The San Pedro Haunting

The San Pedro haunting stands as one of the most violent and well-documented poltergeist cases in American history. The phenomena, which targeted a single mother and her children, was investigated by renowned parapsychologist Barry Taff and captured on film by a television crew.

The Victim

Jackie Hernandez, a single mother, moved into a small bungalow in San Pedro, California in 1989. She lived there with her young children, hoping for a fresh start after leaving an abusive relationship.

Within weeks of moving in, strange phenomena began that would torment Jackie for years.

The Phenomena

The haunting included both classic poltergeist activity and unusual manifestations:

Physical Attacks

Jackie experienced brutal physical assaults:

• She was thrown across rooms by an invisible force
• Bite marks appeared on her body
• Deep scratches formed on her skin
• She was strangled multiple times by unseen hands
• Her hair was pulled violently
• She felt hands grabbing and pushing her

Apparitions

Multiple witnesses reported seeing:

• A ghostly figure of an old man in the house
• A dark, shadowy mass that moved through rooms
• Glowing lights and orbs throughout the property

Object Movement

• Heavy furniture moved by itself
• Objects flew across rooms
• Kitchen items levitated
• Doors opened and slammed shut repeatedly

Unusual Manifestations

The San Pedro case featured some unique phenomena:

• A black, oily substance oozed from the walls
• Strange blood-like stains appeared spontaneously
• Foul odors permeated the house
• Electronic equipment malfunctioned constantly

The Investigation

Parapsychologist Dr. Barry Taff, famous for the “Entity” case, was called to investigate. His investigation with colleague Cameron Wheatley documented:

The Attic Incident

Photographer Jeff Wheatley climbed into the attic to investigate. He was attacked by an invisible force:

• A cord wrapped around his neck
• He was nearly strangled to death
• He had to be rescued by other investigators
• He received medical treatment for his injuries

This assault was witnessed by multiple people and documented immediately.

Photographic Evidence

Numerous photographs were taken that showed:

• Mysterious lights in the house
• Apparent figures forming in the air
• Anomalies around Jackie during attacks

Television Documentation

The television show “Sightings” sent a crew to document the case. During filming:

• Camera equipment malfunctioned repeatedly
• Crew members witnessed phenomena firsthand
• An episode capturing several incidents aired nationally

The Connection to the Deceased

Investigation revealed a possible source for the haunting:

• An elderly man had died in the house decades before
• His death was reportedly unpleasant and possibly violent
• The apparition descriptions matched historical descriptions of this man
• The property had a history of strange occurrences before Jackie moved in

Additionally, researchers discovered connections between the property and historical deaths in the San Pedro Harbor area, including possible ties to sailors who died in the port.

Escalation and Aftermath

The violence of the attacks increased over time:

The Move

Jackie was forced to leave the San Pedro house. However, the phenomena followed her:

• Activity occurred at friends’ homes where she stayed
• Her next residence experienced similar phenomena
• It seemed the haunting was attached to her, not just the location

The Welding Shop Incident

In one of the most dramatic documented incidents, Jackie visited a welding shop where:

• Objects flew off shelves
• Equipment moved by itself
• Witnesses (including the shop owner) confirmed the events

Psychological Analysis

Some skeptics suggested Jackie suffered from psychological issues. However:

• Multiple independent witnesses confirmed phenomena
• An investigator was physically attacked and injured
• Phenomena occurred in multiple locations
• Television crews documented events
• The attacks left physical evidence (marks, injuries)

Significance

The San Pedro case is significant for several reasons:

1. Violence: Among the most physically violent American hauntings on record
2. Documentation: Investigated by professional parapsychologists and filmed for television
3. Physical evidence: Injuries to witnesses, including nearly fatal strangulation
4. Persistence: The entity followed Jackie across multiple locations
5. Multiple witnesses: Events were observed by investigators, television crews, and random witnesses

Legacy

The case has been featured in:

• Multiple episodes of paranormal television shows
• Numerous books on American hauntings
• Academic papers on poltergeist phenomena
• Documentaries about extreme paranormal cases

Dr. Barry Taff has stated that the San Pedro case ranks among the most violent and convincing he investigated in his career.

Jackie Hernandez eventually moved away from the Los Angeles area. The phenomena reportedly decreased over time, though she has never fully escaped occasional disturbances. She has participated in interviews and documentary films about her experiences.

The San Pedro house has had subsequent occupants, with varying reports about continued activity.