens had a history of exaggerating their experiences and that they often relied on hearsay and secondhand accounts.
Skeptical Perspectives
Skeptics have also offered alternative explanations for the strange events that occurred in the Snedeker house. Some suggest that the family may have been suffering from a form of mass hysteria, in which group dynamics can cause people to experience shared delusions. Others suggest that the family may have been experiencing hallucinations caused by exposure to toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide or mold.
Despite these skeptical perspectives, the Snedeker Haunting remains a popular topic of discussion among paranormal enthusiasts. While there is no definitive explanation for the strange events that occurred in the house, the story continues to fascinate and intrigue those who are interested in the paranormal.
Media Interpretations
Books
The Snedeker Haunting has been the subject of several books, with the most popular one being “In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting” by Ray Garton. The book was published in 1992 and is based on the experiences of the Snedeker family during their stay in the haunted house.
Garton’s book has been criticized for its accuracy and embellishments. Some have accused Garton of sensationalizing the story for profit, while others have questioned the validity of the Snedeker family’s claims. Despite the controversy, the book remains a popular source of information about the Snedeker haunting.
Film Adaptation
The Snedeker Haunting was adapted into a made-for-television movie in 2009, titled “The Haunting in Connecticut.” The film was directed by Peter Cornwell and starred Virginia Madsen and Kyle Gallner.
The movie deviates from the true story in several ways, including changing the location of the house and the names of the family members. However, the basic premise of a family moving into a haunted house and experiencing terrifying events remains the same.
While the film received mixed reviews, it was a commercial success and has become a popular horror movie among audiences.
Aftermath and Legacy
The Snedeker Haunting gained widespread notoriety when it was featured in the book “In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting” by Ray Garton. The book was later adapted into a made-for-television movie called “A Haunting in Connecticut.” The popularity of the story led to a number of investigations by paranormal researchers and skeptics alike.
Some have questioned the veracity of the Snedeker family’s claims, pointing to inconsistencies in their stories and the fact that they were facing financial difficulties at the time of the haunting. Others have suggested that the family may have been suffering from mental illness or drug addiction.
Despite the controversy surrounding the case, the Snedeker Haunting remains a popular topic of discussion among paranormal enthusiasts. The house where the haunting allegedly took place has since been sold and renovated, and the current owners have reported no paranormal activity.
The legacy of the Snedeker Haunting is a cautionary tale about the dangers of sensationalism and the importance of critical thinking when evaluating claims of the paranormal. While the truth behind the events may never be fully known, the story serves as a reminder that sometimes the scariest things are the ones we create in our own minds.
Comparative Hauntings
When it comes to haunted houses, the Snedeker house is not the only one with a reputation for paranormal activity. Many other houses and buildings around the world have been rumored to be haunted. Here are a few examples:
The Amityville House
The Amityville house in Long Island, New York, is perhaps one of the most famous haunted houses in the world. The house gained notoriety in the 1970s when the Lutz family claimed that they were terrorized by paranormal activity after moving into the house. The story was later made into a book and several movies.
The Myrtles Plantation
The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana is said to be one of the most haunted houses in America. The plantation is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of former slaves who were mistreated and killed on the property. Visitors to the plantation have reported seeing ghostly figures and hearing strange noises.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a historic castle in London, England, that has a reputation for being haunted. The tower has been used as a prison, a royal palace, and a place of execution. Many people have been imprisoned and executed at the tower over the centuries, and it is rumored that their ghosts still haunt the castle.
In conclusion, the Snedeker house is just one of many haunted houses around the world. While each haunting is unique, they all share a common thread of unexplained paranormal activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Allen and Carmen Snedeker and what is their connection to the haunting?
Allen and Carmen Snedeker were a couple who moved to Southington, Connecticut in 1986 with their daughter and three sons. They rented a former funeral home to accommodate their large family. The family later claimed to have experienced paranormal activity in the house, which they believed was caused by the mortuary’s past.
What is the true story that inspired ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ movies?
The story that inspired ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ movies is based on the Snedeker family’s claims of experiencing supernatural events in their former home. The family alleged that the house was haunted by the spirits of mortuary clients who were not at rest.
Has there been a release of ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 3’, and what is its premise?
As of December 2023, there has been no release of ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 3’. It is unclear if there are any plans for a third installment of the movie franchise.
Where is the actual house located that the Snedeker haunting took place?
The actual house where the Snedeker haunting took place is located in Southington, Connecticut. The house was a former funeral home that the Snedeker family rented in 1986.
Are there any notable differences between the real Snedeker haunting and its portrayal in the movies?
There are notable differences between the real Snedeker haunting and its portrayal in the movies. The movies took creative liberties to dramatize the events and characters. Some of the differences include the number of children in the family, the timeline of events, and the severity of the haunting.
What has happened to the Snedeker family since the events depicted in the film?
After the events depicted in the film, the Snedeker family moved out of the haunted house. Carmen Snedeker passed away in 1992 due to cancer. Allen Snedeker died in 2012. The surviving family members have not made any public comments about the haunting in recent years.
