Few modern American ghost stories have captured the public imagination quite like The Haunting in Connecticut. The tale of the Snedeker family, who moved into a former funeral home in Southington, Connecticut during the 1980s, continues to haunt books, documentaries, and even Hollywood films. Whether you believe in the supernatural or remain skeptical, the story has become one of the most enduring and controversial hauntings in U.S. history.
Moving Into the House of the Dead
In 1986, Carmen and Al Snedeker rented a house in Southington, Connecticut. The family moved in with their three sons, daughter, and a niece. The decision was largely practical—one of their sons was being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at a nearby hospital, and they needed a home close to his medical care.
At first, the house seemed ideal. But the Snedekers soon discovered that the property had a dark past: it had once operated as a funeral home. The basement still contained embalming tables, drainage pipes, and mortuary tools—chilling reminders of the building’s former use.
Strange Phenomena Begin
Shortly after moving in, the Snedekers reported unsettling activity that grew more intense with time. At first, it was subtle—lights flickering, doors closing on their own, and cold spots appearing in rooms. But the disturbances escalated quickly into terrifying experiences.
Apparitions and Shadow Figures
Family members claimed to see shadowy forms moving through the halls, as well as ghostly faces reflected in mirrors. Carmen Snedeker described waking to find people standing silently at the foot of her bed.
Disturbing Noises
Knocks, bangs, and unexplained voices echoed through the home. The children especially complained of hearing whispers and guttural sounds in the basement where the mortuary equipment still sat.
Physical Attacks
The haunting was not limited to sightings and sounds. The Snedekers alleged that unseen entities physically assaulted them. Carmen reported being pinned down in bed by a force she could not see, while others felt scratches, pushes, and cold hands gripping their arms.
The Eldest Son’s Ordeal
The family’s eldest son, already suffering from illness, seemed to be the most affected. He claimed to see terrifying apparitions, and at one point the family believed he was being possessed or controlled by the entities in the house. His behavior became erratic, adding to the household’s fear and turmoil.
A Funeral Home’s Dark Secrets
The basement of the house proved to be a central focus of the haunting. The Snedekers discovered mortuary equipment—including embalming tables, body lifts, and drainage pipes. They believed that some of the supernatural disturbances were tied to improper treatment of the deceased during the building’s days as a funeral home.
Some accounts even suggest that necromantic practices or other dark rituals might have taken place there, though evidence for such claims remains speculative. Still, the setting alone—a family living among the remnants of a funeral parlor—was enough to fuel unsettling feelings.
Enter the Warrens
Desperate for help, the Snedekers contacted famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens, well known for their investigations into the Amityville Horror and other cases, believed the house was infested with dark and inhuman entities.
According to their reports, the spirits haunting the home were not merely restless souls but demonic forces. Lorraine Warren described the house as one of the most malevolent places she had ever investigated. A priest was eventually brought in to perform an exorcism, after which the family reported that the activity finally ceased.
Skepticism and Controversy
Like many famous hauntings, the Connecticut case has its skeptics. Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in the Snedekers’ stories over the years, and some have accused the family of exaggerating or even fabricating the haunting.
Author Ray Garton, who worked with the family and the Warrens on the 1992 book In a Dark Place, later claimed that the Snedekers could not keep their stories straight and that he was urged to fill in gaps with fictional details. This has led many to question whether the haunting was as extreme as portrayed—or whether it was a case of a troubled family under extreme stress, magnified by suggestibility.
Still, believers argue that the sheer number of experiences, coupled with the family’s consistent fear, suggest something truly extraordinary happened in that house.
The Haunting in Pop Culture
The story’s blend of grief, illness, death, and supernatural terror has made it a powerful narrative for film and television.
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Documentary: The Discovery Channel series A Haunting featured an episode on the case titled A Haunting in Connecticut, which drew widespread attention.
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Books: Multiple books have been written, the most famous being In a Dark Place, which dramatized the family’s experiences.
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Film: In 2009, Hollywood released The Haunting in Connecticut, a movie “based on true events.” While the film took many liberties, it cemented the story in pop culture and introduced it to a global audience.
Why the Story Endures
The Haunting in Connecticut continues to captivate because it combines so many potent elements:
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A family under real emotional and physical stress.
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A house tied to death through its history as a funeral home.
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Allegations of direct physical attacks by unseen forces.
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Involvement of high-profile paranormal investigators.
Whether true, exaggerated, or a mix of both, the tale plays on universal fears—death, illness, and the possibility that the past can leave behind forces we do not understand.
Fact Box: The Haunting in Connecticut
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Location: Southington, Connecticut
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Year of Events: 1986
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Family Involved: The Snedekers
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History of House: Former funeral home, complete with embalming equipment
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Reported Activity: Apparitions, strange noises, physical attacks, alleged possession
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Investigators: Ed and Lorraine Warren
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Resolution: Exorcism performed; family claimed activity stopped
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Legacy: Inspired books, documentaries, and the 2009 film The Haunting in Connecticut
Conclusion
The Haunting in Connecticut stands as one of the most infamous American ghost stories. Whether it was the result of genuine supernatural forces, psychological stress, or a combination of both, the Snedeker family’s ordeal has left a lasting mark on paranormal lore.
It raises a chilling question: when a house is steeped in death, do echoes of the past linger within its walls? For the Snedekers, the answer was yes—and their story continues to haunt us decades later.
