"Haunting" House Owner: Casper's Not Here

"A Haunting in Connecticut?" Not likely, the homeowner said

By SCOTT BEAULIEU

Updated 10:00 AM EDT, Mon, Mar 16, 2009

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In less than two weeks, "A Haunting in Connecticut" hits the big screen. It's apparently based on a true story, but don't tell that to the current owner of the supposedly haunted house.

Susan Trotta-Smith owns the house on Meriden Avenue where the movie, and real life ghost story, take place.

Here's the gist of the story:

The house used to be the site of the Hallahan Funeral Home until the Snedeker family moved in. That's when they say they started witnessing paranormal forces, including apparitions and a girl feeling hands on her body. Things got so bad, the Snedeker's had an exorcism performed in 1988.

The movie, starring Virginia Madsen, is loosely based on the true story, but Trotta-Smith isn't buying either. She thinks the stories about her home are simply nonsense and Hollywood foolishness.

"We've lived in the house for 10 years. Our house is wonderful," Trotta-Smith told the Record-Journal. "This is all Hollywood foolishness. The stories are all ludicrous."

Police spokesman Sgt. Lowell DePalma told the newspaper he has talked with Trotta-Smith and neighbors who are concerned about people coming onto their property, looking for something that isn't there.

"I know it may disappoint a lot of people, but it is not ghosts. It's not demons or E.T. or whatever. They are not being haunted by any ghosts. They are living their life like anyone else," DePalma said. "The reason why we were called is because of problems outside of the house. I was sad to hear that people get out of their cars and start trespassing."