BURRILLVILLE - After its owner has twice been committed for psychiatric care at two area hospitals, The Conjuring House is in danger of losing its license to operate as a business.
The centuries-old farmhouse, where the Perron family said they were tormented by a malicious spirit in the 1970s, a story that inspired the 2013 horror movie "The Conjuring," has been owned since May 2022 by former Boston real estate developer Jacqueline Nuñez. She has operated it as an attraction, offering tours, overnight stays and camping on the property, among other events.
This year, Nuñez told The Providence Journal that she has been in a dispute with former employees of The Conjuring House. She also said she'd been committed overnight to a psych ward at Landmark Medical Center in July and for more than a week to a psych ward at Fatima Hospital in September.
On Wednesday, Nuñez was notified via the town's online licensing system that Police Chief Col. Stephen J. Lynch had marked as "Not Approved" some of the information she had submitted to renew the entertainment license that allows her to operate The Conjuring House as a business.
"Based on submissions I found to be inappropriate, I rejected it," Lynch told The Journal Friday, declining to give details about what she had submitted on forms that ask for information about ownership of the business and the property, information about liability insurance and information to be used in a criminal background check.
The Journal has submitted a public records request with the town clerk's office for a copy of the information Nuñez submitted.
When asked whether his concerns about what Nuñez had submitted were related to her commitments to Landmark and to Fatima, Lynch said, "I believe the behaviors that landed her at those hospitals are consistent with her submissions that she made with her application."
Lynch said that other than two times when his officers escorted healthcare workers to the house, the police have not been called there to deal with any problems this year.
The Conjuring House license expires at the end of November. Businesses in Burrillville face a Nov. 1 deadline to submit their applications for review by town officials, including the police chief, the fire marshal and the building inspector.
"The license process isn't over for her," Lynch said, adding that she can correct any deficiencies on her application before the Town Council meets Nov. 18 to decide on license renewals.
Asked whether she intends to update her application, Nuñez told The Journal, "I am not naming Burrillville on my insurance. I will indemnify them from any liability."