Warrens' Grandson Slams Commodification of Haunted Artifacts

In October 2025, Chris McKinnell, the grandson of renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, expressed his concerns about the growing commercialization of his grandparents' most notorious artifacts. McKinnell, the son of the Warrens' daughter Judy Spera, appeared on the Reel Appreciation podcast, where he addressed recent developments surrounding the Warrens' legacy.

McKinnell revealed that he was "far more concerned" about his stepfather, Tony Spera, who runs the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) founded by the Warrens, allowing paranormal objects like the infamous Annabelle doll to be taken on tour. McKinnell condemned this, calling it a "betrayal of everything my grandparents spent their lives doing."

The 61-year-old also criticized comedian Matt Rife's recent purchase of the Warrens' home and museum, which included their "entire haunted collection." McKinnell argued that the Warrens' home was never meant to be a public museum, but rather a private space accessible only by "special invitation" and with "specific instructions."

McKinnell's concerns highlight the growing tension between preserving the Warrens' legacy and the increasing commercialization of their work in the paranormal field. As the Conjuring films have brought the Warrens' story to mainstream audiences, some of their descendants worry that the true nature of their investigations is being misunderstood or exploited.