Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The truth is, there's a lot of times with exorcisms they can, according to them, they just work. And one exorcism they can do is you don't even have to be home. You leave, and the exorcism is done on the house, while you're gone." — Henry Zabrowski
"But when Garten approached Ed Warren with these inconsistencies, Ed, according to Garten said, quote, 'That crazy. Out the people who come to us are crazy. That's why they come to us. Just use what you can and make the rest up. You write scary books, right? Well, make it up and make it scary. That's why we hired you.'" — Ad Larson
"The gulf between fantasy and reality concerning the warrants in these movies is just as large as the difference between what their actual appearances were when compared to Dreamboats Patrick Wilson and Vera Farminga. In other words, when you hear based on a true story, a more accurate statement would be vaguely based on a story from some guy kinda." — Marcus Parks
This episode of "Last Podcast on the Left" continues its deep dive into the lives and alleged paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, focusing on later cases and significant controversies that cast doubt on their methods and integrity. The discussion begins with the Smurl haunting, detailing a series of escalating paranormal events including unexplained phenomena, sightings of dark figures, and a particularly disturbing alleged instance of spectrophilia. The episode critically examines the Warrens' involvement, contrasting their definitive pronouncements of demonic activity with the more cautious approach of other paranormal experts.
The narrative then shifts to the Snettaker family's claims of a haunting in a former funeral home, a case heavily fictionalized in the movie "The Haunting in Connecticut." The hosts present evidence suggesting potential fabrication, including inconsistencies in the family's accounts, the landlord's claims of rent disputes coinciding with the haunting's emergence, and the author hired to write the Snettakers' story directly stating Ed Warren advised him to "make the rest up" if necessary. Further scrutiny is placed on the Warrens' broader practices, including the alleged exploitation of cases, their relationship with other paranormal investigators, and the questionable origins of some of their "evidence," such as the Union Cemetery video.
The episode culminates with a detailed examination of serious allegations against Ed Warren, including a sworn statement from Judith Penny, who claimed an ongoing sexual relationship with Ed from her teenage years until his death, with Lorraine's alleged knowledge and complicity. The hosts discuss the potential similarities to other known predators and the contractual clauses in film adaptations that appear to actively suppress these allegations. The episode concludes by emphasizing the vast discrepancy between the Warrens' dramatized portrayal in popular media and the documented complexities and ethical questions surrounding their career, suggesting their true motivations may have been more driven by financial gain and public perception than genuine paranormal discovery.