Episode 608: The Snedeker Haunting: A Haunting in Connecticut
Episode 608: The Snedeker Haunting: A Haunting in Connecticut
10Digest
This podcast episode delves into the chilling story of the Sneataker family, who moved to Connecticut after their son Philip was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. They found a seemingly perfect apartment, but soon discovered it had a dark past as a funeral home. Philip began experiencing paranormal activity, including hearing disembodied voices and feeling watched. The family's experiences escalated, with other children reporting strange occurrences and Philip becoming increasingly erratic. The paranormal activity intensified, with the family experiencing inexplicable noises, flashes of movement, and a cold, unseen entity that touched Kelly's leg and bent her rosary. The entity then turned its attention to Al and Carmen, sexually assaulting them while they were frozen and unable to move. The family, desperate for help, contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal experts specializing in demon cases. The Warrens believed the haunting was demonic in nature and that Philip may have unknowingly allowed the demon into the house. They performed an exorcism, supposedly driving the demons out. However, the Archdiocese denied giving permission for the exorcism, raising questions about the Warrens' claims. The family, traumatized by their experiences, moved out of the house. Critics and skeptics questioned the family's claims, pointing to inconsistencies in their story and suggesting they may be seeking financial gain. Philip's cancer returned, and he passed away in 2012. The Sneataker family tries to stay out of the spotlight, leaving behind a controversial and complex story that continues to fascinate and intrigue.
Outlines
The Sneataker Family Haunting: A Controversial Story
This episode explores the story of the Sneataker family, who moved to Connecticut after their son Philip was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. They encountered a seemingly perfect apartment, but soon discovered its dark past as a funeral home. The family experienced a series of paranormal events, including disembodied voices, strange occurrences, and physical assaults by an unseen entity. The story takes a dramatic turn when Philip is diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia, raising questions about the true nature of the haunting.
The Snettaker Family's Move and the Haunted Apartment
The episode details the Sneataker family's move to Connecticut after Philip's cancer diagnosis. They found an affordable apartment, but soon discovered its dark past as a funeral home. The family's initial reaction to this discovery and their decision to stay despite the unsettling history are explored.
Philip's Paranormal Experiences and Fears
The episode focuses on Philip's experiences with paranormal activity in the house, including hearing disembodied voices, feeling watched, and expressing fear of the basement. His growing fear and the family's initial attempts to dismiss his claims are discussed.
The Family's Experiences and Carmen's Denial
The episode expands on the family's experiences with the paranormal, including Stephanie seeing a woman in her room and Carmen's attempts to dismiss the claims as anxiety and side effects of Philip's treatment. The family's growing unease and Carmen's initial skepticism are highlighted.
The Haunting Escalates and Philip's Embrace of the Spirits
The episode details the escalation of paranormal activity, with Michael also experiencing ghostly encounters. Philip's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and he begins to embrace the spirits as his friends. The family's growing fear and Philip's disturbing change in behavior are explored.
The Arrival of Megan's Daughters and Philip's Assault
The episode focuses on the arrival of Carmen's nieces, Mary and Kelly, to live with the family. Carmen's apprehension about bringing more people into the haunted house is discussed, followed by Philip's assault on his cousins while they sleep. The episode concludes with Philip's confession to the police and his diagnosis of early onset schizophrenia.
The Haunting Escalates to Sexual Assault and the Family's Desperation
The episode details the intensification of the attacks on the family, with Kelly being assaulted multiple times by the unseen entity. The entity then turns its attention to Al, sexually assaulting him while he is frozen and unable to move. Carmen herself experiences similar attacks. The family's desperation for help and their decision to contact Ed and Lorraine Warren are explored.
The Arrival of Ed and Lorraine Warren and the Investigation
The episode focuses on the arrival of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal experts specializing in demon cases. The Warrens' investigation reveals the demonic forces in the house are growing stronger. They experience burning sensations and witness heavy footsteps, banging noises, and flickering lights. Al sees a decaying face of Jesus Christ mocking him, and the entity attempts to possess Carmen. Ed concludes an exorcism is necessary and, with the alleged permission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, two priests and a deacon perform the exorcism, supposedly driving the demons out.
Media Attention, Skepticism, and the Family's Move
The episode discusses the media attention surrounding the exorcism and the skepticism surrounding the Warrens' claims. The family, traumatized by their experiences, moves out of the house despite the alleged exorcism. They give interviews to the press and appear on talk shows, sharing their story and warning others about dabbling in the supernatural.
Skeptics and Critics Emerge and the Legacy of the Sneataker Haunting
The episode explores the skepticism surrounding the family's claims, with neighbors and members of CSICOP expressing doubts. They point to the family's financial troubles, Philip's history of drug use, and the fact that the family was evicted from the house. The episode concludes with the family's move to Tennessee to escape the controversy and the legacy of the Sneataker haunting, which has been adapted into a book and a film.
Keywords
Hodgkin's lymphoma
A type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, often diagnosed in young adults. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Paranormal activity
Events or occurrences that are unexplained by scientific means, often attributed to supernatural forces. Common examples include ghost sightings, unexplained noises, and objects moving on their own.
Schizophrenia
A mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. It can affect a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.
Funeral home
A business that provides services related to death, including embalming, cremation, and funeral arrangements. They often have a distinctive atmosphere and may be associated with paranormal activity.
Disembodied voices
Voices that are heard without a visible source, often associated with paranormal activity or auditory hallucinations. They can be a symptom of mental illness or a sign of a haunting.
Early onset schizophrenia
Schizophrenia that develops in childhood or adolescence, often with a more severe course and poorer prognosis than adult-onset schizophrenia.
Demonic Infestation
A supernatural phenomenon where a malevolent entity, often a demon, takes control of a location or person, causing negative effects like physical harm, psychological distress, and disturbances.
Exorcism
A ritual performed by a religious figure, typically a priest, to expel a demonic entity from a person or place. It involves prayers, incantations, and religious symbols.
Q&A
What led the Snettaker family to move to Connecticut?
Their son Philip was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and they needed to be closer to the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
What was the family's initial reaction to discovering the house's past as a funeral home?
They were initially shocked and disturbed, but ultimately decided to stay due to the lack of other affordable options and the need to be near the hospital.
What were some of the paranormal experiences that Philip and the other children had in the house?
Philip heard disembodied voices, felt watched, and saw a man's face peering at him through the French doors. Stephanie saw a woman in her room, and Michael saw a ghost with cat-like eyes.
How did Philip's behavior change after moving into the house?
He became more defiant and challenging, and he began to embrace the spirits as his friends. He also developed a disturbing fascination with the basement.
What was the ultimate explanation for Philip's behavior and the paranormal activity in the house?
Philip was diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia, which explained his hallucinations, delusions, and the assaults on his cousins.
What were some of the strange occurrences that plagued the Sneataker family after Philip's cancer diagnosis?
The family experienced inexplicable noises, flashes of movement, strange music playing in the middle of the night, and a cold, unseen entity that touched Kelly's leg and bent her rosary.
How did the Warrens' investigation into the Sneataker family haunting unfold?
The Warrens believed the haunting was demonic in nature and that Philip may have unknowingly allowed the demon into the house. They experienced burning sensations, witnessed heavy footsteps and noises, and saw a decaying face of Jesus Christ mocking Al. The entity also attempted to possess Carmen.
What were some of the criticisms leveled against the Sneataker family's claims of paranormal activity?
Critics pointed to inconsistencies in the family's story, suggesting they may be seeking financial gain. They also highlighted Philip's history of drug use, the family's financial troubles, and the fact that they were evicted from the house, not moving voluntarily.
What is the legacy of the Sneataker family haunting?
The story has been adapted into a book, "In a Dark Place," and a fictionalized film, "The Haunting in Connecticut." The family has tried to stay out of the spotlight, leaving behind a controversial and complex story that continues to fascinate and intrigue.
Show Notes
When Al and Carmen Snedeker found out that their son Phillip was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the treatment plan required the family to relocate into a three floor home in Southington, Connecticut. The second floor apartment quickly became a nightmare for the inhabitants, with attacks escalating to demonic assault.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and writing support!
References
Carpenter, B. (1988, September 15). Exorcism performed in 'spirited' home. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 37.
Carpenter, B. (1988, August 18). Researcher says home haunted by evil presence. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 33.
Carpenter, B. (1988, August 13). Southington haunting is daunting . Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.
Cohen, J. (1992, October 27). Their Southington haunt was hellish, couple tell Sally Jessy. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.
Garton, R., & Warren, E. (1992). In a Dark Place: The True Story of a Haunting. New York, NY: Villard Books.
I was raped by a ghost (1992). [Motion Picture].
Nickel, J. (2009). Demons in Connecticut. Skeptical Inquirer, 25-27.
Schmidt, K. (1992, October 30). Couple sees ghost; skeptics see through it. Hartford Courant, p. 126.
Smith, G. (1991, May 15). Family still haunted by ghastly experience. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.
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