BURRILLVILLE – The owner of the 300-year-old Round Top Road farmhouse that’s brought thousands of visitors to town over the past several years in search of a paranormal experience was arrested Monday night by Burrillville police after allegedly taking officers on an alcohol-fueled high speed chase.
Jacqueline Nuñez, a 61-year-old former real estate developer from Massachusetts, was charged with driving under the influence and eluding law enforcement following an incident that began on Chapel Street Monday, Oct. 28 when police received reports of an erratic driver.
Nuñez purchased the structure known as The Conjuring House for around $1.5 million in 2022 after the once quiet rural home had already become a commercial attraction. Previous owners Cory and Jennifer Heinzen had purchased the property, made famous by the 2013 hit horror film The Conjuring, for $439,000 just three years earlier, and established a business charging guests for everything from day tours to overnight stays.
The house has made headlines for other reasons in recent months, with well-publicized conflicts between Nuñez and the business’s staff including mass resignations, and accusations she fired one employee following advice from a ghost and withheld an insurance payout from two others who lost their possessions in a barn fire on the property.
Earlier this week, The Providence Journal reported Burrillville Police Chief Col. Stephen Lynch rejected Nuñez’s application to renew her entertainment license for the business. The license allowing her to operate the house is currently set to expire in November.
On Monday evening, police reportedly stopped Nuñez near the intersection of Hill and West Roads, but the vehicle drove off as officers approached. After leading police on what was described as a brief – and swerving – pursuit through town, Nuñez finally stopped the car on Wallum Lake Road.
Nuñez reportedly showed signs of severe intoxication and was confrontational with officers, according to reports.
In addition to the charges, she was issued citations for refusing to submit to a chemical test, speeding, driving with an expired registration, leaving the lane of travel, and not obeying stop signs.
Nuñez pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday and was released on $2,000 personal recognizance. She is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Monday, Nov. 11.
I feel another shoe about to drop.
Whoever thinks this woman isn’t in the wrong obviously is living in the land of make believe waiting on a strong letter to be delivered by Mr. McFeely. You don’t have the slightest clue about this woman or what she has done to the people that were there to help her. You need to stop sitting behind your computer and being a keyboard lawyer and realize that this lady isn’t a good person.
In the 1990s she was fired from her coaching position at a university for abusive treatment of students and throwing chairs. Then she had a brief law career. Then she went into real estate development. That business has now crashed and burned. During the arrest she made no mention of paranormal stuff or mental illness. I think she’s simply not a nice person with a drinking problem.
Dd… how would a nut case like her have 1.5 million to buy that crappy house?
She was a real estate developer in Massachusetts previously.
Emphasis on “was”. That business has now crashed and burned.
Well this recent event surely will not help towards obtaining the entertainment license back after November’s expiration.
Something seems wrong in her life and subsequent mental health is questioned. Her life is snowballing in a bad way. Hopefully the police, family, friends, and the court have her evaluated at some point. Luckily no one was hurt in this recent skirmish.
Hope she gets the helpnshe needs
First I would believe the Burriville police like I would believe a fairy tale. They think like Burriville is the second home of the KKK. At best she was probably speeding everything after that is mandated lies.
On the tape released on WJAR, she seemed articulate, followed his finger after watching him. Did not slur her words whatsoever. The young officer could use a lesson on being a bit more firm in his directions and manner and verbiage.
Nor did she go off balance but stood firmly in place. Her eye sclera seemed white, with that flashlight on her. Blood shot would have shown less white. We would not be able to make out her eye color of green. I have to wonder if this was a tad overworked.
She refused the chemical test so she was either drunk or dumb, as it’s an automatic fine & license suspension for a refusal.
She willfully admitted to police to drinking 2 Manhattans. The full video inc her Miranda, is on KATV. She is lucid, articulate, not slurring her words, stepped forward on commands. But they said she was drunk enough to sway her Lexus, it was dark road, no street lights also.
Untrue.
She is active manager of many many real estate development and management companies according to the Mass. SOS website. Active businesses still.
Why is this woman not institutionalized? She is continuously violating restraining orders and cease and desist orders by harassing numerous individuals, including an entire family, and is now driving around town inebriated. Why is she still allowed to be amongst society and is not sitting in jail or being evaluated in a mental institution? Where is her husband or family members and why aren’t they trying to help this woman before she kills or severely injures someone or herself? It’s only a matter of time. This last time was simply a DUI, the next time maybe much much worse.
Who’s betting that she doesn’t show up for her court date! When law enforcement tried to do a welfare check on her she wouldn’t even answer the door. And she pled not guilty so this crazy nut case probably won’t show up for her court date because the ghosts told her not to.
Strong letter to follow!!