Terrifying Cases of Demonic Possession

Today, we present a compilation of the top 10 eerie cases of possession that have been largely disregarded by the Catholic Church. Sit back, relax, and perhaps switch on a light as we delve into this list.

Starting at number 15: we have the case of Clara Germanicily. Clara was a Christian girl from South Africa in 1906 who was believed to be possessed by a demon. Accounts suggest that she entered into a pact with Satan as a young orphan, which supposedly led to her demonic possession. Witnesses, including a nun, claimed that Clara exhibited extraordinary abilities such as speaking languages she had no prior knowledge of, displaying clairvoyance, and demonstrating superhuman strength. She was said to have levitated and reacted violently to blessed objects. During her exorcism, she attempted to harm the priest. It was reported that the exorcism successfully expelled the demon.

At number 14: we have the case of Ronald Doe, an anonymous boy who underwent a series of exorcisms performed by Catholic priests in the late 1940s in the United States. The family experienced strange occurrences, including unexplained noises, furniture moving, and objects levitating in the presence of the boy. During one exorcism, the boy allegedly attacked the priest, resulting in the ritual being temporarily halted. Witnesses claimed to have seen markings and heard disturbing words appear on the boy's body during the exorcism.

Number 13: introduces us to Barbie Haley, a young servant in Quebec during the 1660s. She was believed to be possessed by a demon, and priests and nuns performed rituals to expel the demons. Accusations of witchcraft were made against a man named Daniel Volley, who was imprisoned and executed. Barbie continued to exhibit symptoms of possession even after the accused witch's execution. Eventually, she underwent an exorcism conducted by a layperson using a rib bone believed to belong to a deceased individual named John DeBerry Booth. This case is recognized as Canada's first documented demon possession case.

Moving on to number 12: we encounter Father Gabriel Amorth, who conducted exorcisms in Rome in 1997. Father Gabriel dealt with a troubled man who exhibited aggressive behavior during the exorcism. The possessed man cursed, spat, and spoke in English instead of his native Italian. He claimed to be Lucifer when prompted to reveal his name. Father Gabriel relied on prayers and rituals to combat the demon, eventually succeeding in expelling it.

At number 11: we have David Glatzel, a young boy in 1981 who became a host for a demon. His family sought the assistance of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. David exhibited disturbing behaviors, including being physically attacked by invisible hands, speaking in otherworldly voices, and levitating. The Warrens claimed to witness supernatural phenomena, such as a rocking chair moving on its own and the presence of the devil.

Number 10: brings us to the case of Arnie Johnson, who became involved in possession after participating in an exorcism for David Glatzel. Following the exorcism, Arnie's personality underwent a drastic change. He would enter trance-like states, growl, hallucinate, and have no recollection afterward. Tragically, Arnie ended up taking another person's life. During the subsequent trial, his defense was based on demonic possession, leading to a conviction of manslaughter.

At number 9: we delve into the case of Michael Taylor, a butcher from England in 1974. Michael's relationship with a woman led to accusations of adultery, and he admitted to feeling an evil presence within him. Local clergymen conducted an exorcism, which lasted an entire night and involved multiple ministers. Although they believed they had expelled numerous Continuing with our list of the top 10 scary possession cases that the Catholic Church refuses to talk about, we move on to number 10. Clara Germanic was a South African Christian girl who, in 1906, was believed to be possessed by a demon. Clara, an orphan, allegedly made a pact with Satan at the age of 16, which was said to be the cause of her demonic possession. Witnesses claimed that Clara exhibited extraordinary abilities such as speaking languages she had no prior knowledge of, including Polish, German, French, and Norwegian. She also demonstrated clairvoyance by revealing intimate secrets and transgressions of people she had no contact with. Clara displayed unusual strength and ferocity, often hurling nuns and beating them up. There were even accounts of her levitating and reacting violently to blessed objects. During the exorcism, Clara's first action was to knock the Holy Bible from the priest's hands and attempt to choke him with his stole. Ultimately, the demon was forced out, and Clara was healed.

Moving on to number 8: we have the case of Ronald Doe in the late 1940s in the United States. Priests of the Roman Catholic Church performed a series of exorcisms on an anonymous boy, later known as Ronald Doe. The boy was believed to be a victim of demonic possession, experiencing strange noises, moving furniture, and levitating objects in his presence. During the exorcism, the boy exhibited unusual strength, breaking restraints and even slashing the priest's arm with a bed spring. Markings such as the word "evil" and references to Hell appeared on his body during the exorcism ritual. Despite the efforts to rid him of the demons, Ronald's possession persisted.

At number 7: we have the case of Barbie Haley, a young servant in Quebec during the 1660s who was believed to be possessed by a demon. Priests and nuns performed rituals to drive the demons away, and a man named Daniel Volle, accused of witchcraft, was imprisoned and executed. However, Barbie continued to experience symptoms of demonic possession even after his execution. Eventually, an exorcism, conducted by a layperson using a rib bone believed to belong to the deceased John DeBerry, brought an end to Barbie's ordeal. This case is notable as Canada's first documented demon possession case.

Number 6: takes us to Father Gabriel Amorth, who conducted exorcisms in Rome in 1997. Father Gabriel dealt with a troubled man who exhibited violent and disturbing behavior. During the exorcism, the man cursed, spit, and used English instead of his native Italian, claiming to be Lucifer. Father Gabriel engaged in a spiritual battle, using prayers and ritual recitations to command the demon to leave. Eventually, the demon departed from the man, demonstrating the power of prayer in exorcisms.

In 1981, a young boy named David Glatzel became the center of a possession case. After witnessing ominous occurrences and displaying strange behaviors, David's family sought help from Ed and Lorraine Warren, renowned paranormal investigators. Multiple exorcisms were performed on David, during which he levitated, ceased breathing, and exhibited precognitive abilities. Objects in the room, including a rocking chair, allegedly moved on their own. The Warrens even claimed to have seen the devil sitting in the chair.

Number 5: brings us to the case of Arnie Johnson. During one of David's exorcisms, Arnie called upon a demon to possess him. Subsequently, Arnie's personality drastically changed, and he would fall into trance-like states, growl, and hallucinate, with no memory of these episodes. Tragically, Arnie ended up killing his landlord, and during the During the subsequent trial, Arnie's defense team argued that he was not responsible for his actions due to demonic possession. This case became widely known as "The Devil Made Me Do It" case and was one of the first instances in the United States where a defendant sought to use demonic possession as a defense in a murder trial. While the court did not ultimately accept the possession defense, it remains a chilling and controversial case.

Number 4: takes us to Anneliese Michel, a German woman whose story inspired the film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." Anneliese began experiencing convulsions, hearing voices, and displaying aggressive behavior in the early 1970s. Her family, along with the help of priests, believed she was possessed and conducted numerous exorcisms over a span of several months. During these exorcisms, Anneliese displayed aversion to religious objects, spoke in different voices, and exhibited superhuman strength. Tragically, Anneliese's health deteriorated, and she passed away in 1976 due to malnutrition and dehydration. The subsequent trial found her parents and the priests involved guilty of negligent homicide.

Number 3: brings us to the case of Michael Taylor, a British man who underwent an exorcism in 1974. Michael, a devout Christian, was said to have been possessed by several demons. During the exorcism, he displayed extreme aggression, growling, and even biting chunks out of the throat of his wife. Despite the exorcism, the possession did not completely subside. The following night, Michael brutally murdered his wife, believing she was still possessed. He was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and was committed to a psychiatric hospital.

At number 2: we have the case of Julia, a Mexican woman who experienced a terrifying possession in 1974. Julia began exhibiting strange behavior, speaking in unknown languages, and manifesting strength beyond her normal capabilities. During the exorcism, she allegedly levitated, contorted her body in unnatural ways, and even produced objects such as pins from her mouth. The exorcism process lasted several weeks, and Julia eventually recovered from the possession.

Finally, at number 30: we come to the case of Anny, a young Belgian girl who was reportedly possessed in 1949. Anny exhibited supernatural abilities, including the ability to speak in foreign languages she had no knowledge of, such as ancient Greek, Latin, and Flemish. Witnesses claimed that she levitated, displayed telekinesis, and accurately revealed hidden information about people she had never met before. The case attracted significant attention, and a team of priests performed multiple exorcisms on Anny. Eventually, the possession ceased, and Anny returned to a normal life.

These are just a few of the chilling possession cases that have occurred throughout history. While the Catholic Church may choose not to discuss or publicize these cases, they continue to fascinate and terrify those who delve into the realm of the supernatural and the unexplained.