If you are a fan of the paranormal, you may have heard of John Zaffis, a renowned paranormal investigator and demonologist who has appeared in several TV shows, documentaries and books. But did you know that he is also related to one of the most famous paranormal investigators of all time, Lorraine Warren? In this article, we will explore the connection between John Zaffis and Lorraine Warren, and how they influenced each other’s careers and lives.
Contents
Who is John Zaffis?
John Zaffis was born on December 18, 1955 in Connecticut, USA. He is the son of Ed Warren’s twin sister, making him the nephew of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the legendary couple who investigated some of the most notorious cases of hauntings and demonic possessions in history, such as the Amityville Horror, the Annabelle doll, and the Conjuring series.
Zaffis had his first encounter with the paranormal when he was 16 years old, when he saw the apparition of his grandfather at the foot of his bed. This sparked his interest in the supernatural, and he decided to learn from his aunt and uncle, who were already well-known as demonologists and lecturers. According to his website, Zaffis spent his first years studying under Ed and Lorraine Warren, and what he learned from them exceeded his original interests in ghosts and haunted houses.
Zaffis has over 45 years of experience as a paranormal investigator, researcher, author, lecturer and TV personality. He has traveled all over the US and abroad to investigate cases of hauntings, poltergeists, curses, possessions and other phenomena. He has also collected hundreds of haunted objects that he keeps in his own museum in Stratford, Connecticut. He is the founder of the Paranormal Research Society of New England (PRSNE), and the author of two books: Shadows of the Dark (2004) and Demon Haunted (2016).
Zaffis has appeared in many media outlets, such as Unsolved Mysteries, Fox News Live, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Syfy Channel, CNN and more. He is best known for his own TV show Haunted Collector, which ran from 2011 to 2013 on Syfy Channel. The show featured Zaffis and his team investigating locations that were plagued by paranormal activity linked to certain objects. The team would then remove or neutralize the objects to restore peace to the owners.
Who is Lorraine Warren?
Lorraine Warren was born on January 31, 1927 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was a psychic medium who claimed to have clairvoyant abilities since she was a child. She met her husband Ed Warren, a self-taught demonologist and former police officer, when she was 16 years old. They married in 1945 and had one daughter, Judy.
Together, Ed and Lorraine Warren founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in 1952, which is one of the oldest paranormal investigation groups in the US. They also established their own museum of occult artifacts in their home in Monroe, Connecticut. The museum contains items that they collected from their cases over the years, such as dolls, masks, idols, crucifixes and more. Some of these items are said to be cursed or possessed by evil spirits.
The Warrens became famous for their involvement in some of the most high-profile cases of hauntings and demonic activity in history. They claimed to have investigated over 10,000 cases in their careers. Some of their most notable cases include:
– The Amityville Horror: The Warrens were among the first investigators to visit the house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York in 1976. The house was allegedly haunted by a malevolent force that drove its previous owners to murder their family members and flee in terror. The Warrens conducted a seance in which Lorraine claimed to communicate with the spirits of the victims and feel the presence of a demonic entity.
– The Annabelle Doll: The Warrens were contacted by two nurses who claimed that a Raggedy Ann doll that they received as a gift was possessed by an evil spirit named Annabelle. The doll allegedly moved by itself, wrote messages on paper, scratched people and attacked a friend of the nurses. The Warrens took the doll to their museum and placed it in a glass case with a warning sign.
– The Conjuring Series: The Warrens were involved in several cases that inspired the popular horror movie franchise The Conjuring. These include:
– The Perron Family: The Warrens investigated a farmhouse in Harrisville,
Rhode Island in 1971 that was haunted by the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman,
a woman who was accused of witchcraft and child murder in the 19th
century. The spirit allegedly tormented the Perron family, especially the
mother, Carolyn, who was possessed and stabbed by a sewing needle.
– The Enfield Poltergeist: The Warrens visited a house in Enfield, England
in 1977 that was the site of a poltergeist phenomenon. The house was
occupied by a single mother and her four children, two of whom, Janet and
Margaret, were allegedly possessed and levitated by an invisible force.
The Warrens claimed to have witnessed paranormal activity and recorded
voices of the spirits.
– The Arne Cheyenne Johnson Case: The Warrens were involved in the
exorcism of David Glatzel, an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly possessed
by 43 demons in 1980. During the exorcism, Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the
boyfriend of David’s sister, Debbie, challenged the demons to enter him
instead of David. A few months later, Johnson stabbed and killed his
landlord, Alan Bono, claiming that he was under the influence of a demon.
The Warrens testified in his trial, which was the first time in US
history that a defense of demonic possession was attempted.
Lorraine Warren died on April 18, 2019 at the age of 92. She was widely respected and admired by many people in the paranormal community, as well as by fans of her work. She was also portrayed by actress Vera Farmiga in the Conjuring movies.
As mentioned earlier, John Zaffis is the nephew of Ed and Lorraine Warren. He is the son of Ed’s twin sister. He grew up close to his aunt and uncle, who taught him everything they knew about the paranormal. He also accompanied them on some of their investigations and learned from their methods and experiences.
Zaffis has expressed his admiration and gratitude for his aunt and uncle many times. He has said that they were his mentors and role models, and that they inspired him to pursue his passion for the paranormal. He has also said that he considers Lorraine as his second mother, and that he misses her dearly.
Zaffis has also continued the legacy of his aunt and uncle by following their footsteps as a paranormal investigator and demonologist. He has also inherited some of their haunted objects, such as a painting of a crying boy that allegedly causes fires, and a shadow box that contains a demonic mask. He has also appeared in some of the same media outlets as his aunt and uncle, such as A Haunting, Ghost Adventures and Coast to Coast AM.
Conclusion
John Zaffis is one of the most prominent figures in the field of paranormal investigation today. He is also related to one of the most famous paranormal investigators of all time, Lorraine Warren. They share a bond of family, friendship and fascination with the supernatural. They have both contributed to the advancement and awareness of the paranormal field, and have left a lasting impact on many people’s lives.
