The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

Z
Zaffis, John (1956– ) Paranormal investigator and
author. John Zaffis is recognized as one of the leading
authorities on demonic hauntings and POSSESSION. In
more than 30 years, he has worked on more than 7,000
cases internationally, including assisting in more than
90 cases of genuine demonic possession. He has worked
with clergy of different faiths and has participated in
EXORCISMs. Zaffis does not refer to himself as a DEMON-
OLOGIST, a term he says is used too loosely in the paranormal
field.
Zaffis was born on December 18, 1956, in Bridgeport,
Connecticut, the youngest of three children (two sisters)
of John and Babette Warren Zaffis. Zaffis’ mother was the
twin of the demonologist ED WARREN. As children, the
Warrens had experienced haunting phenomena. Unlike
Ed, who made the paranormal his career, Babette was
frightened of the paranormal and did not want her own
children involved in it. John, psychically sensitive, was
drawn to it, anyway. At a young age, he became fascinated
by the stories Ed and his wife, LORRAINE WARREN, told
about their cases.
His interest in the paranormal heightened at about age
15 to 16, when he had a bedside visit from an apparition.
The transparent form of a man appeared at the foot of
his bed, shaking its head as if to say no. Zaffis’s mother
thought the apparition was his deceased grandfather.
Shortly after the experience, his grandmother died.
When Zaffis turned 18, Ed Warren allowed him to
participate in their cases. Warren cautioned him that demons
always try to destroy those who work in the field
and will, through temptation, try to make individuals
destroy themselves. Zaffis was determined to become involved,
and Ed schooled him on demonology. For about
12 years, he stayed in the background of the Warrens’
work, observing and learning. Gradually, he worked
more in the forefront on cases of hauntings and demonic
possession.
Zaffis studied engineering and quality control at several
colleges. On October 13, 1984, he married Cheryl
Dimichelle; the couple have three children, two daughters
and a son. They live in Stratford.
In 1998, Zaffis founded the Paranormal Research Society
of New England (PRSNE) and began working with
his own group. The same year, his mother died. She has
made two after-death visits to John; the second visit occurred
in 2004, just before Zaffis’ father died. After her
death, Babette sometimes appeared in Ed’s dreams prior
to significant events.
Demonic cases have been on the rise, especially since
about 2000, Zaffis says. He receives requests to investigate
several cases a week—sometimes as many as 10 to
15 in a single day. He often works with BISHOP ROBERT
MCKENNA, of the Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel in Monroe,
Connecticut. The majority of cases do not require
exorcisms; for example, places with negative spirit attachments
can respond to clearings. Not all malevolent
entities in hauntings are demonic; some are bad-tempered
ghosts of humans.
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