Photos flying from the wall and mysterious noises in the night: The chilling moment haunted dad of murdered Elly Warren says her ghostly spirit contacted him – after she was raped and killed in Africa a decade ago
Paul Warren, father of Elly Warren, says he experienced what he believes was contact from her spirit years after she was raped and murdered in Mozambique in 2016. He described hearing keys jingling in his front door before two photographs of Elly flew from a table and landed in the middle of the room, an event he says gave him comfort while continuing his unsuccessful search for justice.
Elly, 20, was found dead near a toilet block at Tofo Beach on 9 November 2016, shortly before she was due to return to Australia from a scuba-diving trip. Her murder remains unsolved, and Warren alleges that authorities in Mozambique and Australia mishandled or covered up aspects of the investigation. Although he had previously dismissed claims about the afterlife, he now interprets the incident—particularly its timing and the broken glass—as a message from his daughter; the account features in his podcast interview and book about the case.
- Elly Warren’s 2016 murder in Mozambique remains unsolved.
- Her father believes photographs moving marked spiritual contact.
- He continues campaigning for justice a decade later.
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Elly Warren was a British woman who was raped and murdered in Mozambique around a decade ago. Her father, Paul Warren, has spoken publicly about the lasting impact of her death on his family.
He says he has experienced unexplained events at home, including photographs falling from a wall and noises at night. Warren believes these may have been attempts by Elly’s spirit to contact him, though such experiences are personal beliefs and have not been independently verified.
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The case for
Those open to paranormal explanations may argue that bereavement can involve experiences that feel vivid, coherent and deeply personal, and that they should not be dismissed simply because they cannot be independently reproduced. From this perspective, Warren’s interpretation offers a continuing bond with his daughter and may reflect a sincere attempt to make sense of an appalling loss with dignity and love.
The case against
Sceptics may argue that extraordinary claims require reliable, independently verifiable evidence, especially where ordinary explanations such as accidental movement, environmental noises, memory and grief remain possible. They may stress that respecting Warren’s suffering does not require accepting a supernatural conclusion, and that public reporting should clearly distinguish a bereaved parent’s belief from established fact.