Buzz
Exorcism stories have consistently intrigued and terrified the public. While typically linked to the Catholic Church, such tales have been present since ancient Mesopotamia. With iconic films like The Exorcist and numerous horror novels revolving around the theme, it’s evident that these tales of demonic encounters continue to captivate the collective imagination.
The fear of demons and possession is a widespread concern, especially among religious communities. Today, most experts consider "demonic possessions" to be diagnosable mental health conditions. After all, we're no longer in the Dark Ages. While exorcisms are rare today, they were once far more frequent and often violent, dangerous, and eerily unsettling.
10. Clara Germana Cele
In 1906, 16-year-old Clara Germana Cele, a Christian schoolgirl in South Africa, was reportedly possessed by a demon. It’s said that she made a pact with Satan, and shortly afterward, began to show signs of possession. She began speaking languages such as Polish and French, which she had never previously studied or understood.
Even more alarming was that she would occasionally levitate, both vertically and horizontally, rising 1.5 meters (5 feet) into the air. At one point, she tried to strangle the priest conducting the exorcism, but despite the intensity of the attack, the priest managed to subdue her and bring her symptoms to an end.
9. Michael Taylor
Our next story begins in 1974. Michael Taylor, a previously ordinary family man, lived in England with his wife and five children. On the surface, they seemed like a typical happy 1970s nuclear family. That all changed when Michael became involved with a mysterious group known as the 'Christian Fellowship Group,' led by a charismatic 21-year-old named Marie Robinson. Marie and Michael quickly became inseparable, even leading church services where they would speak in tongues and perform exorcisms on the congregation. His wife, Christine, suspected an affair due to his long absences.
This led to a grueling 24-hour exorcism, after which the priests, exhausted and shaken, claimed to have rid Michael of all the demons—except those of 'insanity, anger, and murder.' Less than two hours later, possibly influenced by these remaining demons—or possibly not—Michael brutally murdered his wife and their dog. Christine's eyes and tongue were torn out. Michael was found naked, covered in blood, wandering the streets. He was eventually admitted to Broadmoor Hospital and has since spent time in and out of psychiatric wards and the court system.
8. Emma Schmidt / Anna Ecklund
In the early 1910s, Emma Schmidt, also known as Anna Ecklund, was believed to have been possessed by demons. She underwent an exorcism performed by Father Riesinger, who would later become a renowned exorcist. While her first possession was swiftly resolved, the second exorcism in 1928, again conducted by Father Riesinger, was far more intense. The ordeal stretched across 23 days, with sessions in August, September, and December. During this time, Emma kept her eyes closed throughout, and she was inexplicably vomiting what appeared to be macaroni and tea leaves, despite not having eaten.
The exorcist asked the demons inside Schmidt how many they were. They replied that there were many, led by Beelzebub, and that she had been cursed by her father. Emma violently levitated toward the ceiling, clinging there, speaking in tongues, and vomiting the strange macaroni-tea mixture. The nuns who witnessed this were horrified, but they managed to restrain her once more. After 23 days, when Father Riesinger had been performing the exorcism for three days straight, Emma suddenly began shouting praises to Jesus and God, and was finally liberated. This is considered the first and last exorcism officially authorized by the Catholic Church.
7. ‘Julia’
To make things even creepier, this case occurred in 2008 and was documented by Dr. Richard E. Gallagher of the New York Medical College. The patient, who remains anonymous for her safety, was referred to as 'Julia.' Julia had been involved in Satanic groups for years before coming to Dr. Gallagher, requesting an exorcism and claiming to be possessed by demons. During her dissociative states, her voice would drastically change to a deep, distant, and masculine tone. She would hurl insults, issue threats, and express disgust at religious and sacred objects. Objects would move on their own, and she spoke in tongues completely unfamiliar to her.
Initially, Dr. Gallagher was skeptical about Julia's claim of true demonic possession. However, her unsettling knowledge of the psychiatric team members' personal details—such as family history, death records, and illnesses—led him to reconsider. Like many demonic possession cases, she also levitated and verbally assaulted the nuns, nurses, and medical staff attending to her.
6. Arne Cheyenne Johnson
This remarkable case from the early 1980s is often referred to as the 'Demon Murder Case' or the 'Devil Made Me Do It Case.' The event took place in Brookfield, Connecticut, where Arne Cheyenne Johnson, allegedly under the influence of demonic possession, murdered his landlord, Alan Bono, on November 24, 1981. At the time, Johnson was only 19 years old when he repeatedly stabbed Bono in the chest.
In the months leading up to the murder, Johnson had participated in an exorcism for his younger brother-in-law and reportedly provoked a demon, daring it to possess him instead of the 11-year-old boy. During the trial, Johnson's defense lawyer, Martin Minella, attempted to use demonic possession as a defense for the first-degree murder charge. Minella sought to bring in exorcism specialists from Europe and subpoena the priests involved in the original exorcism. However, after 15 hours of deliberation, this defense was rejected, and Arne Cheyenne Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder.
5. Ronald Hunkeler
Ronald Hunkeler, more commonly known as 'Roland Doe,' is one of the most infamous cases of exorcism in history. This exorcism shocked the peaceful community of Cottage City, Maryland, and became the inspiration for the 1973 movie *The Exorcist*. The events took place at 3807 40th Avenue, Cottage City, Prince Georges County, Maryland.
The first signs of demonic activity were noticed after the death of Aunt Tillie, a close family member. Religious icons, including images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, mysteriously flew off the walls. Strange knocking and banging noises were heard from within the walls. These events intensified, focusing particularly on Ronald’s room. The initial exorcism took place from February 28 to March 3, 1949, during which strange scratches spelling 'Hell' and 'Christ' appeared on his body, and objects appeared to move by themselves.
The key exorcism occurred on March 16, 1949, led by Father Bowdern. Eventually, the family converted to Catholicism. On April 18, 1949, Ronald experienced violent spasms, collapsed to the ground, and quietly said, 'He is gone.'
4. Salvador Dali
Did you know that the legendary artist Salvador Dali underwent an exorcism in 1947? As a gesture of gratitude, he gifted Friar Gabriele Maria Berardi one of his original artworks.
This exorcism reportedly occurred during a period when Dali was experiencing frequent episodes and had distanced himself from the Surrealist movement due to ideological disagreements. This could have been a manifestation of the demonic possession he was supposedly enduring.
3. Elizabeth Knapp
In the colonial era, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, an indentured servant named Elizabeth Knapp was allegedly possessed by demons. Tempted by promises of wealth and an easier life, this 16-year-old girl was lured to the dark side of Christianity.
She began experiencing violent convulsions and verbally attacking the reverend, who tried to heal her, as well as her father and the rest of her congregation. Her body contorted grotesquely, and she would utter blasphemous words with her mouth wide open and unmoving. Her tongue stretched unnaturally, and terrifying screams filled the room. Ultimately, she was successfully exorcised, though the trauma and memories from the ordeal remained with her for life.
2. George Lukins
In 1788, in England, a 44-year-old man named George Lukins became possessed and was eventually exorcised by British clergy. Lukins had been living a peaceful, ordinary life until he was overtaken by seven demons. These demons' presence was so powerful that it required seven clergymen to perform the exorcism. The possession began back in 1770, when Lukins was attempting to celebrate Christmas in a pious manner. Instead, he began to sing in demonic voices, reciting backward Latin, and frightening those around him.
By 1788, Lukins had confessed to being inhabited by seven different demons. Seven clergymen and other religious figures were called to a church on Friday the 13th to perform the exorcism. They prayed, sang hymns, and ministered to Lukins as he shouted back in tongues, proclaiming that he wanted to demonstrate his demonic powers to humanity. Ultimately, the demons declared that they would return to Hell and never trouble Lukins again.
1. Gottliebin Dittus
In 1843, Pastor Johann Christoph Blumhart successfully freed a young woman named Gottliebin Dittus from the grips of demonic possession. Dittus, a member of his congregation, exhibited all the classic symptoms of possession, including levitation and spitting vile words at Christ, the Church, and even Blumhart himself. Dark, terrifying apparitions surrounded her, screaming about fallen angels and demons from Hell. When Dittus was lucid, she would beg Jesus for deliverance, hoping to witness the divine power of Heaven to liberate her from the torment she endured.
For the following year, her convulsions occurred intermittently, accompanied by regular exorcism sessions where the congregation, led by Pastor Blumhart, prayed over her. After one particularly intense exorcism, she was finally freed and never again tormented by demonic possession, convulsions, or dark apparitions.
