The Most Shocking Exorcism Cases in History That Shook the World
Exorcism, or the rite of casting out demons, has for centuries been and remains one of the most controversial religious practices. Despite modern skepticism and a scientific approach to explaining many phenomena, exorcism cases continue to occur to this day. In this article we examine some of the most shocking and well-known exorcism cases in history.
In This Article:
- Anna Eklund 1892: A 14-Year-Old Exorcism in Sweden
- Roland Doe (1949): The Cottage Exorcism That Inspired The Exorcist
- Anneliese Michel (1975): The Tragic Exorcism of a German Woman
- Michael Taylor (1974): The Exorcism of Michael Taylor
- Clara Jermana Cele (1906): Exorcism Case in South Africa
- Emma Schmidt (1928): The Emma Schmidt Case
- Georgia 2005: Death in a Romanian Exorcism
- Victoria Hwa 2007: A Fatal Exorcism in New Zealand
- Christina Anderson 1995 Sweden's Tragic Exorcism and Health Debates
- Sandy Davidson 2001: Exorcism Trial Sparks Law Reforms in Australia
- Conclusion
Anna Eklund 1892: A 14-Year-Old Exorcism in Sweden
One of the most famous exorcism cases in Sweden occurred with 14-year-old Anna Eklund in 1892. The girl suddenly began to display strange behavior: speaking in unknown languages, displaying extraordinary strength and blaspheming. Local pastor Josef Heintz conducted a series of exorcisms that lasted for several weeks. Witnesses claimed that during the rites Anna levitated, and strange objects flew from her mouth. After the exorcism was completed, the girl allegedly fully recovered and returned to normal life. The Anna Eklund case was documented in church archives and attracted great interest from paranormal researchers. According to Swedish historians, between 1850 and 1900 there were about 30 recorded exorcism cases in the country, but Anna Eklund's case is considered the most famous and thoroughly described.
Roland Doe (1949): The Cottage Exorcism That Inspired The Exorcist
Roland Doe, also known as "The Exorcism in the Cottage", became the basis for the famous novel and film "The Exorcist". In 1949, a 13-year-old boy from Maryland began to exhibit strange behavior after the death of his aunt, who was into spiritualism. The Doe family sought help from the Catholic Church, and several priests conducted a series of exorcisms. According to witnesses, during the rites the boy spoke in Latin and ancient Hebrew, languages he had never studied, and strange inscriptions appeared on his body. The exorcism of Roland Doe lasted more than two months and included more than 30 separate sessions. According to church documents, nine priests participated in the rite in total. After the exorcism, Roland supposedly fully recovered and went on to lead a normal life.
Anneliese Michel (1975): The Tragic Exorcism of a German Woman
Anneliese Michel's case is considered one of the most tragic in the history of modern exorcism. In 1975, 23-year-old German woman began showing signs of possession, including refusal to eat, self-harm, and aggressive behavior. Anneliese's parents, being deeply religious people, turned to the Catholic Church for help. Over the course of 10 months, two priests conducted exorcisms almost daily. During this time, about 67 sessions were held, each lasting several hours. Despite the exorcists' efforts, Anneliese's condition deteriorated. On July 1, 1976, Anneliese Michel died from starvation and dehydration. An autopsy showed that at the time of her death she weighed only 30 kilograms. The girl's parents and two priests were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to probation. The Anneliese Michel case sparked wide public resonance and led to discussions about the role of exorcism in modern society. According to German researchers, between 1970 and 1980 there were about 15 documented exorcism cases in Germany, but only Anneliese Michel's case ended in a fatal outcome.
Michael Taylor (1974): The Exorcism of Michael Taylor
In 1974, in the English town of Ossett, an incident known as the "Exorcism of Michael Taylor" occurred. Taylor, a 31-year-old family man, began to display aggressive behavior and claimed that he was possessed by demons. Local priests decided to perform an exorcism. The exorcism lasted more than 24 hours continuously. According to the priests, 40 demons were expelled from Taylor, but some remained in him. After the rite, Taylor returned home in a state of psychosis and brutally killed his wife and dog. This case drew public attention to the potential dangers of exorcism and sparked discussion about the need for psychiatric help in such situations. According to British police data, in the 1970s there were about 10 cases of violent crimes in the UK linked to exorcism practice.
Clara Jermana Cele (1906): Exorcism Case in South Africa
In 1906, a case of exorcism in South Africa attracted attention from both religious and scientific circles. Sixteen-year-old Clara Jermana Cele, a student at a missionary school, began to display strange behavior: speaking in unknown languages, levitating, and exhibiting extraordinary strength. Pastor Erasmus Horner conducted a series of exorcisms that lasted two months. According to eyewitnesses, during the rites Clara could rise into the air to a height of up to one and a half meters and remained in that position for up to 30 minutes. The Clara Jermana Cele case was documented in church archives and drew interest from paranormal researchers. According to South African historians, between 1900 and 1910 there were about 20 documented exorcism cases among missionary school students.
Emma Schmidt (1928): The Emma Schmidt Case
In 1928, in Germany, a case of exorcism known as the "Emma Schmidt Case" occurred. Fourteen-year-old girl began showing signs of possession, including the ability to speak ancient languages and demonstrate supernatural power. Catholic priest Josef Kramer conducted a series of exorcisms that lasted three months. During the rites Emma allegedly levitated and demonstrated knowledge of facts she couldn't know by ordinary means. The Emma Schmidt case drew press attention and sparked discussions about the church's role in treating mental disorders. According to German archives, between 1920 and 1930 there were about 25 exorcism cases that drew public attention.
Georgia 2005: Death in a Romanian Exorcism
In 2005, in Romania, a tragic exorcism case shocked world public. 23-year-old nun Irina Kornichi, known by the name Georgia, was subjected to an exorcism rite at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Vaslui County. The exorcism was conducted by a group of nuns under the leadership of priest Daniel Corodzanu. Georgia was tied to a cross, gagged with a cloth, and left without food and water for three days. As a result, the girl died from dehydration and suffocation. This case caused wide resonance in Romania and beyond. The priest and four nuns were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. According to the Romanian Orthodox Church, this was the first death during an exorcism in the country in the last 50 years.
Victoria Hwa 2007: A Fatal Exorcism in New Zealand
In 2007, in New Zealand, a shocking exorcism case led to the death of 22-year-old Victoria Hwa. The girl suffered from a mental disorder, but her family, being deeply religious, decided that she was possessed by a demon. A group of relatives and members of the local church conducted the exorcism, which lasted several days. Victoria was deprived of food and water; she was beaten and suffocated in an attempt to "drive out the demons". As a result, the girl died from injuries and dehydration. Nine people, including Victoria's mother, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. This case sparked debates about the need to regulate religious practices and protect vulnerable members of society. According to New Zealand police, this was the first registered death from exorcism in the country.
Christina Anderson 1995 Sweden's Tragic Exorcism and Health Debates
In 1995, in Sweden, a case of exorcism drew public attention to the issue of mental health and religious practices. 29-year-old Christina Anderson, suffering from depression, sought help from a local Pentecostal church. The church's pastor and a group of parishioners conducted a series of "prayer healing" sessions, which essentially were exorcisms. During one such session Christina fell into a coma and died in hospital a few days later from brain edema. This case sparked broad debate in Swedish society about the boundaries between religious freedom and responsibility for members' health. According to Swedish researchers, between 1990 and 2000 there were about 50 documented exorcism cases in various religious communities in the country.
Sandy Davidson 2001: Exorcism Trial Sparks Law Reforms in Australia
In 2001, in Australia, a case of exorcism led to court proceedings and changes in the law. 28-year-old Sandy Davidson, suffering from bipolar disorder, underwent an exorcism in a Pentecostal church in Sydney. During the rite, which lasted several hours, Sandy was restrained, beaten and choked in an attempt to "drive out the demons". As a result, the woman sustained serious injuries and psychological trauma. Although Sandy survived, the case led to court action against the church and changes in New South Wales legislation aimed at protecting vulnerable people from potentially dangerous religious practices. According to Australian researchers, between 2000 and 2010 there were about 30 documented exorcism cases in the country, prompting authorities' concerns.
Conclusion
These shocking exorcism cases demonstrate the thin line between religious faith and potential danger to people's health and life. They highlight the need for a critical approach to such practices and the importance of professional medical and psychological help in cases that may be mistaken for possession. In the modern world, balancing respect for religious beliefs with protecting vulnerable members of society remains a complex and timely issue.
