The Disturbing True Story of “The Exorcist”

When “The Exorcist” came out in 1973, it rattled the world. There were so many things happening in the movie that people hadn’t seen on screen before. A young girl cursing, spewing pea soup, urinating on the floor, and other horrific things were too much for people to handle. Commercials and trailers for the movie were filled with people running out of the movie theatre. They were vomiting, having seizures, and even dying. Yes, there are nine deaths tied to the movie…according to legend.

But did you know that “The Exorcist” was inspired by actual events? It’s true. Well, maybe. Sort of.

Inspired by Real Events

Before it was a movie, “The Exorcist” was a book that came out in 1971 written by William Peter Blatty. The inspiration came about over two decades prior. Blatty was a student at Georgetown University in 1949 when The Washington Post had published an article about an exorcism on a 14-year old boy. That newspaper clipping would inspire him to write his infamous book.

The boy was from the nearby town of Mount Ranier, Maryland. According to Blatty, the case simply gave him the idea and nothing more. After its publication, “The Exorcist” was on the New York Times Bestseller list for fifty-seven weeks. Seventeen of those weeks were at the number one spot. With success like that, it was a guarantee to become a movie.

The Life of Roland Doe

That 14-year old boy is known as Roland Doe. He was from a family with the last name of Hunkeler. He is also known as Robbie Manheim, as well as R. It is also noted that he was living in Cottage City, Maryland with his family. His former classmate, Dr. Alvin Kagey, described him as not athletic, quiet, unpopular, and very studious. Rumor has it that Roland’s mother and grandmother were overbearing, and his father was distant, if not completely absent. Roland’s family was unremarkable and typical with nothing to hide.

Roland’s aunt, Tilly, was a spiritualist and had an interest in the afterlife and what happens after we die. She had a particular interest in the Ouija board and taught Roland how to use one in 1948. From there, the trouble started.

Mysterious Occurrences

After Roland learned how to use a Ouija board from Aunt Tilly (also called Aunt Harriet), his family started noticing strange things happening in their home. They heard muffled voices talking, objects moved without anyone touching them. There were sounds of footsteps that sounded like groups of people were walking through the house.

Dr. Kagey, Roland’s classmate, said that one day at the house, the chair Roland was sitting in started to shake and then threw Roland across the room. Roland also started hearing scratching sounds coming from the floors and the walls of his room. Water also dripped from the pipes and walls.

The family was certain that the Ouija board used by Roland and Aunt Tilly unlocked something evil. After the family confronted Aunt Tilly, she mysteriously passed away.

Going Through Grief

It’s evident that Roland was close with his Aunt Tilly and took her death hard. After she passed, Roland became withdrawn and started acting erratically. He would randomly scream and shout without provocation. Not long after, welts, scratches, and bruises started showing up on his body.

Desperate for answers, Roland’s family took him to several doctors and psychiatrists in an effort to find out what was wrong. But no answers could be found. His family eventually consulted the Catholic Church, even though they were Protestants.

The First Exorcism Attempt

(L to R): Father William Bowdern, Father Edward Hughes, and Father Walter Halloran

Roland was examined by two priests; Father Bober and Father Hughes. During their examination, they noted that Roland would not take his eyes off their Bibles. According to the two priests, this was a sign of possession. When asked for his name, Roland responded, “Ego legionibus”, which means “I am legions” in Latin.

On Father Hughes’ recommendation, Roland was moved to a Jesuit hospital near Washington, DC. Roland’s outbursts only continued to get worse. They got worse to the point where Roland had to be restrained in his bed. Father Hughes’ then attempted an exorcism on Roland, which lasted for three nights. Roland managed to break through his restraints. He cut Father Hughes’ arm open from his wrist to the inside of his elbow with a mattress spring.

After his injury, Father Hughes was done. I can’t say I blame him. The priest was convinced that Roland now belonged to evil at this point.

Trying to Find Peace

Roland’s family took him back home, hoping that maybe they could find another way to treat him. However, nothing improved. Later, Roland’s mother was shocked to find the word, “Louis”, branded on his skin. They soon relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, hoping for a new start. But, it didn’t work. The family ran out of medical options once more. They also feared being social outcasts. Once, again, they turned to the Church.

There, Roland was examined by Father Bowdern and Father Bishop. They came to the conclusion that Roland was in a state of possession. They proceeded to try an exorcism. Father Bowdern wasn’t feeling confident with his abilities to drive out the demon. So, he enlisted the help of several priests like Father Halloran and Father Bishop. They mainly assisted with subduing Roland while Bowdern went through the rite of exorcism. According to one of the priests, Roland had the strength of a full-grown man. During the exorcism, Roland cursed, threatened the priest with violence, propositioned them for sexual favors, and spat at them.

This exorcism lasted for three weeks. Father Bowdern kept detailed journals about the incidents with Roland. These journal entries are in the 1991 book, “Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism” by Thomas B. Allen. Father Bishop also had a diary. But it was burned by Father Halloran, one of the other priests working on the case.

Channeling an Archangel

On Father Bowdern’s recommendation, Roland went back to the hospital. This time, the hospital was the Alexian Brother Hospital in South St. Louis. Sadly, his family didn’t know that Roland was mainly kept in solitary confinement. Who knows how much this affected Roland’s psyche.

Father Bowdern finally decided to try to baptize Roland, in hopes of strengthening his connection to the church. After much resisting, Roland was baptized. He even accepted a communion wafer. Then, Roland started acting as if he was the Archangel Michael. Roland was saying, “Satan, I am Michael and I command you to leave this boy now.” After that, Roland’s soul was freed. He lived the rest of his life in anonymity. According to the priests, he never remembered what happened to him.

Disappearing from History

As mentioned, Roland forgot about his experiences and lived the rest of his life out of the spotlight. According to a few sources, many of the priests involved with the case passed away from mysterious circumstances. Author Thomas B. Allen interviewed Father Halloran for the book, Possessed. He seems to be one of the more outspoken priests to tell his story of the events. He has also commented on the accuracy of the book and movie, “The Exorcist.”

Father Halloran confirmed that there were multiple weird events that happened during Roland’s exorcism. These events include objects moving by themselves and his bed trembling. He also confirmed that words formed on the boy’s skin, but he couldn’t make out any words specifically.

We will never truly know what happened to Roland, as there are so many different versions of the story. Of course, skeptics say that this was actually a case of mental illness, not demonic possession.

According to legend, Roland’s original hospital room at Alexian Brother Hospital was sealed up. The Hunkeler home is now a popular tourist spot in St. Louis, Missouri.

Inconsistencies to Note

I do want to take a moment to note that there were inconsistencies in the story as I was researching. Some newspaper articles had Roland’s age as 12, or even 13 years old. Other sources said he lived in Cottage City, Maryland. But, then there are sources that claim Mount Rainier, Maryland. The final exorcism took supposedly place in Maryland. Yet, it’s more evident that it likely happened in Missouri. Some rumors say that Roland didn’t use the Ouija board until his Aunt died, and he was trying to contact her. There are multiple variations to this story, and it’s up to you to determine whether or not you believe it.

Finally, cases of possession are exceptionally rare. In my experience, folks who are seeking an exorcism need mental help. Meaning, they need a doctor, not a priest. Thankfully, the Catholic Church has a rigorous process to get an exorcism that includes a full medical workup to rule out any and all explanations.

Sources

http://storytimewithamirul.blogspot.com/2014/04/who-are-those-people.html

https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/bel-nor-mo/points-of-interest/house-that-inspired-the-exorcist

https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/10/19/think-the-exorcist-was-just-a-horror-movie-author-william-peter-blatty-says-youre-wrong/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/dcmovies/blattytalk.htm#:~:text=The%20inspiration%20for%20the%20novel,old%20girl%20in%20his%20novel.

The Fascinating History of the Ouija Board

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been trying to make contact with the supernatural. Whether through natural gifts or making tools, the search for the unknown is never-ending. Ouija boards are probably one of the most objects in the world. It’s just a harmless game, right? For over a century, the Ouija board has been a victim of fear-mongering, skepticism, and misunderstanding.

In order to fully understand the Ouija board, one must understand its history and where it came from. In case you’re wondering, no, it didn’t manifest itself from hell, nor did it drop in from the spirit world.

The Spiritualism Movement

It seems to always come back to Spiritualism, doesn’t it?

The Spiritualist movement was at its peak in the United States in the 1840s. To put it simply, Spiritualism is the belief that we can communicate with our dearly departed loved ones through mediums. One could argue that many ghost hunters today are actually Spiritualists.

The movement especially grew in popularity during the Civil War. This was because people were desperate for closure with their loved ones’ unresolved deaths. They wanted to talk to mediums to find out what happened to their soldiers. This was peak time when seances and public demonstrations became popular. But people wanted more tools to communicate with the other side. Tools like planchettes, spirit writing, trances, seances, and table tipping became the norm in the typical family home.

The earliest recording of a talking board was in 1886 in the New York Daily News, citing Ohio as being the state of origin. This “craze” was replacing card games at parties. It was18 by 20 inches in size, and users had to keep the board on their lap. A little table was used to move around the alphabet, numbers, and the words “yes”, “no”, “good morning”, and “good evening” were written on the board.

Official Invention of the Board

After seeing the article in the New York Daily News, three men named Elijah Bond, Charles Kennard, and William H.A. Maupin were inspired to create their own board and sell it to the masses. The official patent for “Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board,” was granted in 1891. If you’re a lover of languages, you may notice something weird with the board’s title.

While some people think “Ouija” is some mystical word, it’s actually the French and German word for “yes” put together as one word. But Ouija expert Robert Murch thinks it’s more spiritual than that. According to legend, Kennard and his friends asked the board what it wanted to be called, and it spelled out O-U-I-J-A. When asked what it meant, it said, “Good luck.” Kennard also claimed that “Ouija” was the Egyptian word for “Good luck.”

From Kennard to Hasbro

The Kennard Novelty Company began producing Ouija boards and selling them for just $1.50. When Kennard left the company, it was renamed the Ouija Novelty Company. William A. Fuld took over production in 1901. The invention of the Ouija board has sparked ideas for other boards. When William Fuld took over the copyright ownership, he made sure that there were no duplicates. Fuld’s estate holds more Ouija patents and copyrights than anyone else in history—a grand total of 21 registrations in three countries—including the design for the modern planchette.

Fuld sued any and all copycats until his death in 1927. In 1966, Fuld’s family sold the Ouija estate to Parker Brothers. In 1991, Parker Brothers was bought out by Hasbro, and they now own all the patents and trademarks.

Ruined Reputation

The Ouija board has been the inspiration for quite a bit of fiction. The book and movie, “The Exorcist,” written by William Peter Blatty, is one of those fictional inspirations. The book is based on a true story of a 13-year old boy who was possessed by a demon and went through an exorcism in 1949.

Blatty was inspired to write the book after he saw the story in a newspaper clipping. Some may remember that the Ouija board was the catalyst for the possession of fictional 12-year old Regan. In the book and movie, Regan had been communicating with a spirit named Captain Howdy, but it was actually the demon Pazuzu. Blatty himself experimented with the Ouija board and thought he was talking to the spirit of his father. After he was done using the board, strange things happened in his home.

Even though the Ouija board wasn’t connected with demons before the movie, it was enough to associate it with demons and spread widespread panic. Everyone seemed to be afraid of it. It went from a fun party game to a demon-possessed board nearly overnight.

The Zozo Confusion

While Captain Howdy and Pazuzu were fictional in “The Exorcist,” people using the board today claim to communicate with a demon known as Zozo. This entity seems to haunt just the Ouija board and board users. Stories of Zozo first emerged in 2009 on message boards. It didn’t take long for people to realize that they were all talking to the same demon. Reported encounters with Zozo are nothing short of terrifying.

According to legend, Zozo causes chaos in people’s lives. They claim they can actually hear him cursing in different languages, like Latin and Hebrew. Darren Evans was one of the first people to report his experiences to the world and give Zozo a name. Zozo can apparently possess people and even take the lives of children.

Possession & Crimes

If we go with the idea that people can potentially be possessed by demons like Zozo or some other supernatural beings, what are the consequences of that? There are a lot of crimes associated with Ouija board use. One story goes back to 2008 when Blaine Milam and his girlfriend Jessica Carson started using the Ouija board. Carson, then pregnant at the time, started showing signs of psychosis and it was believed that she was possessed. However, the psychosis ended after she had her baby. Then it was thought that the baby, Amora, was possessed instead. The couple tried to perform a rather graphic exorcism that took the baby’s life. Milam was sentenced to death while Carson was sentenced to life in prison.

The Carroll family also faced consequences after using the board. The parents, Paul and Margaret, became paranoid after using the board. This next part is upsetting; Paul drowned the family dog, Molly, because he thought she was possessed. Then, Margaret and their daughter Katrina used the board again and it said their lives would end. The house then burst into flames after the women conducted a black magic session. They almost lost their lives.

How the Ouija Board Was Used in Court

Those who decide to take the risk and use the board themselves have discovered different ways to experiment with the board. A lot of people will discard the planchette and use something else. Some people will use a person’s personal possession as a pendulum and use that to point to the different letters. There are numerous types of divination or seeking advice and information from supernatural means. You would think that this would only stay with people who specialize in this area. When you’re desperate for some sort of information, perhaps the Ouija board isn’t the safest method if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In 1994, Stephen Young was charged with the murder of Harry and Nicola Fuller. But the jury couldn’t come to a decision. They were so stumped that they all deliberated together over drinks at their hotel. When they still couldn’t come to a conclusion, they decided to consult the Ouija board to try to talk to the Fullers themselves.

A small group of jurors made a board with a piece of paper and a wine glass. The spirit claimed to be Henry Fuller and the board spelled out things like “Stephen Young done it”, “Shot”, and “Vote guilty tomorrow.” When this information came to light, Young got a retrial, but he was still found guilty.

The Board Writes a Book

For over a century, people have claimed to have made contact with long lost celebrities using the Ouija board. Did you know that a Ouija board was used to write a book? It was the most fascinating lawsuit case of the century. In 1917, writer Emily Grant Hutchings and medium Lola Hayes claimed they wrote a book, dictated by Mark Twain. Keep in mind that Twain died in 1910. According to Hutchings, the ghost of Mark Twain dictated the book to her using the Ouija board. The book was titled, Jap Herron, and it got quite a lot of attention in its time.

When Twain’s family and publishers caught wind of this, they tried to take Hutchings to court. But the case never ended up going to trial. Copies of Jap Herron are rare since the manuscript has been destroyed. If you’re really curious, you can read it online for free.

Debunking the Board

It’s important to know that there are many instances where the Ouija board has been debunked. One of the most popular theories that explain the Ouija board is the ideomotor effect. This basically means that we unintentionally move our hands to the desired answer. This theory has also been used to explain divining rods and pendulums. If you really want to avoid having your experience debunked with this theory, I advise that you ask the questions, but don’t touch the board.

Have you ever tried using the Ouija board? How was your experience?

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-strange-and-mysterious-history-of-the-ouija-board-5860627/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/ouija-board-juror-misbehaviour-murder-trials/9734868

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/jap-herron-a-novel-written-from-the-ouija-board-1917