Ed and Lorraine Warren's Grandson Recalls Watching Grandfather Have a Heart Attack '10 Feet Away' During Exorcism
Chris McKinnell was mentored in his paranormal work by his grandparents, Ed and Lorraine Warren
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Chris McKinnell (left), Ed and Lorraine WarrenNEED TO KNOW
Ed and Lorraine Warren were famed paranormal investigators whose work has been fodder for modern horror hits like Annabelle and The Conjuring films
Chris McKinnell is the son of Judy Spera, Ed and Lorraine's daughter
McKinnell opens up about his grandparents' legacy and recalls working with them
Ed and Lorraine Warren's grandson is opening up about his family's paranormal work and legacy.
Chris McKinnell, son of the Warren's daughter, Judy Spera, appeared on the Reel Appreciation podcast, where he spoke with hosts Maria Elizabeth Darnell and David Clair-Bennett about his experiences working in the paranormal space with his grandparents.
Asked if one particular incident sticks out to him most, McKinnell explained, "Everything that I saw with them was extraordinary. I mean, not always evil, not always dangerous... but the first thing that comes to mind was a case I worked on with them. That would be because my grandfather almost died."
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"We were working on the possession of a man named Maurice Theriault, better known as Frenchie in The Nun series," McKinnell recalled, pausing to note that the films are "absolute fantasies."
Recalling the work, he continued, "During the exorcism, I was protecting the bishop who was doing the exorcism. My grandfather was 10 feet away from me with my grandmother, complaining he didn't feel well."
"And my grandmother looked at him and said, 'Hey Ed, why don't you have a banana? You're probably low on potassium.'"
However, in reality, McKinnell says his grandfather "was having a heart attack during the exorcism."
Although his grandmother claimed to have been a clairvoyant and a light trance medium, McKinnell noted that "she couldn't see" her husband's health crisis. McKinnell says the experience left a lasting impression.
"That's why I don't trust psychics — and I'm a psychic — but I don't trust anybody without evidence," he added. "My grandmother taught me the best psychic in the world is only right 60% of the time. That's a terrible average to bet your life on."
McKinnell was also asked about how he balances his work in the paranormal, which he shares on his The Warren Files channels, while also honoring his family's legacy in the space. He admitted that it can be "a difficult line to walk."
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"I love my grandparents. I respect my grandparents. They were wonderful mentors, but I learned a lot both to do and not to do," he said. "I guess I feel very uncomfortable with being respected because I have grandparents."
"Yes, I worked with my grandparents. Yes, I learned from them. That has a lot to do with me, but the fact that they were my grandparents shouldn't put me on — put me up above anybody at all," he added. "That's just silly to me."
The Warren family name is legendary in the paranormal world, as their cases inspired horror hits like Annabelle and The Conjuring films. The two paranormal investigators founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in the '50s and worked on over 10,000 cases together, writing several books about their findings and experiences.
Ed died in 2006 and Lorraine died 13 years later.
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