The Berini Haunting is recognised as one of the more compelling and well-documented cases of alleged paranormal activity in twentieth-century America. Occurring in New England during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the haunting centred on the Berini family after they moved into an ancestral home. The case is notable for the variety of phenomena reported, the involvement of multiple family members as witnesses, and the escalation from benign to violent disturbances.
In May 1979, Joe Berini, his wife Rose, and her two children from a previous marriage relocated to Joe’s family home in New England. The house had been in Joe’s family for generations, but he himself had not grown up there. The family’s move marked the beginning of a series of events that would come to be known as the Berini Haunting. The exact location of the house has never been publicly disclosed, a decision made to protect the privacy of those involved.
The home itself was typical of the region and period, with no prior reports of unusual activity. However, it soon became apparent that the Berinis’ experience would be far from ordinary. Shortly after settling in, Rose began to hear a disembodied child’s voice during the night. The voice identified itself as “Serena,” calling out, “Mama, Mama, this is Serena.” Neither Joe nor Rose was aware of any Serena in their family history. The timing of Serena’s appearances was soon linked to significant and sometimes dire events within the family. For example, after Serena’s first visit, the Berinis’ daughter Daisy suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a routine tonsillectomy. The coincidence was striking and marked the beginning of the family’s association of Serena’s presence with impending misfortune.
Further investigation revealed that Joe’s father had a sister named Serena who had died in the house at the age of five. This revelation added a layer of credibility to the possibility that the phenomena were connected to the family’s past.
After several months of intermittent activity, the haunting took a new turn in March 1981. Rose reported seeing the apparition of a young boy, aged around eight or nine, dressed entirely in white. The figure would walk back and forth in the upstairs hallway, and Rose described the experience as peaceful at first, almost as if she were looking through frosted glass. On one occasion, the boy spoke to her, asking, “Where do all the lonely people go? Where do I belong?” This question, both poignant and unsettling, became a recurring motif in the haunting.
Joe consulted his family and learned that his father’s younger brother, Giorgio, had died in the house at the age of eight and had been buried in his white communion suit. Giorgio’s apparition was seen repeatedly by both Joe and Rose, sometimes appearing two or three times a week. The boy’s ghost occasionally spoke, at one point telling Joe, “My oldest brother is the only one who can help me.” On another occasion, Giorgio accused his twin brother, Carlos, of taking something from the house. These interactions suggested that the spirits were seeking resolution or communication with the living.
As the family began to ignore Giorgio’s presence, the phenomena escalated. Doors would slam violently, objects were thrown across rooms, and packages were pulled from Rose’s hands. On one occasion, after the family disregarded Giorgio’s apparition, a closet door was slammed repeatedly, and a package of macaroni was yanked from Rose, spilling its contents on the floor.
Seeking relief, the Berinis invited priests to bless the house with holy oils. Although this initially brought a brief respite, the disturbances soon returned with greater intensity. A new apparition appeared: a male figure in a black cape with a pronounced hump on his back. This entity’s arrival marked the beginning of more aggressive poltergeist activity. Household items, including bookcases and desks, were found moved across rooms. The retractable attic stairs would open and close on their own, causing physical damage to the house such as cracks in the ceiling. The telephone receiver would fly across the room, dishes and religious figurines were smashed, and the family’s sense of safety was severely undermined.
Physical attacks also became part of the phenomena. Rose was reportedly yanked from her bed, suspended in the air, and then dropped to the floor. On another occasion, she was struck by an opened freezer door. Joe once returned home to find their bed leaping several feet into the air while Rose cowered in a corner clutching a crucifix.
The final straw for the family came when they found a carving knife embedded in their kitchen table. Fearing for their safety, the Berinis vacated the house and sought further spiritual intervention. A second exorcism was performed, after which the paranormal activity ceased. No further disturbances were reported.
After the haunting ended, the Berinis invited the Psychical Research Foundation from North Carolina to investigate. By this time, however, the phenomena had stopped, and the investigation was limited to interviews and the collection of testimonies.
The Berini Haunting is notable for several reasons. It involved multiple apparitions, each with distinct personalities and motives. The phenomena ranged from benign communications to violent poltergeist activity, and the case was witnessed by several family members. The escalation of events in response to the family’s actions, such as ignoring the apparitions, suggests a complex and interactive haunting.
