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NARRATOR: We've all seen
or heard about the movie,
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Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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who lives and reigns
with the Father
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and the Holy Spirit!
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[ Grunts ]
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But now a mysterious diary
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reveals the true story
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behind The Exorcist.
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I'm hearing it firsthand
from people who saw it,
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who saw a bed levitate.
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Finally, rare,
unfiltered access into the real
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and most frightening exorcism
in America.
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The demon said to me,
"You can't get rid of us.
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You're not strong enough."
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And for the first time,
an eyewitness appears on camera
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to expose a shocking secret.
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According to the church,
somebody gave their life
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for the child.
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NARRATOR: What really happened
to the haunted boy in St. Louis
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and the devil
that possessed him?
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♪♪
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♪♪
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December 26, 1973.
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The day after Christmas.
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Audiences wait in long lines
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for the much anticipated movie
"The Exorcist,"
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but no one
in their darkest nightmares
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can imagine
what they are about to see.
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I passed out in about
the first half-hour. Yeah.
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I don't know what
they should do with that movie,
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but I don't want
to see the rest of it.
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I fainted like 10 minutes after
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the first beginning
of the movie.
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NARRATOR: "The Exorcist" follows
the story of a 12-year-old girl
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possessed by the devil
and the ghoulish horror
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facing the priests attempting
to save her.
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It's the power of Christ
that compels you.
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The power of Christ compels you!
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Let the power of Christ
compel you!
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The power of Christ compels you!
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NARRATOR: The movie strikes at
one of our deepest anxieties,
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the fear of the devil.
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When she started talking like
devil coming out of her, bleh,
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my legs are just going, nrrrrr!
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And I want to go in the lobby
and not watch it
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and I had to cover my ears.
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I can't even describe it.
It's so horrible.
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It just...
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I just scared me to death.
Things just like this,
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it just really
scared me to death.
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I'm just nervous.
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Man: Are you going to go back in
and see more of the movie now?
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Probably, yeah.
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I would say that everything
in the movie can actually happen
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because the devil will play on a
person's memory and imagination.
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♪♪
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So head spinning,
pea soup flying,
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people crawling up the wall
like a spider,
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levitation, whatever it is,
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all of these things
are possible.
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♪♪
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NARRATOR:
After the release of the film,
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the Catholic Church notices
a spike in attendance.
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People come to profess their
sins and seek salvation
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through the ancient ritual
of exorcism.
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Aaaaaaah!
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BELANGER:
After the movie comes out,
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the church sees this big uptick
in people
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thinking they need an exorcism.
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And priests are just getting
inundated with requests
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for investigations
of demonic possession.
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I command you, Satan, enemy
of human salvation
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acknowledge the justice
and goodness of God the father.
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I was able to learn firsthand
the church's ministry
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to those who were up
against the forces of evil
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and that were turning
to the church for help,
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saw many different
manifestations,
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everything from eyes rolled
in the back of the head,
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foaming at the mouth,
convulsing on the ground.
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One occasion I even witnessed
a levitation.
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FRIEDKIN:
Exorcism is a powerful ritual.
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This is the belief of the church
that the devil will,
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in speaking through the body
of the possessed,
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will attempt to tear
down the priest,
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to destroy him physically
and emotionally.
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♪♪
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NARRATOR: "The Exorcist" may be
the scariest movie of all time,
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and what makes it
even more frightening...
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The story is true.
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♪♪
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Writer William Peter Blatty
loosely bases his book
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and screenplay not about a girl,
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but the real life horror of
a 13-year-old boy from Maryland.
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He's often known as Roland Doe
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to protect his identity.
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William Peter Blatty
who writes "The Exorcist" book,
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which is published in 1971,
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was a student
at Georgetown University.
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At the time,
he was an English major
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and at least one of the Jesuits
whom he knew
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at Georgetown was aware of this
and told him about it.
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William Peter Blatty, he had
a lot of privy to documents
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that some of us may not have
had privy to that had to do
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with possession
and exorcism and so on.
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And he had kept newspaper
clippings
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from Washington, D.C.,
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about this boy just outside
of Georgetown
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who had had these things
happening to him.
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♪♪
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NARRATOR: But the book and movie
only tell half the story.
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Now the shocking discovery
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of a secret diary
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reveals chilling new details
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of the real exorcism case
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that happened over 70 years ago.
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♪♪
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January, 1949.
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Roland Doe, an only child,
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lives with his parents
in Cottage City, Maryland,
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a modest suburb outside
of Washington, D.C.
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A lot of the people
that he went to school with,
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a lot of his former friends,
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people he knew growing up
always described him
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as being sort of hyper,
sort of troublesome.
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It wasn't that
he was a bad student.
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He just had a lot of trouble
focusing.
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♪♪
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Roland forges a close bond
with his Aunt Tillie,
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who lives in St. Louis.
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Tillie dabbles in spiritualism,
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a belief in communicating
with the dead.
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She teaches Roland
how to speak to spirits
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through a popular board game.
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Aunt Tillie no doubt
spoke to him
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about some of her
spiritual beliefs.
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They used this spirit board
or talking board.
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The talking board is a by-product
of the spiritualist movement.
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It's got the alphabet
printed on it.
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And on that talking board
is a little table
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called a planchette.
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And one, two, three,
or more people can put fingers
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on that planchette, and it moves
and spells out messages.
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♪♪
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NARRATOR: But Roland and his
aunt have no idea
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they're opening a door
to the dark side.
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The aunt showed him
how to use the talking board.
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And there's a lot of people that
believe that was the invitation
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for the demon to step in.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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NARRATOR: It all began in
Roland's home
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on January 15, 1949.
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Roland's mother hears
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what sounds like scratching
noises inside the walls.
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♪♪
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When Roland's mother first
started talking about
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the strange scratchings
to his father,
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he actually had someone come
in thinking that they had rats.
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An exterminator came in
to check the house,
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couldn't find any signs
of anything.
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So they're thinking
it's Roland acting up.
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He's doing things,
you know, to get attention.
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But as time went on,
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Roland's mother began to believe
the house was haunted.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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NARRATOR: 11 days after the
first scratching sounds occur,
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Roland receives devastating
news.
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His Aunt Tillie has died.
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♪♪
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Soon after her death,
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Roland and his mother
hear different noises,
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this time in his bedroom.
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♪♪
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Once Aunt Tillie passes away,
then everything
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starts to really ramp up.
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They hear what sounds
like troops marching
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towards Roland's bed.
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Everybody's frightened.
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There's knocks and bangs
on the wall.
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And Roland's mother screams out,
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"Tillie, if that's you,
knock three times."
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And they claim
they heard three knocks.
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And so at this point, they start
making the connection,
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that it must be Aunt Tillie
paying some visitation,
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something like that.
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If the alarming sounds
truly come from the spirit
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of Aunt Tillie,
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why would she be tormenting
her beloved nephew, Roland?
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Is it possible the boy
might be attracting someone
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or something else?
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TAYLOR: As things started
to happen in the house,
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according to his mother,
they were seeing,
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you know, dishes move around,
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things fly across the room,
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chairs that that would
spin around,
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slide across the floor
almost every night
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when Roland would go to bed.
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At first, everything
would be peaceful,
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00:10:00,701 --> 00:10:02,812
but then the bed
would start to shake.
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♪♪
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00:10:05,906 --> 00:10:08,518
But then it got worse, till
the mattress was bouncing
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00:10:08,542 --> 00:10:11,888
up and down, the headboard
was banging against the wall.
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00:10:11,912 --> 00:10:15,191
And all of these things
were done with this skinny
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00:10:15,215 --> 00:10:19,562
13-year-old kid huddled
in the middle of this bed.
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00:10:19,586 --> 00:10:22,298
NARRATOR: Beyond the scary
noises and shaking bed,
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00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:25,134
Roland awakens
in the middle of the night,
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00:10:25,158 --> 00:10:29,839
thrashing and screaming in a
voice that doesn't sound human.
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00:10:29,863 --> 00:10:33,076
And the boy would speak in
a very guttural kind of voice
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00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:35,411
that didn't quite seem
like the voice of a boy.
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00:10:35,435 --> 00:10:37,480
Maybe this was
an alternative personality.
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00:10:37,504 --> 00:10:39,582
Maybe this could
even be a demon.
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00:10:39,606 --> 00:10:41,618
[ Guttural voice muttering ]
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00:10:41,642 --> 00:10:44,921
♪♪
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00:10:44,945 --> 00:10:47,624
TAYLOR: People who had gone to
school with him years later
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00:10:47,648 --> 00:10:50,526
talked about how they were
starting to hear
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00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:52,495
in the neighborhood,
about the things that were
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00:10:52,519 --> 00:10:53,963
going on at night.
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00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:56,232
They were hearing the yelling
and the screaming
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00:10:56,256 --> 00:10:58,434
and the banging
that was going on in the house.
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00:10:58,458 --> 00:11:00,870
♪♪
222
00:11:00,894 --> 00:11:03,773
And their parents
would talk about it.
223
00:11:03,797 --> 00:11:07,243
They just thought there was
something wrong with this kid.
224
00:11:07,267 --> 00:11:09,512
NARRATOR: As rumors rippled
through the neighborhood,
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00:11:09,536 --> 00:11:12,315
Roland's classmates
witnessed bizarre phenomena
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00:11:12,339 --> 00:11:15,018
happening around him at school.
227
00:11:15,042 --> 00:11:18,755
While he was in class, sometimes
his book would fly off the desk,
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00:11:18,779 --> 00:11:20,390
papers would fly
across the room.
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00:11:20,414 --> 00:11:21,724
There were a couple of instances
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00:11:21,748 --> 00:11:24,160
where his desk
was actually moving,
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00:11:24,184 --> 00:11:26,929
almost kind of vibrating
across the floor.
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00:11:26,953 --> 00:11:29,365
Well, the teachers accused him
of doing it, of course,
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00:11:29,389 --> 00:11:32,635
because, you know, this was
a kid who was kind of
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00:11:32,659 --> 00:11:36,139
high strung and pranks were not
out of the ordinary for him.
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00:11:36,163 --> 00:11:38,474
So they just assumed
he was acting up,
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00:11:38,498 --> 00:11:41,778
but he swore that he wasn't.
237
00:11:41,802 --> 00:11:45,581
Can you imagine you're having
these horrible things
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00:11:45,605 --> 00:11:48,251
happening to you,
and you go to school,
239
00:11:48,275 --> 00:11:51,054
and your peers see this,
and everybody thinks
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00:11:51,078 --> 00:11:53,956
you're just trying to get
attention.
241
00:11:53,980 --> 00:11:56,793
What a horrible thing
to go through.
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00:11:56,817 --> 00:11:59,362
NARRATOR: As his troubling
behavior escalates,
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00:11:59,386 --> 00:12:02,065
Roland stops going to school.
244
00:12:02,089 --> 00:12:04,333
Could the boy be losing
his mind,
245
00:12:04,357 --> 00:12:07,670
or has he conjured
an evil spirit
246
00:12:07,694 --> 00:12:10,440
from the depths of hell?
247
00:12:10,464 --> 00:12:12,764
♪♪
248
00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:18,915
♪♪
249
00:12:18,939 --> 00:12:23,186
♪♪
250
00:12:23,210 --> 00:12:25,988
NARRATOR: The quaint Maryland
suburb of Cottage City
251
00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:30,393
was once home to 13-year-old
Roland Doe,
252
00:12:30,417 --> 00:12:34,330
a seemingly ordinary adolescent.
253
00:12:34,354 --> 00:12:36,999
But back in February 1949,
254
00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:41,604
Roland's world
is suddenly torn apart.
255
00:12:41,628 --> 00:12:45,208
Every evening,
he bursts into frenzied fits
256
00:12:45,232 --> 00:12:47,744
and when throttled awake
by a rattling bed
257
00:12:47,768 --> 00:12:50,747
and recurring nightmares
of evil spirits.
258
00:12:50,771 --> 00:12:55,284
♪♪
259
00:12:55,308 --> 00:12:58,321
TAYLOR: I think that's when
things started to really get strange,
260
00:12:58,345 --> 00:13:01,791
because it just
seemed impossible
261
00:13:01,815 --> 00:13:03,860
that he was doing these things.
262
00:13:03,884 --> 00:13:08,698
♪♪
263
00:13:08,722 --> 00:13:11,601
He was waking up,
going through these fits,
264
00:13:11,625 --> 00:13:15,338
these contortions
and screams and cries.
265
00:13:15,362 --> 00:13:17,039
♪♪
266
00:13:17,063 --> 00:13:19,008
NARRATOR:
Worried about his health,
267
00:13:19,032 --> 00:13:22,178
Roland's parents
take him to a doctor.
268
00:13:22,202 --> 00:13:24,447
Could their son's
nightly tantrums be the result
269
00:13:24,471 --> 00:13:28,618
of physical illness,
perhaps epilepsy?
270
00:13:28,642 --> 00:13:32,822
Possession could also be signs
that people exhibit
271
00:13:32,846 --> 00:13:34,791
if they have a physical issue,
272
00:13:34,815 --> 00:13:37,927
whether somebody is suffering
from seizures,
273
00:13:37,951 --> 00:13:41,531
Tourette syndrome.
274
00:13:41,555 --> 00:13:44,400
The church wants
to be very cautious
275
00:13:44,424 --> 00:13:46,702
because if I'm too quick
to label somebody
276
00:13:46,726 --> 00:13:50,173
as being possessed, and that
label prevents the person
277
00:13:50,197 --> 00:13:53,676
from getting the true help
that they need,
278
00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:57,880
then I believe
I've done more harm than good.
279
00:13:57,904 --> 00:14:00,082
NARRATOR: The medical doctor
can't find anything
280
00:14:00,106 --> 00:14:02,952
physically wrong with Roland.
281
00:14:02,976 --> 00:14:05,254
So his parents take him
to a psychiatrist.
282
00:14:05,278 --> 00:14:08,057
Perhaps their son
has a mental illness
283
00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:11,494
such as manic depression
or schizophrenia.
284
00:14:11,518 --> 00:14:15,731
This was 1949. So psychiatry
was not real developed,
285
00:14:15,755 --> 00:14:18,501
but nevertheless,
they could find nothing wrong
286
00:14:18,525 --> 00:14:20,937
with Roland at that time.
287
00:14:20,961 --> 00:14:23,573
So they also went
to see a psychologist,
288
00:14:23,597 --> 00:14:28,377
and he couldn't find out
anything wrong with him either.
289
00:14:28,401 --> 00:14:31,914
GOMEZ: I think a lot of
therapists and psychologists
290
00:14:31,938 --> 00:14:35,484
and psychiatrists,
they really are very hesitant
291
00:14:35,508 --> 00:14:39,655
to endorse demonic possession
as a diagnosis.
292
00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:42,225
[ Screaming ]
293
00:14:42,249 --> 00:14:46,929
If someone had childhood trauma
or even current trauma,
294
00:14:46,953 --> 00:14:51,667
that could also mimic signs and
symptoms of demonic possession.
295
00:14:51,691 --> 00:14:53,769
♪♪
296
00:14:53,793 --> 00:14:57,940
NARRATOR: In Roland's case,
no known medical records exist
297
00:14:57,964 --> 00:15:01,611
except for a psychiatrist
describing the boy as normal,
298
00:15:01,635 --> 00:15:05,147
but high strung.
299
00:15:05,171 --> 00:15:08,584
I don't think there is
an available
300
00:15:08,608 --> 00:15:14,090
psychological diagnosis that can
account for all of the things
301
00:15:14,114 --> 00:15:16,659
that have been reported
with this kid.
302
00:15:16,683 --> 00:15:20,062
♪♪
303
00:15:20,086 --> 00:15:22,832
Does that make me leaping
to the conclusion,
304
00:15:22,856 --> 00:15:26,936
"I'm 100 percent sure this is
a bona fide case of possession"?
305
00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,372
I don't know.
306
00:15:29,396 --> 00:15:33,509
But do we open the door
for the possibility
307
00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:35,511
is something maybe going on
308
00:15:35,535 --> 00:15:38,614
that's beyond
the scope of science?
309
00:15:38,638 --> 00:15:44,320
♪♪
310
00:15:44,344 --> 00:15:45,955
NARRATOR:
After consulting doctors,
311
00:15:45,979 --> 00:15:48,357
Roland's parents
turned to their minister,
312
00:15:48,381 --> 00:15:50,459
Reverend Luther Miles Schulze,
313
00:15:50,483 --> 00:15:54,864
the pastor at St. Stephen's
Evangelical Lutheran Church.
314
00:15:54,888 --> 00:15:58,067
COOPER: Reverend Schulze
happened to be very interested
315
00:15:58,091 --> 00:16:00,536
in what is called
parapsychology.
316
00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,506
That's when these abnormal
things are happening
317
00:16:03,530 --> 00:16:08,878
around a person, and by some
mechanism we don't understand,
318
00:16:08,902 --> 00:16:12,782
internal turmoil
is expressed externally.
319
00:16:12,806 --> 00:16:16,218
♪♪
320
00:16:16,242 --> 00:16:19,121
NARRATOR: Reverend Schulze
wonders if mischievous ghosts
321
00:16:19,145 --> 00:16:23,225
known as poltergeists could be
wreaking havoc in Roland's home.
322
00:16:23,249 --> 00:16:26,162
♪♪
323
00:16:26,186 --> 00:16:30,700
A poltergeist is energy
that causes things to happen,
324
00:16:30,724 --> 00:16:33,703
objects moving around,
lights turning on and off,
325
00:16:33,727 --> 00:16:36,305
doors opening and closing.
326
00:16:36,329 --> 00:16:38,441
The beginning of Roland's case,
327
00:16:38,465 --> 00:16:40,910
that's the things that were
starting to happen.
328
00:16:40,934 --> 00:16:44,947
WILKINSON: Schulze was curious,
but also maybe a bit skeptical.
329
00:16:44,971 --> 00:16:48,985
Initially they wanted to
observe him outside of the home.
330
00:16:49,009 --> 00:16:51,687
So if there was something
happening in the home,
331
00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:54,857
is it just at the home?
332
00:16:54,881 --> 00:16:57,226
NARRATOR: Reverend Schulze
believes poltergeists
333
00:16:57,250 --> 00:17:00,029
typically won't move
from house to house.
334
00:17:00,053 --> 00:17:02,498
So he comes up with a plan.
335
00:17:02,522 --> 00:17:07,003
♪♪
336
00:17:07,027 --> 00:17:10,673
Reverend Luther Schulze made an
arrangement for Roland to come
337
00:17:10,697 --> 00:17:12,675
and spend the night
at his house.
338
00:17:12,699 --> 00:17:16,145
His wife was going to sleep
in the guest room.
339
00:17:16,169 --> 00:17:19,448
They get into their separate
beds, and almost as soon
340
00:17:19,472 --> 00:17:21,650
as the lights are turned off,
341
00:17:21,674 --> 00:17:23,953
the bed starts vibrating.
342
00:17:23,977 --> 00:17:27,156
♪♪
343
00:17:27,180 --> 00:17:30,026
Now, Schulze is still thinking
this could be a prank.
344
00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:32,294
Well, when he realizes it's not
a prank,
345
00:17:32,318 --> 00:17:35,331
this skinny little kid
is making the entire bed shake,
346
00:17:35,355 --> 00:17:37,533
he said, "Okay.
I know how to solve this."
347
00:17:37,557 --> 00:17:40,569
Why don't you go sleep
in the armchair
348
00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:42,638
on the other side of the room?
349
00:17:42,662 --> 00:17:45,274
♪♪
350
00:17:45,298 --> 00:17:49,178
And no sooner than
things had calmed down again,
351
00:17:49,202 --> 00:17:52,448
the chair starts shaking.
352
00:17:52,472 --> 00:17:54,617
It starts bouncing so violently
353
00:17:54,641 --> 00:17:56,685
that the chair actually
tips over
354
00:17:56,709 --> 00:17:58,888
and dumps Roland out
on the floor.
355
00:17:58,912 --> 00:18:02,758
♪♪
356
00:18:02,782 --> 00:18:05,061
NARRATOR:
Stunned by what he's seeing,
357
00:18:05,085 --> 00:18:06,429
Reverend Schulze tells Roland
358
00:18:06,453 --> 00:18:10,166
to lie on a mattress
next to his bed.
359
00:18:10,190 --> 00:18:13,402
And then this mattress starts
sliding around on the floor,
360
00:18:13,426 --> 00:18:15,471
and he slid underneath the bed.
361
00:18:15,495 --> 00:18:17,973
♪♪
362
00:18:17,997 --> 00:18:20,209
Then started bouncing
up and down.
363
00:18:20,233 --> 00:18:23,212
And then smashing his face
on the bedsprings.
364
00:18:23,236 --> 00:18:25,714
♪♪
365
00:18:25,738 --> 00:18:28,517
Schulze said, well, this isn't
this isn't going to work.
366
00:18:28,541 --> 00:18:30,286
NARRATOR: When returning home,
367
00:18:30,310 --> 00:18:33,222
Roland's condition
takes a terrifying turn.
368
00:18:33,246 --> 00:18:35,391
♪♪
369
00:18:35,415 --> 00:18:38,561
The minister claimed that three
scratches appeared
370
00:18:38,585 --> 00:18:41,230
on Roland's body
371
00:18:41,254 --> 00:18:44,366
and that happened four
consecutive nights in a row.
372
00:18:44,390 --> 00:18:46,102
And at this point,
they know this isn't normal.
373
00:18:46,126 --> 00:18:48,437
This isn't psychological
disorder.
374
00:18:48,461 --> 00:18:51,240
There's something diabolical
happening here.
375
00:18:51,264 --> 00:18:54,076
NARRATOR: Reverend Schulze
no longer believes a poltergeist
376
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:57,012
is pestering Roland.
377
00:18:57,036 --> 00:19:00,416
He said that this was getting
beyond what he could deal with.
378
00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,084
He was a Lutheran minister.
379
00:19:02,108 --> 00:19:04,286
He suggested
that the family take him
380
00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:05,855
to see a Catholic priest
381
00:19:05,879 --> 00:19:08,257
because they know more
about these things
382
00:19:08,281 --> 00:19:12,094
and more about possessions.
383
00:19:12,118 --> 00:19:13,462
NARRATOR:
Could the Catholic Church
384
00:19:13,486 --> 00:19:17,133
explain these
frightening manifestations?
385
00:19:17,157 --> 00:19:20,803
Roland's parents reach out
to Father Albert Hughes,
386
00:19:20,827 --> 00:19:25,040
an assistant priest
at St. James Catholic Church.
387
00:19:25,064 --> 00:19:29,979
COOPER: They took Roland to see
this Catholic priest.
388
00:19:30,003 --> 00:19:34,116
What basically happened there
was that the priest reported
389
00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:40,055
that the temperature in the room
all of a sudden became very cold
390
00:19:40,079 --> 00:19:44,894
and he saw the telephone
go sliding across the desk.
391
00:19:44,918 --> 00:19:47,363
And the kid said something
along the lines,
392
00:19:47,387 --> 00:19:49,965
"Why bother me,
you priest of hell?"
393
00:19:49,989 --> 00:19:52,067
♪♪
394
00:19:52,091 --> 00:19:54,170
NARRATOR:
As Roland casts obscenities,
395
00:19:54,194 --> 00:19:58,607
Father Hughes senses
an evil presence in the boy,
396
00:19:58,631 --> 00:20:04,313
perhaps the devil himself.
397
00:20:04,337 --> 00:20:06,949
BELANGER: The devil is one of
the most interesting figures
398
00:20:06,973 --> 00:20:10,085
in mythology, in religion,
399
00:20:10,109 --> 00:20:13,088
in art, in popular culture
400
00:20:13,112 --> 00:20:14,256
because in the Bible,
401
00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,292
he's Satan, he's the opposer.
402
00:20:16,316 --> 00:20:20,095
He's the loyal opposition.
He's the other side.
403
00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:21,797
If you believe God is real,
404
00:20:21,821 --> 00:20:25,467
you almost have to accept
that the devil is also real.
405
00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:29,271
NARRATOR: Catholics believe the
devil, also known as Lucifer,
406
00:20:29,295 --> 00:20:34,343
was an angel who defies God
and falls from grace.
407
00:20:34,367 --> 00:20:39,448
References to demonic spirits
appear often in religious texts.
408
00:20:39,472 --> 00:20:44,853
In Catholicism, the devil
personifies pure evil.
409
00:20:44,877 --> 00:20:49,425
The demonic spirit is bent
on creating havoc
410
00:20:49,449 --> 00:20:52,094
and wreaking havoc
in every aspect of your life
411
00:20:52,118 --> 00:20:55,631
and breaking you down.
412
00:20:55,655 --> 00:20:57,333
Breaking you down spiritually,
413
00:20:57,357 --> 00:20:59,268
emotionally, physically,
414
00:20:59,292 --> 00:21:01,203
mentally, psychologically.
415
00:21:01,227 --> 00:21:03,172
Just breaking you down.
416
00:21:03,196 --> 00:21:05,207
NARRATOR: After observing
Roland's behavior,
417
00:21:05,231 --> 00:21:09,745
Father Hughes becomes convinced
the devil is possessing the boy.
418
00:21:09,769 --> 00:21:11,914
But why?
419
00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,917
When people are turning to
what I would call
420
00:21:14,941 --> 00:21:17,820
practices of the occult,
421
00:21:17,844 --> 00:21:20,756
doing seances, trying
to communicate with the dead,
422
00:21:20,780 --> 00:21:23,225
those are things that
we should not be doing
423
00:21:23,249 --> 00:21:26,095
because the devil
is an opportunist.
424
00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,697
If somebody is experiencing
some type of brokenness
425
00:21:28,721 --> 00:21:30,966
in their lives,
426
00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:33,736
even from a mental perspective,
427
00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,005
the devil could try to
428
00:21:36,029 --> 00:21:38,507
enter into the cracks,
if you will...
429
00:21:38,531 --> 00:21:40,542
♪♪
430
00:21:40,566 --> 00:21:43,846
...and fracture
the person even more.
431
00:21:43,870 --> 00:21:46,315
NARRATOR: According to sources,
Father Hughes contacts
432
00:21:46,339 --> 00:21:50,953
Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle
of Washington, D.C.
433
00:21:50,977 --> 00:21:54,823
He thinks Roland
needs an exorcism.
434
00:21:54,847 --> 00:21:57,559
Father Hughes was very upset
by all this,
435
00:21:57,583 --> 00:22:00,729
and he thought right away
that it warranted a trip
436
00:22:00,753 --> 00:22:02,398
to see the archbishop.
437
00:22:02,422 --> 00:22:04,133
A priest can't randomly decide
438
00:22:04,157 --> 00:22:08,037
"I think this guy
needs to be exorcised."
439
00:22:08,061 --> 00:22:10,973
Father Hughes went to the
archbishop,
440
00:22:10,997 --> 00:22:15,044
and very reluctantly,
the archbishop was convinced
441
00:22:15,068 --> 00:22:18,347
that it was okay to go ahead
and do an exorcism.
442
00:22:18,371 --> 00:22:23,752
♪♪
443
00:22:23,776 --> 00:22:27,122
NARRATOR: Sometime between
February 27th and March 6th,
444
00:22:27,146 --> 00:22:30,726
Father Hughes reportedly admits
Roland to Georgetown Hospital
445
00:22:30,750 --> 00:22:35,297
under an assumed name.
446
00:22:35,321 --> 00:22:37,399
While Roland's
strapped to a bed,
447
00:22:37,423 --> 00:22:41,170
Father Hughes reads
the prayers of exorcism,
448
00:22:41,194 --> 00:22:43,439
but it goes horribly wrong.
449
00:22:43,463 --> 00:22:45,240
♪♪
450
00:22:45,264 --> 00:22:49,144
Roland slips his hands
out of the restraints.
451
00:22:49,168 --> 00:22:51,947
The devil doesn't like
to be shackled.
452
00:22:51,971 --> 00:22:54,472
♪♪
453
00:22:57,109 --> 00:23:00,823
♪♪
454
00:23:00,847 --> 00:23:04,526
♪♪
455
00:23:04,550 --> 00:23:07,896
NARRATOR: Georgetown Hospital
in Washington, D.C.
456
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,834
becomes the scene of a nightmare
beyond imagination.
457
00:23:11,858 --> 00:23:15,571
♪♪
458
00:23:15,595 --> 00:23:19,274
♪♪
459
00:23:19,298 --> 00:23:22,845
Between late February
and early March of 1949,
460
00:23:22,869 --> 00:23:25,647
Father Albert Hughes,
a Jesuit priest,
461
00:23:25,671 --> 00:23:29,418
attempts to perform an exorcism
on 13-year-old Roland Doe
462
00:23:29,442 --> 00:23:32,688
in the hospital's
psychiatric ward.
463
00:23:32,712 --> 00:23:35,290
But as father Hughes
begins the ritual,
464
00:23:35,314 --> 00:23:40,095
Roland reportedly breaks free
of a hand restraint.
465
00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,599
LACHANCE: There's an eyewitness
account from the Georgetown Hospital.
466
00:23:43,623 --> 00:23:47,202
Someone was there while
Father Hughes did the exorcism.
467
00:23:47,226 --> 00:23:49,571
And in the process
of the exorcism,
468
00:23:49,595 --> 00:23:52,074
the boy grabbed a spring
from the bed
469
00:23:52,098 --> 00:23:54,209
and sliced Father Hughes's arm.
470
00:23:54,233 --> 00:23:57,413
♪♪
471
00:23:57,437 --> 00:24:00,649
♪♪
472
00:24:00,673 --> 00:24:02,785
NARRATOR:
According to witnesses,
473
00:24:02,809 --> 00:24:07,790
Roland lacerates Father Hughes'
arm from shoulder to wrist
474
00:24:07,814 --> 00:24:10,993
requiring 100 stitches.
475
00:24:11,017 --> 00:24:14,096
People who knew Father Hughes
said that he was never the same
476
00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,199
after this and that he had
a problem with his arm.
477
00:24:17,223 --> 00:24:20,536
♪♪
478
00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,839
♪♪
479
00:24:23,863 --> 00:24:27,476
NARRATOR: Days after being
discharged from Georgetown Hospital,
480
00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:30,312
Roland plunges deeper
into despair.
481
00:24:30,336 --> 00:24:33,215
♪♪
482
00:24:33,239 --> 00:24:35,117
When getting ready for bed,
483
00:24:35,141 --> 00:24:38,954
he glances in the mirror
and shrieks with horror.
484
00:24:38,978 --> 00:24:41,457
[ Screaming ]
485
00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:44,960
♪♪
486
00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:47,496
Bloody scratches appear
on his chest
487
00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,066
and seemed to form the word
"Louis."
488
00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:52,868
♪♪
489
00:24:52,892 --> 00:24:56,472
Roland's parents believe
the word is a sign.
490
00:24:56,496 --> 00:24:59,208
They have relatives
in St. Louis.
491
00:24:59,232 --> 00:25:03,045
WAIDE: They believe that since the
word Lewis did appear on his body,
492
00:25:03,069 --> 00:25:06,448
that maybe this evil spirit
was sending a message
493
00:25:06,472 --> 00:25:09,318
that you should take Roland
to St. Louis.
494
00:25:09,342 --> 00:25:11,553
In addition to his Aunt Tillie,
495
00:25:11,577 --> 00:25:14,823
who is deceased by this time
in early March of '49,
496
00:25:14,847 --> 00:25:18,760
Roland's father had a brother
who lived in St. Louis.
497
00:25:18,784 --> 00:25:21,663
♪♪
498
00:25:21,687 --> 00:25:25,200
I talked personally with a woman
499
00:25:25,224 --> 00:25:29,671
who was a best friend
of Roland's cousin,
500
00:25:29,695 --> 00:25:34,042
and she told me
that I can't possibly imagine
501
00:25:34,066 --> 00:25:35,611
the sense of chaos
502
00:25:35,635 --> 00:25:38,347
that was going on
with his family at that time.
503
00:25:38,371 --> 00:25:40,115
♪♪
504
00:25:40,139 --> 00:25:43,519
They purely were at the end
of their rope,
505
00:25:43,543 --> 00:25:45,220
maybe willing to do anything.
506
00:25:45,244 --> 00:25:47,356
I mean, they didn't have a plan.
507
00:25:47,380 --> 00:25:51,226
♪♪
508
00:25:51,250 --> 00:25:53,762
When they got on the train
to come to St. Louis,
509
00:25:53,786 --> 00:25:56,865
all they knew is they were
basing this on "Louis,"
510
00:25:56,889 --> 00:25:59,368
and they had relatives here
and thought maybe they could
511
00:25:59,392 --> 00:26:01,436
find some support and relief
512
00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:05,574
and help spiritually
from their relatives.
513
00:26:05,598 --> 00:26:08,210
TAYLOR:
This family, blue collar family,
514
00:26:08,234 --> 00:26:10,913
job in a postwar economy
515
00:26:10,937 --> 00:26:13,649
upended their entire life
516
00:26:13,673 --> 00:26:16,151
to move halfway across
the country
517
00:26:16,175 --> 00:26:20,956
on the off chance
that this might help.
518
00:26:20,980 --> 00:26:26,628
So whatever you believe in this,
something was happening.
519
00:26:26,652 --> 00:26:30,165
Something earth shattering
was happening to this family
520
00:26:30,189 --> 00:26:32,301
to make them do this.
521
00:26:32,325 --> 00:26:34,570
♪♪
522
00:26:34,594 --> 00:26:36,972
NARRATOR: March 8, 1949.
523
00:26:36,996 --> 00:26:39,675
Once arriving in St. Louis,
524
00:26:39,699 --> 00:26:42,177
Roland and his parents
stay with relatives
525
00:26:42,201 --> 00:26:46,648
who are devout Catholics living
in the quiet suburb of Bel-Nor.
526
00:26:46,672 --> 00:26:49,551
♪♪
527
00:26:49,575 --> 00:26:53,789
The family hopes they left
the evil spirits behind,
528
00:26:53,813 --> 00:26:57,926
but the devil reportedly follows
Roland to St. Louis.
529
00:26:57,950 --> 00:27:01,163
♪♪
530
00:27:01,187 --> 00:27:03,999
So they moved to Bel-Nor,
531
00:27:04,023 --> 00:27:06,802
which was the home
of Roland's uncle,
532
00:27:06,826 --> 00:27:08,604
his father's brother.
533
00:27:08,628 --> 00:27:10,272
They were happy to help.
534
00:27:10,296 --> 00:27:12,374
They love the family.
They love Roland.
535
00:27:12,398 --> 00:27:16,678
But now Roland seemed very
different, especially at night.
536
00:27:16,702 --> 00:27:18,280
So he goes to bed,
537
00:27:18,304 --> 00:27:21,472
and immediately things start
happening.
538
00:27:23,775 --> 00:27:25,854
♪♪
539
00:27:25,878 --> 00:27:27,756
He starts screaming, howling.
540
00:27:27,780 --> 00:27:30,592
The bed's moving,
bouncing up and down.
541
00:27:30,616 --> 00:27:33,996
Things are flying around the
room, and this poor kid
542
00:27:34,020 --> 00:27:37,532
is terrified, and so is
the rest of the family.
543
00:27:37,556 --> 00:27:43,472
♪♪
544
00:27:43,496 --> 00:27:45,674
LACHANCE: Roland had a cousin
who was seeing everything
545
00:27:45,698 --> 00:27:48,477
that was going on.
546
00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:50,445
She was going to
St. Louis University.
547
00:27:50,469 --> 00:27:53,515
She was Catholic.
548
00:27:53,539 --> 00:27:57,753
She goes to her professor
who was Father Bishop.
549
00:27:57,777 --> 00:27:59,187
And she tells him,
550
00:27:59,211 --> 00:28:01,390
"I think there's something
spiritually wrong
551
00:28:01,414 --> 00:28:04,960
with my cousin.
Will you come look at him?"
552
00:28:04,984 --> 00:28:08,130
NARRATOR: Father Raymond Bishop
agrees to meet with Roland
553
00:28:08,154 --> 00:28:10,232
and observe
his nightly behavior.
554
00:28:10,256 --> 00:28:14,403
♪♪
555
00:28:14,427 --> 00:28:17,239
March 11, 1949.
556
00:28:17,263 --> 00:28:21,510
Father Bishop arrives at the
home of Roland's relatives.
557
00:28:21,534 --> 00:28:23,745
He brings along
Father William Bowdern,
558
00:28:23,769 --> 00:28:25,714
a respected Jesuit priest
at nearby
559
00:28:25,738 --> 00:28:28,283
St. Francis Xavier
College Church.
560
00:28:28,307 --> 00:28:30,986
♪♪
561
00:28:31,010 --> 00:28:34,089
I am the great niece
of Father William Bowdern,
562
00:28:34,113 --> 00:28:37,492
the Jesuit who was the exorcist.
563
00:28:37,516 --> 00:28:42,664
I grew up with this story
from the time I can remember.
564
00:28:42,688 --> 00:28:44,966
Uncle Bill was probably
one of the finest men
565
00:28:44,990 --> 00:28:48,603
I will ever be
privileged to know.
566
00:28:48,627 --> 00:28:52,374
He had the most rock
solid faith I've ever seen.
567
00:28:52,398 --> 00:28:56,078
♪♪
568
00:28:56,102 --> 00:28:59,781
♪♪
569
00:28:59,805 --> 00:29:02,117
NARRATOR:
As Roland prepares for bed,
570
00:29:02,141 --> 00:29:06,955
Father Bowdern reads
several prayers.
571
00:29:06,979 --> 00:29:10,525
Roland appears calm.
572
00:29:10,549 --> 00:29:13,228
After observing Roland
for nearly an hour,
573
00:29:13,252 --> 00:29:16,298
Father's Bowdern and Bishop
witnessed no dramatic signs
574
00:29:16,322 --> 00:29:19,034
of demonic possession.
575
00:29:19,058 --> 00:29:21,470
But as soon
as the priests leave...
576
00:29:21,494 --> 00:29:23,672
♪♪
577
00:29:23,696 --> 00:29:25,907
...all hell breaks loose.
578
00:29:25,931 --> 00:29:26,997
♪♪
579
00:29:29,534 --> 00:29:33,181
♪♪
580
00:29:33,205 --> 00:29:36,885
♪♪
581
00:29:36,909 --> 00:29:40,789
NARRATOR: 8435, Roanoke Drive,
Bel-Nor, Missouri.
582
00:29:40,813 --> 00:29:43,225
♪♪
583
00:29:43,249 --> 00:29:47,195
All is not right in this
seemingly normal suburban home.
584
00:29:47,219 --> 00:29:51,533
♪♪
585
00:29:51,557 --> 00:29:54,302
March 11, 1949.
586
00:29:54,326 --> 00:29:56,671
Sometime after 11:00 p.m.,
587
00:29:56,695 --> 00:30:00,142
Jesuit priests William Bowdern
and Raymond Bishop
588
00:30:00,166 --> 00:30:04,212
finished reciting prayers
over 13-year-old Roland Doe.
589
00:30:04,236 --> 00:30:07,649
♪♪
590
00:30:07,673 --> 00:30:10,085
After observing
no significant signs
591
00:30:10,109 --> 00:30:13,955
of demonic possession,
592
00:30:13,979 --> 00:30:16,258
the priests no sooner leave
593
00:30:16,282 --> 00:30:19,461
when loud noises resound
from the boy's room.
594
00:30:19,485 --> 00:30:25,133
♪♪
595
00:30:25,157 --> 00:30:27,602
A bottle of holy water
on the nightstand
596
00:30:27,626 --> 00:30:30,138
mysteriously hurls
across the room.
597
00:30:30,162 --> 00:30:34,142
♪♪
598
00:30:34,166 --> 00:30:36,878
While Roland tries
to fall back asleep,
599
00:30:36,902 --> 00:30:41,049
a bookcase somehow moves
and blocks the bedroom door.
600
00:30:41,073 --> 00:30:45,287
♪♪
601
00:30:45,311 --> 00:30:49,191
So the priests went back,
and once again witnessed
602
00:30:49,215 --> 00:30:51,493
all of the strange activity.
603
00:30:51,517 --> 00:30:54,963
♪♪
604
00:30:54,987 --> 00:30:57,399
And at this point,
even Father Bowdern
605
00:30:57,423 --> 00:30:59,534
started to believe that perhaps
606
00:30:59,558 --> 00:31:03,171
there was some sort
of demonic activity.
607
00:31:03,195 --> 00:31:09,110
♪♪
608
00:31:09,134 --> 00:31:11,179
NARRATOR:
Knowing little about exorcisms,
609
00:31:11,203 --> 00:31:14,382
Father Bowdern consults
the Roman Ritual.
610
00:31:14,406 --> 00:31:17,586
♪♪
611
00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:20,522
A 17th-century manual
detailing the rules,
612
00:31:20,546 --> 00:31:23,558
prayers, and procedures
of the ancient Catholic rite
613
00:31:23,582 --> 00:31:26,661
of exorcism.
614
00:31:26,685 --> 00:31:31,900
DERMINE: I use mainly
the Roman exorcism ritual.
615
00:31:31,924 --> 00:31:36,538
The exorcism consists mainly
in praying.
616
00:31:36,562 --> 00:31:40,775
Priest: I command thee,
in the name of the Father
617
00:31:40,799 --> 00:31:44,579
and of the Son, I exorcise thee.
618
00:31:44,603 --> 00:31:46,615
Let thou depart!
619
00:31:46,639 --> 00:31:50,151
♪♪
620
00:31:50,175 --> 00:31:53,555
NARRATOR: Exorcism is almost
as old as religion itself.
621
00:31:53,579 --> 00:31:55,423
♪♪
622
00:31:55,447 --> 00:31:59,628
The Bible contains vivid stories
of Jesus performing exorcisms
623
00:31:59,652 --> 00:32:03,265
on the demonically possessed.
624
00:32:03,289 --> 00:32:06,501
When I was first appointed,
I became one of about 12
625
00:32:06,525 --> 00:32:09,371
officially appointed exorcists
in the United States.
626
00:32:09,395 --> 00:32:14,476
Today, I think that number
is around 125.
627
00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:15,777
The pope is an exorcist
628
00:32:15,801 --> 00:32:19,614
because he is the supreme
shepherd of the church.
629
00:32:19,638 --> 00:32:22,250
I think there is examples
of Pope John Paul II
630
00:32:22,274 --> 00:32:25,153
performing exorcisms.
631
00:32:25,177 --> 00:32:28,290
♪♪
632
00:32:28,314 --> 00:32:31,860
It will become
our spiritual drink.
633
00:32:31,884 --> 00:32:36,531
♪♪
634
00:32:36,555 --> 00:32:41,236
♪♪
635
00:32:41,260 --> 00:32:43,405
NARRATOR: According
to the Catholic Church,
636
00:32:43,429 --> 00:32:46,541
Father Bowdern must prove
that Roland is moving along
637
00:32:46,565 --> 00:32:49,778
the classic path
to full demonic possession.
638
00:32:49,802 --> 00:32:52,881
♪♪
639
00:32:52,905 --> 00:32:54,950
The church identifies four
different types
640
00:32:54,974 --> 00:32:57,352
of extraordinary
demonic activity.
641
00:32:57,376 --> 00:32:59,454
There can be
demonic infestation,
642
00:32:59,478 --> 00:33:02,891
which is the presence of evil
in a location or an object.
643
00:33:02,915 --> 00:33:04,993
♪♪
644
00:33:05,017 --> 00:33:07,028
There can be demonic vexation.
645
00:33:07,052 --> 00:33:09,664
♪♪
646
00:33:09,688 --> 00:33:12,734
Which somebody believes they are
experiencing physical attacks
647
00:33:12,758 --> 00:33:14,736
from a demon.
648
00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:18,773
There can be demonic obsession,
which are mental attacks.
649
00:33:18,797 --> 00:33:20,709
♪♪
650
00:33:20,733 --> 00:33:23,244
And then demonic possession
itself,
651
00:33:23,268 --> 00:33:26,414
whereby a demon will take
control of a person's body,
652
00:33:26,438 --> 00:33:28,650
treating their body
as if it were its own.
653
00:33:28,674 --> 00:33:31,086
♪♪
654
00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:32,821
NARRATOR:
Roland reportedly experienced
655
00:33:32,845 --> 00:33:37,292
the first three stages
of demonic activity.
656
00:33:37,316 --> 00:33:39,160
Perhaps an exorcism
can prevent him
657
00:33:39,184 --> 00:33:41,529
from complete
diabolical possession.
658
00:33:41,553 --> 00:33:45,934
♪♪
659
00:33:45,958 --> 00:33:49,070
LAMPERT: When it comes to doing
formal exorcisms
660
00:33:49,094 --> 00:33:51,072
for people who are possessed,
661
00:33:51,096 --> 00:33:53,975
probably around 12 cases
is all that I have done
662
00:33:53,999 --> 00:33:57,278
over the last 15 years.
663
00:33:57,302 --> 00:34:01,383
When it comes to exorcisms
for infestation,
664
00:34:01,407 --> 00:34:03,752
vexation, and obsession,
665
00:34:03,776 --> 00:34:05,120
there would be
thousands of those
666
00:34:05,144 --> 00:34:07,255
that I've done over the years.
667
00:34:07,279 --> 00:34:11,292
♪♪
668
00:34:11,316 --> 00:34:14,129
NARRATOR: Following church
protocol, Father Bowdern
669
00:34:14,153 --> 00:34:18,700
contacts Archbishop
Joseph Ritter of St. Louis.
670
00:34:18,724 --> 00:34:22,137
He requests an exorcism
to be performed on Roland,
671
00:34:22,161 --> 00:34:26,274
but tells the archbishop
to choose another priest.
672
00:34:26,298 --> 00:34:28,977
Father Bowdern didn't really
want anything to do
673
00:34:29,001 --> 00:34:30,178
with this exorcism.
674
00:34:30,202 --> 00:34:32,380
He knew he wasn't
qualified for it.
675
00:34:32,404 --> 00:34:35,316
He didn't feel that he was
in a right place
676
00:34:35,340 --> 00:34:38,753
spiritually to be an exorcist.
But he wasn't given any choice.
677
00:34:38,777 --> 00:34:42,924
The archbishop just simply
told him, "You have to do this."
678
00:34:42,948 --> 00:34:45,994
♪♪
679
00:34:46,018 --> 00:34:48,963
DREYER: When it came back to the
fact that this was going
680
00:34:48,987 --> 00:34:52,700
to be a case of exorcism,
the bishop requested Uncle Bill
681
00:34:52,724 --> 00:34:55,170
specifically to carry
on the exorcism.
682
00:34:55,194 --> 00:34:56,905
He didn't believe
that he should,
683
00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:59,574
but he was requested
by his bishop, and so he did.
684
00:34:59,598 --> 00:35:01,709
♪♪
685
00:35:01,733 --> 00:35:04,345
BELANGER: The Archbishop
grants Father Bowdern
686
00:35:04,369 --> 00:35:07,682
permission to perform
the rite of exorcism.
687
00:35:07,706 --> 00:35:10,018
Now we're talking about
something that's officially
688
00:35:10,042 --> 00:35:11,853
sanctioned by the church,
689
00:35:11,877 --> 00:35:16,257
and this is not something
that the church takes lightly.
690
00:35:16,281 --> 00:35:18,393
NARRATOR: In the eyes
of the Catholic Church,
691
00:35:18,417 --> 00:35:21,796
evil walks the earth,
692
00:35:21,820 --> 00:35:26,034
and only faith can combat it.
693
00:35:26,058 --> 00:35:29,771
In Roland Doe's case,
Father Bowdern realizes
694
00:35:29,795 --> 00:35:34,509
he's about to do battle
with Satan himself.
695
00:35:34,533 --> 00:35:39,669
♪♪
696
00:35:41,472 --> 00:35:44,953
♪♪
697
00:35:44,977 --> 00:35:48,423
♪♪
698
00:35:48,447 --> 00:35:50,425
NARRATOR:
This suburban St. Louis home
699
00:35:50,449 --> 00:35:53,561
was once the scene
of unspeakable horror.
700
00:35:53,585 --> 00:35:56,865
♪♪
701
00:35:56,889 --> 00:35:59,834
March 16, 1949.
702
00:35:59,858 --> 00:36:02,137
Jesuit priest
Father William Bowdern
703
00:36:02,161 --> 00:36:05,206
arrives at the residence
of Roland Doe's relatives
704
00:36:05,230 --> 00:36:08,343
to carry out the first exorcism.
705
00:36:08,367 --> 00:36:10,712
Father Raymond Bishop
and Walter Halloran,
706
00:36:10,736 --> 00:36:13,014
a seminary student at the time,
707
00:36:13,038 --> 00:36:15,517
volunteered to assist
with the solemn ritual
708
00:36:15,541 --> 00:36:17,785
of the Catholic Church.
709
00:36:17,809 --> 00:36:19,888
The priests are aware
of the risks.
710
00:36:19,912 --> 00:36:23,091
The devil could also
take possession of them,
711
00:36:23,115 --> 00:36:25,193
but they're determined
to purge the demon
712
00:36:25,217 --> 00:36:27,462
from 13-year-old Roland,
713
00:36:27,486 --> 00:36:30,999
no matter how long
or whatever the cost.
714
00:36:31,023 --> 00:36:32,934
♪♪
715
00:36:32,958 --> 00:36:36,437
Bowdern went through a series
of preparations
716
00:36:36,461 --> 00:36:38,473
in order to do this exorcism.
717
00:36:38,497 --> 00:36:40,475
♪♪
718
00:36:40,499 --> 00:36:44,779
The idea of a big shootout
at noon with this demon,
719
00:36:44,803 --> 00:36:48,316
so to speak,
was not on his agenda.
720
00:36:48,340 --> 00:36:50,185
He wasn't thinking
this way at all.
721
00:36:50,209 --> 00:36:54,222
In fact, he approached the whole
case with fear and trembling.
722
00:36:54,246 --> 00:36:56,991
♪♪
723
00:36:57,015 --> 00:36:59,127
The archbishop instructs
the priests
724
00:36:59,151 --> 00:37:02,997
to maintain the utmost secrecy
about the exorcism,
725
00:37:03,021 --> 00:37:07,268
but Father Bowdern insists
Father Bishop keep a diary...
726
00:37:07,292 --> 00:37:09,103
A rare, detailed testament
727
00:37:09,127 --> 00:37:12,473
to the events
that are about to unfold.
728
00:37:12,497 --> 00:37:14,509
WAIDE: I think Bowdern was
certainly aware from the very beginning
729
00:37:14,533 --> 00:37:15,944
this was an extreme case,
730
00:37:15,968 --> 00:37:18,813
and so I think Bowdern
just wanted to have
731
00:37:18,837 --> 00:37:22,550
some type of documentation
as to what happened.
732
00:37:22,574 --> 00:37:24,686
TAYLOR:
The idea was to take this diary
733
00:37:24,710 --> 00:37:28,756
and make it a how-to manual
for the next priests
734
00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:32,193
that came along that found
themselves in the same boat.
735
00:37:32,217 --> 00:37:35,897
Because people weren't
being trained to be exorcists.
736
00:37:35,921 --> 00:37:39,434
In preparation, Father Bowdern
lays out religious items
737
00:37:39,458 --> 00:37:44,906
needed for the exorcism...
Holy water, a crucifix,
738
00:37:44,930 --> 00:37:47,875
a long purple stole
to wrap around the priest
739
00:37:47,899 --> 00:37:50,144
and the possessed,
740
00:37:50,168 --> 00:37:51,813
and a Roman Ritual,
741
00:37:51,837 --> 00:37:54,816
the official manual of exorcism
rites.
742
00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,552
LAMPERT: At its very core,
an exorcism is a prayer.
743
00:37:57,576 --> 00:38:01,389
It's a very special prayer
that is meant to help somebody
744
00:38:01,413 --> 00:38:04,459
who is being afflicted
by the demonic.
745
00:38:04,483 --> 00:38:08,296
♪♪
746
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,498
There's the laying on the hands
747
00:38:10,522 --> 00:38:12,700
on the head of the person
who's possessed,
748
00:38:12,724 --> 00:38:17,238
invoking the Holy Spirit,
breathing on the face.
749
00:38:17,262 --> 00:38:19,474
According to the exorcists'
diary,
750
00:38:19,498 --> 00:38:22,210
as Father Bowdern recites
the prayers in Latin,
751
00:38:22,234 --> 00:38:24,379
the priest shriek with horror...
752
00:38:24,403 --> 00:38:26,281
♪♪
753
00:38:26,305 --> 00:38:29,584
...as bloody scratches suddenly
appear on Roland's body.
754
00:38:29,608 --> 00:38:32,954
♪♪
755
00:38:32,978 --> 00:38:36,357
MAN: These scratches caused
red marks on the body
756
00:38:36,381 --> 00:38:40,595
and caused a small amount
of blood to flow.
757
00:38:40,619 --> 00:38:42,930
Roland recoiled
under the evident pain
758
00:38:42,954 --> 00:38:45,433
as each mark was made.
759
00:38:45,457 --> 00:38:48,503
♪♪
760
00:38:48,527 --> 00:38:52,273
And usually the manifestations
will begin immediately.
761
00:38:52,297 --> 00:38:54,909
♪♪
762
00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:57,245
Because what the church
is doing in the right
763
00:38:57,269 --> 00:39:00,248
is forcing the demon
to reveal itself,
764
00:39:00,272 --> 00:39:02,817
because once the demon
reveals itself,
765
00:39:02,841 --> 00:39:05,753
then the battle against it
begins.
766
00:39:05,777 --> 00:39:07,855
NARRATOR: But the demon
possessing Roland
767
00:39:07,879 --> 00:39:10,892
refuses to divulge its identity.
768
00:39:10,916 --> 00:39:14,629
It really is a battle.
The demon inside of Roland
769
00:39:14,653 --> 00:39:15,830
is fighting back at the priests,
770
00:39:15,854 --> 00:39:18,800
whatever relics are being
placed on or near him.
771
00:39:18,824 --> 00:39:22,570
He's pushing back
in however way he can.
772
00:39:22,594 --> 00:39:26,107
NARRATOR: Then the priests
witness something beyond belief.
773
00:39:26,131 --> 00:39:28,142
♪♪
774
00:39:28,166 --> 00:39:30,912
The word "Hell" appears
on Roland's chest
775
00:39:30,936 --> 00:39:35,016
as if it's been branded
onto his skin with a hot iron.
776
00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:38,753
They were a burned
kind of brand.
777
00:39:38,777 --> 00:39:41,222
I would say that
it was like words
778
00:39:41,246 --> 00:39:45,560
that were appearing from
underneath onto the surface,
779
00:39:45,584 --> 00:39:48,496
but they were very red
and rashlike.
780
00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:51,265
The priests had been
observing the boy's hands
781
00:39:51,289 --> 00:39:54,102
at all time
and realized there's no way
782
00:39:54,126 --> 00:39:58,473
Roland could have made
those markings on his own body.
783
00:39:58,497 --> 00:40:00,375
Father Lampert,
who's experienced
784
00:40:00,399 --> 00:40:02,210
in the rite of exorcism,
785
00:40:02,234 --> 00:40:05,146
believes it's the devil's way
of inciting terror.
786
00:40:05,170 --> 00:40:07,382
♪♪
787
00:40:07,406 --> 00:40:11,686
The manifestations are
really meant to instill fear
788
00:40:11,710 --> 00:40:14,555
either in me or in other people
that are present
789
00:40:14,579 --> 00:40:17,291
because the devil wants
to convince us
790
00:40:17,315 --> 00:40:20,895
that he has the upper hand.
791
00:40:20,919 --> 00:40:23,131
Another case of when the demon
manifested,
792
00:40:23,155 --> 00:40:24,999
their eyes actually turned green
793
00:40:25,023 --> 00:40:27,735
and their pupils became slanted
like a serpent.
794
00:40:27,759 --> 00:40:30,705
And the demon said to me,
"You can't get rid of us.
795
00:40:30,729 --> 00:40:33,975
We've been here too long,
and you're not strong enough."
796
00:40:33,999 --> 00:40:37,078
♪♪
797
00:40:37,102 --> 00:40:40,448
NARRATOR: After almost nine
hours of hostile resistance,
798
00:40:40,472 --> 00:40:44,786
Roland collapses
and falls asleep.
799
00:40:44,810 --> 00:40:46,621
LACHANCE: Father Bowdern
really didn't think
800
00:40:46,645 --> 00:40:50,224
the possession set in
with Roland,
801
00:40:50,248 --> 00:40:55,062
which is interesting,
until the first exorcism began.
802
00:40:55,086 --> 00:40:58,166
That's when they think
the possessor really took hold
803
00:40:58,190 --> 00:41:00,134
for whatever reason.
804
00:41:00,158 --> 00:41:03,638
NARRATOR: the exorcism provoked
the devil within Roland,
805
00:41:03,662 --> 00:41:07,074
and now the demon
refuses to leave.
806
00:41:07,098 --> 00:41:11,412
The priest's realize it will
take more than one night
807
00:41:11,436 --> 00:41:13,915
to purge the evil spirit
from the boy.
808
00:41:13,939 --> 00:41:15,750
♪♪
809
00:41:15,774 --> 00:41:20,087
In a movie, when an exorcism
takes place in 15 minutes,
810
00:41:20,111 --> 00:41:22,857
it loses a lot of its reality
because, you know,
811
00:41:22,881 --> 00:41:24,892
when you hear about them
in real life,
812
00:41:24,916 --> 00:41:27,495
they go on for months.
813
00:41:27,519 --> 00:41:29,997
Some that allegedly
have gone on for years.
814
00:41:30,021 --> 00:41:35,369
♪♪
815
00:41:35,393 --> 00:41:38,239
NARRATOR:
After two nights of exorcisms,
816
00:41:38,263 --> 00:41:42,009
Roland Doe spends the day
like a typical 13-year-old
817
00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:45,312
and acting as
if nothing has happened.
818
00:41:45,336 --> 00:41:48,349
His relatives think
the exorcisms are working,
819
00:41:48,373 --> 00:41:52,420
but that evening,
his mood suddenly changes.
820
00:41:52,444 --> 00:41:54,021
♪♪
821
00:41:54,045 --> 00:41:58,993
When the priests arrive to
continue the exorcism rituals,
822
00:41:59,017 --> 00:42:03,865
Roland transforms into a rabid
creature,
823
00:42:03,889 --> 00:42:09,504
snarling and biting
the man holding him down.
824
00:42:09,528 --> 00:42:11,472
TAYLOR: Father Bishop
and Father Bowdern would borrow
825
00:42:11,496 --> 00:42:14,275
some relics, pin them to
Roland's pillow,
826
00:42:14,299 --> 00:42:17,712
hoping any of these things
would have a positive influence
827
00:42:17,736 --> 00:42:19,914
on what was going on.
828
00:42:19,938 --> 00:42:22,550
♪♪
829
00:42:22,574 --> 00:42:23,885
NARRATOR: Amid the hysteria,
830
00:42:23,909 --> 00:42:26,420
Roland suddenly
makes vomiting gestures
831
00:42:26,444 --> 00:42:29,090
and asks for the window
to be opened.
832
00:42:29,114 --> 00:42:32,860
Roland said that he believed
that the demon was leaving him
833
00:42:32,884 --> 00:42:35,329
and actually had them
throw open the windows
834
00:42:35,353 --> 00:42:37,632
so that he could purge it
from his body,
835
00:42:37,656 --> 00:42:41,135
figuratively and literally
get rid of this demon.
836
00:42:41,159 --> 00:42:42,803
♪♪
837
00:42:42,827 --> 00:42:46,941
MAN: He said sweetly,
"He's going. He's going.
838
00:42:46,965 --> 00:42:50,077
Finally, there he goes."
839
00:42:50,101 --> 00:42:53,781
♪♪
840
00:42:53,805 --> 00:42:57,818
If a person during the exorcism
feels that he must vomit,
841
00:42:57,842 --> 00:43:00,521
he does vomit
during the exorcism.
842
00:43:00,545 --> 00:43:03,357
It happens quite frequently.
843
00:43:03,381 --> 00:43:04,592
Quite frequently.
844
00:43:04,616 --> 00:43:07,628
And it's a form of liberation.
845
00:43:07,652 --> 00:43:09,263
NARRATOR:
As Roland falls asleep,
846
00:43:09,287 --> 00:43:11,599
Father Bowdern leaves the house
for the night
847
00:43:11,623 --> 00:43:15,136
thinking the boy finally
purged the demon.
848
00:43:15,160 --> 00:43:18,105
But he is dead wrong.
849
00:43:18,129 --> 00:43:21,242
♪♪
850
00:43:21,266 --> 00:43:22,443
MAN: About 2:00 a.m.,
851
00:43:22,467 --> 00:43:26,414
Roland felt strange sensations
in his stomach,
852
00:43:26,438 --> 00:43:30,484
and in a few moments,
he began to call out fearfully.
853
00:43:30,508 --> 00:43:33,521
"He's coming back!
He's coming back."
854
00:43:33,545 --> 00:43:38,960
Father Bowdern
was called at 3:15 a.m.
855
00:43:38,984 --> 00:43:40,962
WILKINSON: If you have someone
possessed by the devil
856
00:43:40,986 --> 00:43:42,997
and there's an exorcism
being performed
857
00:43:43,021 --> 00:43:44,332
and that's unpleasant
for the devil,
858
00:43:44,356 --> 00:43:48,202
they might might want
to throw you off the trail.
859
00:43:48,226 --> 00:43:51,439
The sense that,
"Well, this is over.
860
00:43:51,463 --> 00:43:53,841
"This is ending," only
for the priest to leave
861
00:43:53,865 --> 00:43:57,545
and things to begin again.
862
00:43:57,569 --> 00:43:59,246
LAMPERT: The demons are doing
these things
863
00:43:59,270 --> 00:44:03,317
to try to get the upper hand,
864
00:44:03,341 --> 00:44:06,854
and I did work with somebody who
was possessed by seven demons.
865
00:44:06,878 --> 00:44:09,924
The weakest of the demons
are always the first to go.
866
00:44:09,948 --> 00:44:13,327
But a demon that's more dominant
will be the last to go.
867
00:44:13,351 --> 00:44:17,064
♪♪
868
00:44:17,088 --> 00:44:20,334
NARRATOR: Roland's nightmare
is far from over.
869
00:44:20,358 --> 00:44:22,837
As the exorcisms continue,
870
00:44:22,861 --> 00:44:27,308
eyewitnesses both in and outside
the inner circle of priests
871
00:44:27,332 --> 00:44:32,346
witness an otherworldly sight
that rattles them to the core.
872
00:44:32,370 --> 00:44:37,240
♪♪
873
00:44:39,677 --> 00:44:44,191
♪♪
874
00:44:44,215 --> 00:44:48,696
♪♪
875
00:44:48,720 --> 00:44:52,333
NARRATOR: Bel-Nor, Missouri,
will forever be linked
876
00:44:52,357 --> 00:44:55,469
to the most chilling exorcism
case in America
877
00:44:55,493 --> 00:44:57,672
and inspiration for the horror
878
00:44:57,696 --> 00:44:59,573
classic "The Exorcist."
879
00:44:59,597 --> 00:45:03,177
♪♪
880
00:45:03,201 --> 00:45:06,781
♪♪
881
00:45:06,805 --> 00:45:10,885
March 20, 1949, day five.
882
00:45:10,909 --> 00:45:13,688
13-year-old Roland Doe
and his parents are staying
883
00:45:13,712 --> 00:45:17,658
in a St. Louis suburb with
relatives.
884
00:45:17,682 --> 00:45:20,561
They're hoping Catholic exorcist
Father William Bowdern
885
00:45:20,585 --> 00:45:23,664
can expel the demon
that's possessing Roland.
886
00:45:23,688 --> 00:45:25,866
♪♪
887
00:45:25,890 --> 00:45:28,402
But Father Bowdern
and the assisting priests
888
00:45:28,426 --> 00:45:32,606
continue to confront
disturbing behavior.
889
00:45:32,630 --> 00:45:36,010
During one of
the nightly exorcisms,
890
00:45:36,034 --> 00:45:39,113
Father Walter Halloran recalls
a startling sight.
891
00:45:39,137 --> 00:45:44,251
♪♪
892
00:45:44,275 --> 00:45:49,356
♪♪
893
00:45:49,380 --> 00:45:51,659
TAYLOR: I started interviewing
Father Halloran
894
00:45:51,683 --> 00:45:53,094
toward the end of his life.
895
00:45:53,118 --> 00:45:56,530
He said "One night, I was down
at the end of the bed"
896
00:45:56,554 --> 00:46:01,869
and I watched the bed levitate
eight inches off the floor.
897
00:46:01,893 --> 00:46:05,139
♪♪
898
00:46:05,163 --> 00:46:08,075
And slam back down again.
899
00:46:08,099 --> 00:46:10,277
I'm hearing it firsthand
from people who saw it,
900
00:46:10,301 --> 00:46:11,746
who saw a bed levitate.
901
00:46:11,770 --> 00:46:14,715
Could there be
a natural explanation for it?
902
00:46:14,739 --> 00:46:17,118
Maybe as unbelievable
as believing it's a demon.
903
00:46:17,142 --> 00:46:18,652
I don't know.
904
00:46:18,676 --> 00:46:20,721
But that's some strange things
that were going on in there.
905
00:46:20,745 --> 00:46:23,457
And they were seeing it
every single night.
906
00:46:23,481 --> 00:46:26,560
♪♪
907
00:46:26,584 --> 00:46:28,896
NARRATOR: Levitation also is
rumored to be witnessed
908
00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:33,167
by someone outside
the inner sanctum of priests.
909
00:46:33,191 --> 00:46:35,536
Roland's family
reportedly invites scientist
910
00:46:35,560 --> 00:46:40,207
and mathematician Frank Bubb
to observe the possessed boy.
911
00:46:40,231 --> 00:46:43,310
Bubb worked on the top-secret
Manhattan Project,
912
00:46:43,334 --> 00:46:45,513
creating the world's
first atomic bomb.
913
00:46:45,537 --> 00:46:51,485
♪♪
914
00:46:51,509 --> 00:46:54,789
The professor, he saw something
there that deeply disturbed him.
915
00:46:54,813 --> 00:46:58,258
♪♪
916
00:46:58,282 --> 00:47:01,695
♪♪
917
00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:05,399
Supposedly, what he saw
was a nightstand levitate.
918
00:47:05,423 --> 00:47:08,869
He would later be reported
to say something along the lines
919
00:47:08,893 --> 00:47:10,838
that we still had a lot
to discover
920
00:47:10,862 --> 00:47:12,907
regarding electromagnetism.
921
00:47:12,931 --> 00:47:16,877
♪♪
922
00:47:16,901 --> 00:47:20,881
♪♪
923
00:47:20,905 --> 00:47:24,084
NARRATOR: Scientists have found
ways to levitate objects
924
00:47:24,108 --> 00:47:28,322
if placed in a strong enough
magnetic field.
925
00:47:28,346 --> 00:47:30,357
But Roland's family wonders
926
00:47:30,381 --> 00:47:34,128
if levitation also can be
a tool of the devil.
927
00:47:34,152 --> 00:47:38,799
♪♪
928
00:47:38,823 --> 00:47:41,602
Roland's family were
all there in the house,
929
00:47:41,626 --> 00:47:45,973
and he was becoming more and
more volatile as this went on.
930
00:47:45,997 --> 00:47:48,209
So Father Bowdern
and Father Bishop
931
00:47:48,233 --> 00:47:52,146
thought that perhaps moving him
to another location
932
00:47:52,170 --> 00:47:54,348
might help things.
933
00:47:54,372 --> 00:47:57,151
♪♪
934
00:47:57,175 --> 00:48:00,221
NARRATOR: Father Bowdern
transfers Roland to the rectory
935
00:48:00,245 --> 00:48:02,957
at St. Francis Xavier College
Church
936
00:48:02,981 --> 00:48:06,861
on the campus
of St. Louis University.
937
00:48:06,885 --> 00:48:11,999
But Roland's haunting outbursts
draw unwanted attention.
938
00:48:12,023 --> 00:48:15,135
Students were talking about
what was going on
939
00:48:15,159 --> 00:48:17,705
at the rectory at night
because the lights were on,
940
00:48:17,729 --> 00:48:19,139
the windows were thrown open,
941
00:48:19,163 --> 00:48:20,975
and people are out
walking around in the evening.
942
00:48:20,999 --> 00:48:24,044
They're hearing screaming,
animal noises,
943
00:48:24,068 --> 00:48:27,448
shouting,
and all kinds of things.
944
00:48:27,472 --> 00:48:30,584
And it was attracting
attention on campus.
945
00:48:30,608 --> 00:48:33,387
[ Roland screaming ]
946
00:48:33,411 --> 00:48:37,925
♪♪
947
00:48:37,949 --> 00:48:42,496
♪♪
948
00:48:42,520 --> 00:48:43,931
NARRATOR:
Inside the church rectory,
949
00:48:43,955 --> 00:48:46,934
the priests keep a detailed
diary of the horror
950
00:48:46,958 --> 00:48:51,338
as Roland displays the telltale
sign of possession...
951
00:48:51,362 --> 00:48:54,008
Unnatural human strength.
952
00:48:54,032 --> 00:48:56,944
Sometimes they can get
incredibly strong.
953
00:48:56,968 --> 00:48:59,013
It's unclear if it's adrenaline
954
00:48:59,037 --> 00:49:03,384
or just superhuman
kind of a strength.
955
00:49:03,408 --> 00:49:06,020
But often times we'll have
to put hands on,
956
00:49:06,044 --> 00:49:08,756
and sometimes it has been known
to happen
957
00:49:08,780 --> 00:49:11,558
that they'll kind of break
free of the restraints
958
00:49:11,582 --> 00:49:13,827
and even the people
holding them.
959
00:49:13,851 --> 00:49:15,896
And you have to be very careful.
960
00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:21,735
♪♪
961
00:49:21,759 --> 00:49:24,939
NARRATOR: As Father Bowdern
repeats the exorcism prayers,
962
00:49:24,963 --> 00:49:27,675
three men can barely
restrain Roland
963
00:49:27,699 --> 00:49:30,978
as he wildly swings his fists
and throws a punch...
964
00:49:31,002 --> 00:49:32,746
♪♪
965
00:49:32,770 --> 00:49:37,017
...to Father Halloran's face.
966
00:49:37,041 --> 00:49:39,286
The priests now believe
that the demon
967
00:49:39,310 --> 00:49:42,222
behind Roland's
violent bloody attacks
968
00:49:42,246 --> 00:49:44,425
is just getting started.
969
00:49:44,449 --> 00:49:48,617
♪♪
970
00:49:52,723 --> 00:49:58,172
♪♪
971
00:49:58,196 --> 00:50:03,677
NARRATOR: St. Louis, Missouri,
March 23, 1949.
972
00:50:03,701 --> 00:50:07,481
After a week
of grueling exorcisms,
973
00:50:07,505 --> 00:50:09,817
the priests move Roland Doe
to the rectory
974
00:50:09,841 --> 00:50:12,586
at St. Francis Xavier
College Church
975
00:50:12,610 --> 00:50:15,756
to continue the nightly rituals,
976
00:50:15,780 --> 00:50:19,493
but the boy's diabolical rage
and superhuman strength
977
00:50:19,517 --> 00:50:23,297
become almost too powerful
to control.
978
00:50:23,321 --> 00:50:26,033
BELANGER: During this exorcism,
little 13-year-old Roland
979
00:50:26,057 --> 00:50:28,202
is fighting, he's punching.
980
00:50:28,226 --> 00:50:30,070
And at one point...
981
00:50:30,094 --> 00:50:32,072
♪♪
982
00:50:32,096 --> 00:50:34,975
...he breaks
Father Halloran's nose.
983
00:50:34,999 --> 00:50:36,710
He's that strong.
984
00:50:36,734 --> 00:50:38,512
Something inside of him
has given him
985
00:50:38,536 --> 00:50:41,248
unnatural strength and rage.
986
00:50:41,272 --> 00:50:43,050
♪♪
987
00:50:43,074 --> 00:50:45,385
Something evil
is happening in the room.
988
00:50:45,409 --> 00:50:48,088
♪♪
989
00:50:48,112 --> 00:50:50,924
There were several times
when he got loose
990
00:50:50,948 --> 00:50:54,962
and would hit people,
punch people, slap people.
991
00:50:54,986 --> 00:50:58,499
Once he actually punched
one of the priests in the groin
992
00:50:58,523 --> 00:51:01,168
and paralyzed him with pain.
993
00:51:01,192 --> 00:51:03,604
Roland was just completely
out of control.
994
00:51:03,628 --> 00:51:06,807
♪♪
995
00:51:06,831 --> 00:51:08,642
NARRATOR: What's happening
during the exorcisms
996
00:51:08,666 --> 00:51:11,378
of Roland Doe
are typical terrors
997
00:51:11,402 --> 00:51:15,649
when clergy and laypeople of all
faiths attempt to expel the evil
998
00:51:15,673 --> 00:51:19,286
from a person possessed
by the devil.
999
00:51:19,310 --> 00:51:21,922
GOMEZ: Myself and my colleagues
have been injured
1000
00:51:21,946 --> 00:51:24,324
during exorcisms many times.
1001
00:51:24,348 --> 00:51:27,795
We've been pushed, we've been
hit, and we've been bitten.
1002
00:51:27,819 --> 00:51:32,566
We've been scratched. I've had
my hair pulled several times.
1003
00:51:32,590 --> 00:51:35,169
I've been locked in rooms.
I've been burned.
1004
00:51:35,193 --> 00:51:37,938
So, yeah, it happens frequently.
1005
00:51:37,962 --> 00:51:39,640
By the power of Christ,
release him!
1006
00:51:39,664 --> 00:51:42,309
LAMPERT: To me, restraining
people during an exorcism
1007
00:51:42,333 --> 00:51:46,080
was pointless because if it's
truly something demonic,
1008
00:51:46,104 --> 00:51:48,582
the only one that's going to be
able to restrain the demon
1009
00:51:48,606 --> 00:51:52,086
is the power of God himself.
1010
00:51:52,110 --> 00:51:55,789
I command you, Satan,
prince of this world,
1011
00:51:55,813 --> 00:51:58,826
acknowledge the power
and strength of Jesus Christ.
1012
00:51:58,850 --> 00:52:00,928
I was doing an exorcism
one time,
1013
00:52:00,952 --> 00:52:04,198
and when the demon manifested,
it lunged at me.
1014
00:52:04,222 --> 00:52:06,567
I think I jumped back five feet.
1015
00:52:06,591 --> 00:52:08,635
My heart was pounding
a mile a minute,
1016
00:52:08,659 --> 00:52:11,338
but immediately went right back
towards the person
1017
00:52:11,362 --> 00:52:14,475
and laid my hand on their head
and began praying.
1018
00:52:14,499 --> 00:52:18,011
♪♪
1019
00:52:18,035 --> 00:52:19,913
NARRATOR: These same
frightening conditions
1020
00:52:19,937 --> 00:52:23,917
were what priests confronted
in 1949 in St. Louis
1021
00:52:23,941 --> 00:52:26,220
as they tried to drive out
the dark force
1022
00:52:26,244 --> 00:52:28,622
within a 13-year-old Roland Doe.
1023
00:52:28,646 --> 00:52:32,059
♪♪
1024
00:52:32,083 --> 00:52:33,927
But what could
they have done so far
1025
00:52:33,951 --> 00:52:36,130
to finally turn
the demonic tide?
1026
00:52:36,154 --> 00:52:39,633
♪♪
1027
00:52:39,657 --> 00:52:43,170
♪♪
1028
00:52:43,194 --> 00:52:46,773
Unable to subdue the nightly
fits in the church rectory,
1029
00:52:46,797 --> 00:52:49,109
Roland returns to the home
of his relatives
1030
00:52:49,133 --> 00:52:50,777
in a suburb of St. Louis.
1031
00:52:50,801 --> 00:52:53,614
For the next five days,
the boy remains
1032
00:52:53,638 --> 00:52:57,584
suspiciously calm and quiet.
1033
00:52:57,608 --> 00:53:01,788
LACHANCE: There was about a
five days reprieve, and that's unusual.
1034
00:53:01,812 --> 00:53:06,960
And it makes everybody stand
back and go, "Oh, is this over?"
1035
00:53:06,984 --> 00:53:08,529
And then, all of a sudden,
1036
00:53:08,553 --> 00:53:11,765
things went completely
backward again.
1037
00:53:11,789 --> 00:53:16,803
There was a night when Roland
wanted to write things down.
1038
00:53:16,827 --> 00:53:18,639
Now, his uncle was an architect
1039
00:53:18,663 --> 00:53:20,807
and had these
huge sheets of paper,
1040
00:53:20,831 --> 00:53:25,245
and he was writing out messages
and words.
1041
00:53:25,269 --> 00:53:27,848
NARRATOR: According to
the exorcists' diary,
1042
00:53:27,872 --> 00:53:31,084
Roland's family frantically
calls the priests to come over
1043
00:53:31,108 --> 00:53:34,221
and help decipher what the
possessed boy is trying to say.
1044
00:53:34,245 --> 00:53:37,558
♪♪
1045
00:53:37,582 --> 00:53:39,693
MAN: I will stay 10 days,
1046
00:53:39,717 --> 00:53:43,764
but will return
after the four days are up.
1047
00:53:43,788 --> 00:53:46,433
I am the devil himself.
1048
00:53:46,457 --> 00:53:49,236
♪♪
1049
00:53:49,260 --> 00:53:52,206
WILKINSON: So they were trying
to interpret what did that mean?
1050
00:53:52,230 --> 00:53:55,242
It looked like Roman numerals,
and there was speculation
1051
00:53:55,266 --> 00:53:57,911
at that point about
the timeline of the exorcism.
1052
00:53:57,935 --> 00:54:02,549
Is it going to be 10 days?
What does the 10 represent?
1053
00:54:02,573 --> 00:54:04,618
LACHANCE: Father Bishop thought
the boy was going to be possessed
1054
00:54:04,642 --> 00:54:06,720
for 10 more days.
1055
00:54:06,744 --> 00:54:08,689
♪♪
1056
00:54:08,713 --> 00:54:11,358
So the devil was definitely
playing with him.
1057
00:54:11,382 --> 00:54:16,897
♪♪
1058
00:54:16,921 --> 00:54:21,835
NARRATOR: On day 17,
after over a dozen exorcisms,
1059
00:54:21,859 --> 00:54:24,137
Father Bowdern suggests
that Roland
1060
00:54:24,161 --> 00:54:26,240
should be baptized
as a Catholic.
1061
00:54:26,264 --> 00:54:29,276
♪♪
1062
00:54:29,300 --> 00:54:31,311
A baptism is a form of exorcism
1063
00:54:31,335 --> 00:54:35,749
because
it rejects the powers of Satan.
1064
00:54:35,773 --> 00:54:38,518
TAYLOR: Because Roland had been
raised a Lutheran,
1065
00:54:38,542 --> 00:54:42,656
it was thought that perhaps by
instructing him in Catholicism
1066
00:54:42,680 --> 00:54:47,728
that it might help
to ease the exorcism along.
1067
00:54:47,752 --> 00:54:50,430
♪♪
1068
00:54:50,454 --> 00:54:53,533
But on the drive to the church
for the baptism,
1069
00:54:53,557 --> 00:54:57,337
Roland falls into one of his
deviant spells.
1070
00:54:57,361 --> 00:55:00,007
His aunt and uncle are
driving him to the church
1071
00:55:00,031 --> 00:55:02,576
when, all of a sudden,
1072
00:55:02,600 --> 00:55:05,912
Roland in the back seat
just goes into a rage, a fit,
1073
00:55:05,936 --> 00:55:07,247
and he leaps to the front seat,
1074
00:55:07,271 --> 00:55:09,049
tries to grab
the steering wheel,
1075
00:55:09,073 --> 00:55:11,018
saying, "You're going to
try to baptize me?
1076
00:55:11,042 --> 00:55:12,853
You're going to try to
offer me communion?
1077
00:55:12,877 --> 00:55:14,388
It's not going to work."
1078
00:55:14,412 --> 00:55:17,024
And his uncle is forced
to pull the car over
1079
00:55:17,048 --> 00:55:20,127
for fear that he's going to
kill all of them.
1080
00:55:20,151 --> 00:55:23,664
He put all of their lives,
including his own, in danger
1081
00:55:23,688 --> 00:55:26,066
to try to avoid
going to that church.
1082
00:55:26,090 --> 00:55:28,168
♪♪
1083
00:55:28,192 --> 00:55:30,671
NARRATOR: 13-year-old Roland
curses and spits
1084
00:55:30,695 --> 00:55:33,473
as he is dragged into the church
rectory for the baptism.
1085
00:55:33,497 --> 00:55:36,176
♪♪
1086
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:41,114
Father Bowdern demands Roland
to renounce Satan,
1087
00:55:41,138 --> 00:55:44,651
but the boy slips deeper
into his hysterical state,
1088
00:55:44,675 --> 00:55:46,687
repulsed by the holy water.
1089
00:55:46,711 --> 00:55:49,156
[ Roland screaming ]
1090
00:55:49,180 --> 00:55:52,059
BELANGER:
He's just fighting and kicking.
1091
00:55:52,083 --> 00:55:55,562
Three men are doing all they can
to try to hold him down,
1092
00:55:55,586 --> 00:55:57,397
and it's decided that
they're just going to have to do
1093
00:55:57,421 --> 00:56:00,067
a shortened version
of the baptism ritual
1094
00:56:00,091 --> 00:56:02,202
just to get it done.
1095
00:56:02,226 --> 00:56:06,640
♪♪
1096
00:56:06,664 --> 00:56:11,044
♪♪
1097
00:56:11,068 --> 00:56:12,846
NARRATOR:
Three days after the baptism,
1098
00:56:12,870 --> 00:56:16,883
Father Bowdern makes
a radical decision...
1099
00:56:16,907 --> 00:56:19,753
Roland should return home
to Maryland.
1100
00:56:19,777 --> 00:56:22,689
♪♪
1101
00:56:22,713 --> 00:56:26,293
TAYLOR: Father Bowdern suggested
that the family go back to Maryland.
1102
00:56:26,317 --> 00:56:28,729
♪♪
1103
00:56:28,753 --> 00:56:33,100
He would go with them,
and he would find a hospital
1104
00:56:33,124 --> 00:56:35,869
or a convent or a monastery
1105
00:56:35,893 --> 00:56:39,673
where he could be treated
under medical conditions,
1106
00:56:39,697 --> 00:56:40,874
because at this point, you know,
1107
00:56:40,898 --> 00:56:42,476
this kid has been
going through this,
1108
00:56:42,500 --> 00:56:45,712
and it's not wearing well
on him.
1109
00:56:45,736 --> 00:56:47,748
Physically,
he's becoming thinner.
1110
00:56:47,772 --> 00:56:49,616
He's not eating.
1111
00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:54,554
He's despondent, and his
behavior is wild and crazy.
1112
00:56:54,578 --> 00:56:57,457
And so Father Bowdern said,
1113
00:56:57,481 --> 00:56:59,893
"I will find some place
in Maryland
1114
00:56:59,917 --> 00:57:04,131
where someone can continue
the exorcism."
1115
00:57:04,155 --> 00:57:06,666
BELANGER: They're trying to find
some institution or hospital
1116
00:57:06,690 --> 00:57:09,202
where they can keep him,
but no one wants him.
1117
00:57:09,226 --> 00:57:13,073
No one wants to touch this case
because of how complex it is.
1118
00:57:13,097 --> 00:57:15,776
Whether it's psychological
or diabolical,
1119
00:57:15,800 --> 00:57:20,280
no one wants to seem to deal
with poor Roland.
1120
00:57:20,304 --> 00:57:22,382
NARRATOR:
Unable to find anyone to help
1121
00:57:22,406 --> 00:57:25,819
near the boy's home state
of Maryland,
1122
00:57:25,843 --> 00:57:28,722
Father Bowdern decides
that their only option
1123
00:57:28,746 --> 00:57:30,690
is to go back to the Midwest
1124
00:57:30,714 --> 00:57:35,962
and make one more desperate
attempt to save Roland Doe.
1125
00:57:35,986 --> 00:57:38,398
TAYLOR: Father Bowdern realized
that he was going to have
1126
00:57:38,422 --> 00:57:41,234
to take Roland back to St. Louis
1127
00:57:41,258 --> 00:57:43,503
and he was going to have
to continue this himself,
1128
00:57:43,527 --> 00:57:46,706
because after all this time
around Maryland and D.C.,
1129
00:57:46,730 --> 00:57:48,108
no one would take him.
1130
00:57:48,132 --> 00:57:51,311
So he decided that
the best thing for him to do
1131
00:57:51,335 --> 00:57:54,481
was to take him to a hospital,
and he knew just the place.
1132
00:57:54,505 --> 00:57:58,251
♪♪
1133
00:57:58,275 --> 00:58:00,821
NARRATOR:
Upon returning to St. Louis,
1134
00:58:00,845 --> 00:58:03,190
Roland is admitted
to the psychiatric ward
1135
00:58:03,214 --> 00:58:05,292
at the
Alexian Brothers Hospital,
1136
00:58:05,316 --> 00:58:09,563
which is run by an ancient order
of Catholic monks.
1137
00:58:09,587 --> 00:58:11,665
WAIDE: The brothers were known
for taking care
1138
00:58:11,689 --> 00:58:15,001
of the really extreme cases
of both physical
1139
00:58:15,025 --> 00:58:18,071
and also mental illness.
1140
00:58:18,095 --> 00:58:21,074
And so that's where he ended up
staying in the psychiatric ward
1141
00:58:21,098 --> 00:58:23,243
at Alexian Brothers here
in St. Louis.
1142
00:58:23,267 --> 00:58:26,346
TAYLOR: The Alexian Brothers
Hospital had a secure
1143
00:58:26,370 --> 00:58:29,783
psychiatric facility
where Roland could be taken
1144
00:58:29,807 --> 00:58:33,286
out of the public eye and
everything would be kept secret
1145
00:58:33,310 --> 00:58:37,257
because the Alexian brothers
were known for their secrecy.
1146
00:58:37,281 --> 00:58:40,360
♪♪
1147
00:58:40,384 --> 00:58:41,862
NARRATOR: But soon after,
1148
00:58:41,886 --> 00:58:44,564
hushed whispers
echo down the corridors
1149
00:58:44,588 --> 00:58:47,400
about a special patient
in the psychiatric wing.
1150
00:58:47,424 --> 00:58:50,804
♪♪
1151
00:58:50,828 --> 00:58:54,508
In his only interview,
a dying Alexian monk
1152
00:58:54,532 --> 00:58:58,712
breaks his silence and divulges
his darkest secrets
1153
00:58:58,736 --> 00:59:03,383
of what really happened during
the terrifying final chapters
1154
00:59:03,407 --> 00:59:06,219
in the exorcism of Roland Doe.
1155
00:59:06,243 --> 00:59:11,146
♪♪
1156
00:59:15,585 --> 00:59:19,165
♪♪
1157
00:59:19,189 --> 00:59:22,802
♪♪
1158
00:59:22,826 --> 00:59:26,139
NARRATOR: April 10, 1949,
1159
00:59:26,163 --> 00:59:30,544
After more than three weeks
of unsuccessful exorcisms,
1160
00:59:30,568 --> 00:59:33,680
Roland Doe enters
the Alexian Brothers Hospital
1161
00:59:33,704 --> 00:59:35,916
at the beginning of Holy Week,
1162
00:59:35,940 --> 00:59:38,785
one of the most sacred
and celebrated times
1163
00:59:38,809 --> 00:59:42,422
in the Catholic Church.
1164
00:59:42,446 --> 00:59:45,158
But the week turns into
sheer hell for the priests
1165
00:59:45,182 --> 00:59:49,229
and monks tending
to 13-year-old Roland.
1166
00:59:49,253 --> 00:59:51,331
Before his death,
an Alexian brother
1167
00:59:51,355 --> 00:59:53,266
breaks his vow of silence
1168
00:59:53,290 --> 00:59:58,305
and speaks about the exorcisms
he witnessed firsthand.
1169
00:59:58,329 --> 01:00:01,975
TAYLOR: In 2014, I got
the opportunity to interview
1170
01:00:01,999 --> 01:00:03,777
Brother Greg Holewinski.
1171
01:00:03,801 --> 01:00:08,114
An Alexian Monk
who had never talked about
1172
01:00:08,138 --> 01:00:10,483
his participation
in the exorcism,
1173
01:00:10,507 --> 01:00:13,053
and he was dying of cancer.
1174
01:00:13,077 --> 01:00:15,422
And he wanted to tell his story.
1175
01:00:15,446 --> 01:00:19,059
♪♪
1176
01:00:19,083 --> 01:00:22,195
The first night I went up,
there was a boy laying in bed,
1177
01:00:22,219 --> 01:00:26,399
there were three priests
that were the exorcists.
1178
01:00:26,423 --> 01:00:28,101
During the prayers
of the possession,
1179
01:00:28,125 --> 01:00:29,970
the priest wears the stole.
1180
01:00:29,994 --> 01:00:33,974
It's a fine silk ribbon.
1181
01:00:33,998 --> 01:00:37,544
The devil, using the boy's hand,
reached over and snatched...
1182
01:00:37,568 --> 01:00:39,446
♪♪
1183
01:00:39,470 --> 01:00:44,517
...that silk cloth,
and within a split second,
1184
01:00:44,541 --> 01:00:47,020
it was a thousand threads.
1185
01:00:47,044 --> 01:00:51,791
NARRATOR: Then Brother Greg
witnesses a frightening sight.
1186
01:00:51,815 --> 01:00:56,496
HOLEWINKSI: You could feel
the powers of the devil.
1187
01:00:56,520 --> 01:00:58,898
They saw the boy's
body levitate.
1188
01:00:58,922 --> 01:01:02,135
♪♪
1189
01:01:02,159 --> 01:01:05,772
I was at the foot of the bed
and had my arms crossed over
1190
01:01:05,796 --> 01:01:07,807
from his ankle to his knee.
1191
01:01:07,831 --> 01:01:09,776
♪♪
1192
01:01:09,800 --> 01:01:11,878
I was frightened.
1193
01:01:11,902 --> 01:01:16,383
What I saw was real,
what I touched was real.
1194
01:01:16,407 --> 01:01:21,121
It was an experience
that I would never forget.
1195
01:01:21,145 --> 01:01:25,458
Anybody with common sense
just walk in seeing that
1196
01:01:25,482 --> 01:01:27,227
knows that couldn't be faked.
1197
01:01:27,251 --> 01:01:32,465
♪♪
1198
01:01:32,489 --> 01:01:36,536
After the second night,
the boy...
1199
01:01:36,560 --> 01:01:39,506
...and the devil
had possession of him.
1200
01:01:39,530 --> 01:01:42,142
Suddenly, the devil
threw this decanter.
1201
01:01:42,166 --> 01:01:45,745
♪♪
1202
01:01:45,769 --> 01:01:48,415
And it crashed
into a thousand pieces.
1203
01:01:48,439 --> 01:01:51,151
I've been through storms,
hurricanes, tornadoes
1204
01:01:51,175 --> 01:01:55,822
and whatnot,
but this thing was the worst.
1205
01:01:55,846 --> 01:01:58,825
There's no reason he would
have lied or made this story up.
1206
01:01:58,849 --> 01:02:02,028
You know, here we are 65 years
later at the time,
1207
01:02:02,052 --> 01:02:04,364
and he'd never talked
about it before,
1208
01:02:04,388 --> 01:02:07,000
but what happened
had never left him.
1209
01:02:07,024 --> 01:02:10,203
♪♪
1210
01:02:10,227 --> 01:02:12,305
NARRATOR:
A few days before Easter,
1211
01:02:12,329 --> 01:02:13,873
Father Halloran takes Roland
1212
01:02:13,897 --> 01:02:16,810
to an outdoor retreat center
on a high bluff
1213
01:02:16,834 --> 01:02:20,180
overlooking
the Mississippi River.
1214
01:02:20,204 --> 01:02:22,615
He thinks the fresh air
might help Roland.
1215
01:02:22,639 --> 01:02:25,819
♪♪
1216
01:02:25,843 --> 01:02:28,154
The expansive grounds
include statues
1217
01:02:28,178 --> 01:02:30,857
depicting the stations
of the cross,
1218
01:02:30,881 --> 01:02:35,361
the path Jesus endured
on the way to his crucifixion.
1219
01:02:35,385 --> 01:02:38,364
There was a path that goes
along the bluff that's
1220
01:02:38,388 --> 01:02:41,000
the various stations
of the cross.
1221
01:02:41,024 --> 01:02:42,502
And so while
they were out there,
1222
01:02:42,526 --> 01:02:45,939
Roland seemed very interested
in the stories of the stations.
1223
01:02:45,963 --> 01:02:48,641
When they get
to the 14th station,
1224
01:02:48,665 --> 01:02:51,411
where Jesus is being placed
into the tomb...
1225
01:02:51,435 --> 01:02:53,580
♪♪
1226
01:02:53,604 --> 01:02:55,215
...something snaps in Roland.
1227
01:02:55,239 --> 01:02:57,417
He starts going into a fit,
a seizure.
1228
01:02:57,441 --> 01:03:00,854
He starts running.
1229
01:03:00,878 --> 01:03:03,690
NARRATOR: Father Halloran
chases after Roland,
1230
01:03:03,714 --> 01:03:06,326
who charges straight towards
the edge of the cliff.
1231
01:03:06,350 --> 01:03:08,762
♪♪
1232
01:03:08,786 --> 01:03:11,564
Whatever demon has seized
Roland's soul
1233
01:03:11,588 --> 01:03:16,069
is leading the boy and the
priest toward a violent death.
1234
01:03:16,093 --> 01:03:21,730
♪♪
1235
01:03:25,101 --> 01:03:30,617
♪♪
1236
01:03:30,641 --> 01:03:33,186
NARRATOR: April 13, 1949.
1237
01:03:33,210 --> 01:03:36,122
♪♪
1238
01:03:36,146 --> 01:03:38,958
After nearly a month
of nightly exorcisms...
1239
01:03:38,982 --> 01:03:42,762
♪♪
1240
01:03:42,786 --> 01:03:46,199
...Father Walter Halloran
takes 13-year-old Roland Doe
1241
01:03:46,223 --> 01:03:48,234
outdoors for fresh air.
1242
01:03:48,258 --> 01:03:52,872
♪♪
1243
01:03:52,896 --> 01:03:56,209
They walk the grounds of
the White House Retreat Center,
1244
01:03:56,233 --> 01:03:58,344
which features statues
depicting Jesus
1245
01:03:58,368 --> 01:04:02,015
on the day of his crucifixion.
1246
01:04:02,039 --> 01:04:04,350
But Roland snaps
1247
01:04:04,374 --> 01:04:07,821
and falls into
one of his spells.
1248
01:04:07,845 --> 01:04:12,058
He takes off and heads toward
the edge of a steep bluff.
1249
01:04:12,082 --> 01:04:13,793
♪♪
1250
01:04:13,817 --> 01:04:15,628
Father Halloran has to
chase him down
1251
01:04:15,652 --> 01:04:18,598
because he could kill himself
if he runs off.
1252
01:04:18,622 --> 01:04:20,767
And Father Halloran eventually
has to tackle him
1253
01:04:20,791 --> 01:04:22,769
to get him back under control.
1254
01:04:22,793 --> 01:04:26,573
♪♪
1255
01:04:26,597 --> 01:04:29,876
NARRATOR: Roland comes out
of his crazed trance
1256
01:04:29,900 --> 01:04:32,212
and doesn't remember
what happened.
1257
01:04:32,236 --> 01:04:34,414
LAMPERT: People that I've worked
with who have been possessed,
1258
01:04:34,438 --> 01:04:36,950
some of them will tell me
that they're aware
1259
01:04:36,974 --> 01:04:38,218
of what's going on.
1260
01:04:38,242 --> 01:04:40,386
But just like they're trapped
in their own body
1261
01:04:40,410 --> 01:04:43,323
and they're powerless
to stop what is taking place.
1262
01:04:43,347 --> 01:04:46,559
Other people tell me
that once the demon takes over,
1263
01:04:46,583 --> 01:04:50,864
they no longer have any
awareness of what took place.
1264
01:04:50,888 --> 01:04:54,400
NARRATOR: As Roland's
demonic state worsens,
1265
01:04:54,424 --> 01:04:59,372
Father William Bowdern shows
signs of stress and fatigue.
1266
01:04:59,396 --> 01:05:02,976
Oozing boils cover the priest's
frail, emaciated body.
1267
01:05:03,000 --> 01:05:05,845
♪♪
1268
01:05:05,869 --> 01:05:08,014
TAYLOR: These priests
went through long periods
1269
01:05:08,038 --> 01:05:10,950
where they had to fast and pray,
1270
01:05:10,974 --> 01:05:13,686
and during the course
of these exorcisms,
1271
01:05:13,710 --> 01:05:16,489
Father Bowdern lost
almost 40 pounds.
1272
01:05:16,513 --> 01:05:20,960
These men were exhausted.
1273
01:05:20,984 --> 01:05:23,263
LACHANCE: Father Bowdern,
who is on the side of the bed
1274
01:05:23,287 --> 01:05:27,000
praying for the boy,
and he felt weak,
1275
01:05:27,024 --> 01:05:31,237
but he's fighting
for the life of this young boy.
1276
01:05:31,261 --> 01:05:34,307
When you think about what he
went through, what he did,
1277
01:05:34,331 --> 01:05:36,342
that he could love this child
so much
1278
01:05:36,366 --> 01:05:39,579
that he would pretty
much sacrifice himself for him.
1279
01:05:39,603 --> 01:05:43,149
♪♪
1280
01:05:43,173 --> 01:05:47,186
LAMPERT: If I just did exorcisms
every day of the year,
1281
01:05:47,210 --> 01:05:50,390
I think I would reach the point
where it would have an impact
1282
01:05:50,414 --> 01:05:54,060
on my own mental health
and physical health as well.
1283
01:05:54,084 --> 01:05:55,862
I've known exorcist priests
over the years
1284
01:05:55,886 --> 01:05:58,264
who've actually
left the priesthood.
1285
01:05:58,288 --> 01:06:00,066
They just reached the point
where they just felt like
1286
01:06:00,090 --> 01:06:03,169
they were so broken
that they just couldn't go on.
1287
01:06:03,193 --> 01:06:06,739
♪♪
1288
01:06:06,763 --> 01:06:10,310
♪♪
1289
01:06:10,334 --> 01:06:13,880
NARRATOR: On Holy Saturday,
the day before Easter,
1290
01:06:13,904 --> 01:06:17,150
a monk places a statue
of Saint Michael the Archangel
1291
01:06:17,174 --> 01:06:19,519
in Roland's room.
1292
01:06:19,543 --> 01:06:23,756
Saint Michael symbolizes
protection from evil forces.
1293
01:06:23,780 --> 01:06:26,526
Michael represents
a dragon slayer figure
1294
01:06:26,550 --> 01:06:28,328
and is often depicted that way,
1295
01:06:28,352 --> 01:06:32,432
sort of a soldier
and triumphant over the devil.
1296
01:06:32,456 --> 01:06:36,169
And so he's often invoked
as sort of a protector figure.
1297
01:06:36,193 --> 01:06:39,906
♪♪
1298
01:06:39,930 --> 01:06:42,942
Prayers that were dedicated
to Saint Michael
1299
01:06:42,966 --> 01:06:45,478
seemed to be
particularly effective.
1300
01:06:45,502 --> 01:06:48,948
Roland seemed to really react
in a different way.
1301
01:06:48,972 --> 01:06:51,217
♪♪
1302
01:06:51,241 --> 01:06:53,853
NARRATOR: Do the monks believe
Saint Michael the Archangel
1303
01:06:53,877 --> 01:06:57,390
could finally save Roland
from Satan's wrath?
1304
01:06:57,414 --> 01:07:02,228
♪♪
1305
01:07:02,252 --> 01:07:07,000
♪♪
1306
01:07:07,024 --> 01:07:10,269
The day after Easter marks
more than one month
1307
01:07:10,293 --> 01:07:13,806
since Roland's first exorcism.
1308
01:07:13,830 --> 01:07:17,510
Father Bowdern uses every weapon
in his holy arsenal
1309
01:07:17,534 --> 01:07:21,481
to exorcise the demon.
1310
01:07:21,505 --> 01:07:23,616
Roland complains
the religious medals
1311
01:07:23,640 --> 01:07:27,020
around his neck burn his skin.
1312
01:07:27,044 --> 01:07:31,791
But Father Bowdern refuses
to remove them.
1313
01:07:31,815 --> 01:07:35,628
Instead, he forces a crucifix
into Roland's hand,
1314
01:07:35,652 --> 01:07:37,764
which makes him go
into convulsions.
1315
01:07:37,788 --> 01:07:40,533
♪♪
1316
01:07:40,557 --> 01:07:41,768
Oftentimes when a relic
1317
01:07:41,792 --> 01:07:44,037
is placed on a person
who is possessed,
1318
01:07:44,061 --> 01:07:47,940
you'll hear screams
that somehow it's burning.
1319
01:07:47,964 --> 01:07:50,410
So it's the confrontation
1320
01:07:50,434 --> 01:07:54,113
between the holy
with the demonic.
1321
01:07:54,137 --> 01:07:56,682
♪♪
1322
01:07:56,706 --> 01:07:59,218
At that point, Roland turns
violent and he's shaking
1323
01:07:59,242 --> 01:08:01,954
and he screams,
and in a deep, masculine voice,
1324
01:08:01,978 --> 01:08:05,625
as Father Bowdern demands to
know who's inside of Roland...
1325
01:08:05,649 --> 01:08:09,095
[ Screaming ]
1326
01:08:09,119 --> 01:08:12,765
Father Bowdern was evidently
trying to get the demon
1327
01:08:12,789 --> 01:08:16,602
to express to him, "Tell me
your name. Who are you?"
1328
01:08:16,626 --> 01:08:18,704
NARRATOR: According to the Diary
of the exorcisms
1329
01:08:18,728 --> 01:08:22,975
kept by Father Bishop,
the demon speaks through Roland
1330
01:08:22,999 --> 01:08:26,879
and provokes Father Bowdern
with a haunting threat.
1331
01:08:26,903 --> 01:08:30,483
MAN: He has to say one more
word, one little word.
1332
01:08:30,507 --> 01:08:34,887
I mean, one big word.
He'll never say it.
1333
01:08:34,911 --> 01:08:36,889
I am always in him.
1334
01:08:36,913 --> 01:08:41,194
I may not have much power
always, but I am in him.
1335
01:08:41,218 --> 01:08:44,864
He will never say that word.
1336
01:08:44,888 --> 01:08:46,499
[ Groaning ]
1337
01:08:46,523 --> 01:08:49,869
The demon said, "I'm not going
to leave until Roland's said
1338
01:08:49,893 --> 01:08:51,204
a certain word."
1339
01:08:51,228 --> 01:08:54,474
NARRATOR: In a pivotal showdown
between good and evil...
1340
01:08:54,498 --> 01:08:57,310
Until he said it,
it would stay with him.
1341
01:08:57,334 --> 01:09:00,880
...what word could release
Roland...
1342
01:09:00,904 --> 01:09:02,115
[ Roaring ]
1343
01:09:02,139 --> 01:09:04,539
...from the devil's grip?
1344
01:09:06,342 --> 01:09:11,257
♪♪
1345
01:09:11,281 --> 01:09:16,229
♪♪
1346
01:09:16,253 --> 01:09:19,932
NARRATOR: April 18, 1949.
1347
01:09:19,956 --> 01:09:23,436
After more than a month long
battle,
1348
01:09:23,460 --> 01:09:26,906
Father William Bowdern engages
in a decisive exorcism
1349
01:09:26,930 --> 01:09:31,444
of 13-year-old Roland Doe at
the Alexian Brothers Hospital.
1350
01:09:31,468 --> 01:09:33,880
♪♪
1351
01:09:33,904 --> 01:09:37,216
A demonic spirit
speaks through Roland
1352
01:09:37,240 --> 01:09:40,887
and claims the boy refuses
to say a word
1353
01:09:40,911 --> 01:09:43,122
that might finally set him free.
1354
01:09:43,146 --> 01:09:46,492
DISTORTED VOICE: One more word.
1355
01:09:46,516 --> 01:09:48,094
He'll never say it.
1356
01:09:48,118 --> 01:09:51,330
I am always in him.
1357
01:09:51,354 --> 01:09:53,766
♪♪
1358
01:09:53,790 --> 01:09:56,702
NARRATOR: But according to
the exorcists' diary,
1359
01:09:56,726 --> 01:10:00,673
Roland suddenly defies
the demon possessing him
1360
01:10:00,697 --> 01:10:03,276
and commands the evil spirit
to leave.
1361
01:10:03,300 --> 01:10:05,912
♪♪
1362
01:10:05,936 --> 01:10:09,682
MAN: Roland was in a seizure,
but lay calm.
1363
01:10:09,706 --> 01:10:12,552
In clear, commanding tones,
and with dignity,
1364
01:10:12,576 --> 01:10:15,354
a voice broke into prayers.
1365
01:10:15,378 --> 01:10:17,657
♪♪
1366
01:10:17,681 --> 01:10:19,859
ECHOING VOICE: Satan.
1367
01:10:19,883 --> 01:10:24,130
Satan, I would seek Michael.
1368
01:10:24,154 --> 01:10:26,332
And I command you, Satan,
1369
01:10:26,356 --> 01:10:29,135
and the other devil spirits
to leave the body
1370
01:10:29,159 --> 01:10:32,171
in the name of Dóminus
immediately.
1371
01:10:32,195 --> 01:10:35,708
Now! Now! Now!
1372
01:10:35,732 --> 01:10:41,080
♪♪
1373
01:10:41,104 --> 01:10:45,218
NARRATOR: Father Bowdern
realizes Dóminus is the word
1374
01:10:45,242 --> 01:10:48,654
that the devil claims
Roland would never say.
1375
01:10:48,678 --> 01:10:54,026
"Dóminus" is the Latin
word for "Lord."
1376
01:10:54,050 --> 01:10:56,729
LAMPERT: Dóminus, our Lord,
it's forcing the demon
1377
01:10:56,753 --> 01:11:00,600
to recognize the lordship
of Jesus Christ,
1378
01:11:00,624 --> 01:11:04,036
and by doing that,
it's showing a sign of weakness,
1379
01:11:04,060 --> 01:11:06,872
and then it's going to be
compelled to to depart.
1380
01:11:06,896 --> 01:11:09,375
♪♪
1381
01:11:09,399 --> 01:11:12,478
NARRATOR:
Suddenly, Roland erupts
1382
01:11:12,502 --> 01:11:15,314
and experiences
the most violent convulsions
1383
01:11:15,338 --> 01:11:17,483
of the entire period
of exorcisms.
1384
01:11:17,507 --> 01:11:21,053
♪♪
1385
01:11:21,077 --> 01:11:22,855
In his delirious state,
1386
01:11:22,879 --> 01:11:26,092
Roland claims to have
a prophetic vision.
1387
01:11:26,116 --> 01:11:28,794
TAYLOR: On the final day
of the exorcism,
1388
01:11:28,818 --> 01:11:33,032
Roland envisioned himself
outside of a cave
1389
01:11:33,056 --> 01:11:35,701
with an angel with
a flaming sword
1390
01:11:35,725 --> 01:11:40,306
that he believed
was Saint Michael.
1391
01:11:40,330 --> 01:11:44,377
WAIDE: He sees this vision of
Saint Michael the Archangel
1392
01:11:44,401 --> 01:11:46,779
with a sword and a pitchfork,
1393
01:11:46,803 --> 01:11:51,651
pushing these demons
back into the fiery pit of hell.
1394
01:11:51,675 --> 01:11:53,419
♪♪
1395
01:11:53,443 --> 01:11:55,688
And this angelic figure,
Saint Michael,
1396
01:11:55,712 --> 01:12:00,059
smiles at Roland
and says the word Dóminus,
1397
01:12:00,083 --> 01:12:04,297
which is the word that the devil
said Roland would never say.
1398
01:12:04,321 --> 01:12:07,266
NARRATOR: After several minutes
of uncontrollable spasms,
1399
01:12:07,290 --> 01:12:09,935
Roland relaxes and falls still.
1400
01:12:09,959 --> 01:12:13,939
♪♪
1401
01:12:13,963 --> 01:12:16,909
MAN: After seven or eight
minutes of violence,
1402
01:12:16,933 --> 01:12:20,813
Roland, in a tone
of complete relief, said,
1403
01:12:20,837 --> 01:12:23,516
"He's gone!" Immediately,
1404
01:12:23,540 --> 01:12:25,685
Roland came back to normal.
1405
01:12:25,709 --> 01:12:28,254
♪♪
1406
01:12:28,278 --> 01:12:31,857
Suddenly, this spell,
this seizure that Roland
1407
01:12:31,881 --> 01:12:35,728
was going through just stopped.
1408
01:12:35,752 --> 01:12:37,663
He just went silent.
1409
01:12:37,687 --> 01:12:41,867
And he looked up at the priests,
and he said, "It's over."
1410
01:12:41,891 --> 01:12:44,770
♪♪
1411
01:12:44,794 --> 01:12:49,141
At an exorcism, once the
person says they want help,
1412
01:12:49,165 --> 01:12:52,812
then that connection
with the demonic can be broken,
1413
01:12:52,836 --> 01:12:55,314
even though the demon
might be trying to say,
1414
01:12:55,338 --> 01:12:57,116
"No, no, no, no,
it can't be broken.
1415
01:12:57,140 --> 01:13:00,686
You've made a pact with me."
1416
01:13:00,710 --> 01:13:04,090
NARRATOR: While the priests
and Alexian monks celebrate,
1417
01:13:04,114 --> 01:13:07,026
Father Bowdern remains
skeptical.
1418
01:13:07,050 --> 01:13:10,629
Has the demon truly left
for good?
1419
01:13:10,653 --> 01:13:12,698
TAYLOR:
Father Bowdern wasn't so sure.
1420
01:13:12,722 --> 01:13:13,899
He'd seen this before.
1421
01:13:13,923 --> 01:13:16,602
This was not the first time
that Roland
1422
01:13:16,626 --> 01:13:20,706
or the demon in Roland told him
that it was over.
1423
01:13:20,730 --> 01:13:23,743
So he had prayed for a sign
to be sent
1424
01:13:23,767 --> 01:13:26,612
so that he would know
it really had come to an end.
1425
01:13:26,636 --> 01:13:30,516
And then suddenly,
there was this massive boom...
1426
01:13:30,540 --> 01:13:33,285
♪♪
1427
01:13:33,309 --> 01:13:34,820
...that shook the building.
1428
01:13:34,844 --> 01:13:38,090
In fact, one of the monks there
believed that their furnace
1429
01:13:38,114 --> 01:13:40,092
had exploded, it was that loud.
1430
01:13:40,116 --> 01:13:41,994
♪♪
1431
01:13:42,018 --> 01:13:44,830
NARRATOR: Moments after the
mysterious blast reverberates
1432
01:13:44,854 --> 01:13:46,966
throughout the hospital,
1433
01:13:46,990 --> 01:13:49,869
priests report an image
of Saint Michael
1434
01:13:49,893 --> 01:13:52,304
illuminating the dome above
the altar
1435
01:13:52,328 --> 01:13:55,508
at nearby St. Francis Xavier
College Church.
1436
01:13:55,532 --> 01:14:00,279
♪♪
1437
01:14:00,303 --> 01:14:03,315
TAYLOR: Father Bowdern knew
that was the sign
1438
01:14:03,339 --> 01:14:08,220
that he had been waiting for,
and that it really was over.
1439
01:14:08,244 --> 01:14:10,256
That was the end
of the exorcism.
1440
01:14:10,280 --> 01:14:13,292
♪♪
1441
01:14:13,316 --> 01:14:16,295
♪♪
1442
01:14:16,319 --> 01:14:19,465
Roland stayed in St. Louis
for a couple of weeks,
1443
01:14:19,489 --> 01:14:24,570
and then returned home
to Maryland.
1444
01:14:24,594 --> 01:14:27,006
He did contact Father Bowdern
one last time,
1445
01:14:27,030 --> 01:14:29,642
he wrote him a letter,
told him how happy he was,
1446
01:14:29,666 --> 01:14:32,812
he was back in school, that he
had just gotten a new dog.
1447
01:14:32,836 --> 01:14:36,415
And things seemed to be
going okay for him.
1448
01:14:36,439 --> 01:14:38,384
NARRATOR: After examining
all of the evidence
1449
01:14:38,408 --> 01:14:40,820
gathered in Maryland
and St. Louis,
1450
01:14:40,844 --> 01:14:43,856
the Catholic Church
reportedly refuses to confirm
1451
01:14:43,880 --> 01:14:49,261
or deny Roland Doe was a genuine
case of demonic possession.
1452
01:14:49,285 --> 01:14:54,500
COOPER: There were 48
eyewitnesses who signed off
1453
01:14:54,524 --> 01:14:57,903
on this final
ecclesiastical document
1454
01:14:57,927 --> 01:15:03,108
reporting that these abnormal
things had occurred.
1455
01:15:03,132 --> 01:15:05,077
Now, that's not a signing off
saying absolutely
1456
01:15:05,101 --> 01:15:08,447
I know with 100% this was
a case of demonic possession.
1457
01:15:08,471 --> 01:15:10,616
But we saw some
really weird stuff
1458
01:15:10,640 --> 01:15:12,651
that happened around this kid
1459
01:15:12,675 --> 01:15:15,421
that we don't know
how to explain naturally.
1460
01:15:15,445 --> 01:15:18,891
♪♪
1461
01:15:18,915 --> 01:15:21,093
NARRATOR:
Despite the church's conclusion,
1462
01:15:21,117 --> 01:15:23,963
the priests who were there
believe Roland Doe
1463
01:15:23,987 --> 01:15:27,032
was an undisputed case
of demonic possession.
1464
01:15:27,056 --> 01:15:29,635
♪♪
1465
01:15:29,659 --> 01:15:33,472
WAIDE: Father Bowdern soldiered
through this whole ordeal
1466
01:15:33,496 --> 01:15:37,943
and said virtually nothing
to family members about it
1467
01:15:37,967 --> 01:15:39,979
until his dying days.
1468
01:15:40,003 --> 01:15:42,381
But he did say that he believed,
1469
01:15:42,405 --> 01:15:47,887
you know, that he was dealing
with a true demonic possession.
1470
01:15:47,911 --> 01:15:49,455
If you've ever had anyone
in your life
1471
01:15:49,479 --> 01:15:51,857
whose word you implicitly
believe,
1472
01:15:51,881 --> 01:15:56,428
this was the guy, was
Uncle Bill, was Father Bowdern.
1473
01:15:56,452 --> 01:16:00,032
He wasn't an exaggerator.
I think with his common sense,
1474
01:16:00,056 --> 01:16:04,136
he would never think
to exaggerate anything.
1475
01:16:04,160 --> 01:16:06,472
WILKINSON: Do you choose to
believe that this was something
1476
01:16:06,496 --> 01:16:10,910
that was real and that happened
as it's reported?
1477
01:16:10,934 --> 01:16:14,380
Do you choose
to remain skeptical?
1478
01:16:14,404 --> 01:16:19,051
It boils down to, do you trust
the veracity of the witnesses?
1479
01:16:19,075 --> 01:16:21,954
TAYLOR: I have doubts
about parts of the story,
1480
01:16:21,978 --> 01:16:25,391
but I do think
something happened.
1481
01:16:25,415 --> 01:16:27,593
Whether you want to believe
it was a demon
1482
01:16:27,617 --> 01:16:31,964
or some sort of presence or some
sort of psychological problem
1483
01:16:31,988 --> 01:16:34,333
that was instantly cured
somehow,
1484
01:16:34,357 --> 01:16:37,069
whatever it was,
it was expelled.
1485
01:16:37,093 --> 01:16:40,606
♪♪
1486
01:16:40,630 --> 01:16:42,708
NARRATOR: While the final report
of the exorcism
1487
01:16:42,732 --> 01:16:46,946
remains locked away
in the Roman Catholic archives,
1488
01:16:46,970 --> 01:16:50,516
speculation
and questions persist.
1489
01:16:50,540 --> 01:16:54,353
Now, an investigator talks
on camera for the first time
1490
01:16:54,377 --> 01:16:58,357
about a possible cover up
surrounding the exorcism case.
1491
01:16:58,381 --> 01:17:01,160
What happened to
the real Roland Doe
1492
01:17:01,184 --> 01:17:04,730
and the demon
that allegedly possessed him?
1493
01:17:04,754 --> 01:17:06,487
♪♪
1494
01:17:09,124 --> 01:17:14,440
♪♪
1495
01:17:14,464 --> 01:17:17,810
NARRATOR: The 1949 exorcism case
of Roland Doe
1496
01:17:17,834 --> 01:17:20,412
is supposed to be
kept top secret.
1497
01:17:20,436 --> 01:17:23,048
While most involved
remain tight-lipped,
1498
01:17:23,072 --> 01:17:26,085
stories eventually
leak to the press
1499
01:17:26,109 --> 01:17:28,454
and reported details
about the boy's life
1500
01:17:28,478 --> 01:17:33,726
after the exorcisms
are revealed.
1501
01:17:33,750 --> 01:17:36,128
Roland remains Catholic.
1502
01:17:36,152 --> 01:17:40,099
He goes to a Catholic Jesuit
high school,
1503
01:17:40,123 --> 01:17:42,301
Gonzaga Prep.
1504
01:17:42,325 --> 01:17:45,404
He marries,
had several children.
1505
01:17:45,428 --> 01:17:48,240
He evidently named
his first child Michael
1506
01:17:48,264 --> 01:17:49,942
after Saint Michael.
1507
01:17:49,966 --> 01:17:52,244
TAYLOR: He did very well,
went to college,
1508
01:17:52,268 --> 01:17:54,580
literally became
a rocket scientist,
1509
01:17:54,604 --> 01:17:56,715
went to work part-time
with NASA.
1510
01:17:56,739 --> 01:18:01,153
He has a couple of patents for
scientific devices to his name,
1511
01:18:01,177 --> 01:18:03,856
including shielding
they used on rockets.
1512
01:18:03,880 --> 01:18:07,393
So he has lived a very full
and long life,
1513
01:18:07,417 --> 01:18:11,163
never troubled by anything
that had happened to him
1514
01:18:11,187 --> 01:18:13,165
during that time period.
1515
01:18:13,189 --> 01:18:16,902
♪♪
1516
01:18:16,926 --> 01:18:21,240
I had always said I would never
put his name into print,
1517
01:18:21,264 --> 01:18:23,909
and I think his privacy
needs to be respected.
1518
01:18:23,933 --> 01:18:25,644
♪♪
1519
01:18:25,668 --> 01:18:28,747
NARRATOR: The real Roland Doe,
now in his 80s,
1520
01:18:28,771 --> 01:18:31,150
has never spoken publicly
1521
01:18:31,174 --> 01:18:34,987
and will most likely take
his secrets to the grave.
1522
01:18:35,011 --> 01:18:36,188
BELANGER: I don't blame him.
1523
01:18:36,212 --> 01:18:37,589
I don't blame him for
keeping silent on it.
1524
01:18:37,613 --> 01:18:39,725
And it's possible
he doesn't even remember.
1525
01:18:39,749 --> 01:18:42,261
It's possible
if he really wasn't himself,
1526
01:18:42,285 --> 01:18:43,762
he would have
no recollection of it.
1527
01:18:43,786 --> 01:18:46,065
So what is there to say
at this point?
1528
01:18:46,089 --> 01:18:49,068
But we do know he lived a life.
1529
01:18:49,092 --> 01:18:51,904
♪♪
1530
01:18:51,928 --> 01:18:55,908
While Roland Doe may have put
the exorcisms behind him,
1531
01:18:55,932 --> 01:18:58,444
eyewitnesses and residents
of St. Louis
1532
01:18:58,468 --> 01:19:01,346
claim physical reminders
of his ordeal
1533
01:19:01,370 --> 01:19:03,482
continue to haunt the city.
1534
01:19:03,506 --> 01:19:06,485
♪♪
1535
01:19:06,509 --> 01:19:10,756
In 1978, the psychiatric wing
of the Alexian Brothers Hospital
1536
01:19:10,780 --> 01:19:13,025
is scheduled to be torn down.
1537
01:19:13,049 --> 01:19:15,094
Before leveling the building,
1538
01:19:15,118 --> 01:19:19,131
construction workers
make a chance discovery.
1539
01:19:19,155 --> 01:19:21,266
The construction crew
found a particular room
1540
01:19:21,290 --> 01:19:23,102
that was locked.
1541
01:19:23,126 --> 01:19:24,903
They found a desk in the room,
1542
01:19:24,927 --> 01:19:29,241
and inside was this booklet
1543
01:19:29,265 --> 01:19:33,712
that had been put together
that mentioned an exorcism.
1544
01:19:33,736 --> 01:19:36,014
And it turned out that
it had been a copy
1545
01:19:36,038 --> 01:19:39,384
of Father Bishop's diary
of the exorcism.
1546
01:19:39,408 --> 01:19:42,888
And that's how the story
eventually became public.
1547
01:19:42,912 --> 01:19:46,258
That's how we have access
to the diary now.
1548
01:19:46,282 --> 01:19:50,496
♪♪
1549
01:19:50,520 --> 01:19:52,765
NARRATOR: The diary
might not be the only
1550
01:19:52,789 --> 01:19:56,168
eerie vestige of the exorcism.
1551
01:19:56,192 --> 01:19:58,871
Investigator Stephen LaChance
says he's discovered
1552
01:19:58,895 --> 01:20:02,007
a possible conspiracy
in the case.
1553
01:20:02,031 --> 01:20:04,676
He claims an unnamed
church official
1554
01:20:04,700 --> 01:20:07,946
provided him access
to a medical facility
1555
01:20:07,970 --> 01:20:11,250
near the old
Alexian Brothers Hospital.
1556
01:20:11,274 --> 01:20:14,219
LACHANCE: I was taken to a
hospital. I was taken through security.
1557
01:20:14,243 --> 01:20:16,255
There's a little elevator.
We were taken up.
1558
01:20:16,279 --> 01:20:20,425
It was the third
or fourth floor.
1559
01:20:20,449 --> 01:20:23,195
It was completely deserted.
There was no one there.
1560
01:20:23,219 --> 01:20:25,964
I walked up to the door,
and I started to pull the door
1561
01:20:25,988 --> 01:20:27,232
and they stopped me
and they said,
1562
01:20:27,256 --> 01:20:28,700
"You can't open it."
And I said, "Why?"
1563
01:20:28,724 --> 01:20:32,371
They said,
"Put your ear to the door."
1564
01:20:32,395 --> 01:20:33,839
And I put my ear to the door
1565
01:20:33,863 --> 01:20:37,676
and there sounded like there
was things...
1566
01:20:37,700 --> 01:20:41,213
flying against the wall,
crashing.
1567
01:20:41,237 --> 01:20:44,082
And they asked me,
"Do you know where you are?"
1568
01:20:44,106 --> 01:20:48,453
And they said, "This is the
place where the priests stayed."
1569
01:20:48,477 --> 01:20:52,991
For decades, rumors persist that
once the devil left Roland Doe,
1570
01:20:53,015 --> 01:20:57,062
it must have possessed
someone else.
1571
01:20:57,086 --> 01:21:01,700
Now, I believe that
Roland Doe's demon
1572
01:21:01,724 --> 01:21:04,336
went from Roland into a priest.
1573
01:21:04,360 --> 01:21:07,906
♪♪
1574
01:21:07,930 --> 01:21:10,209
And the priest took the demon
over from the boy,
1575
01:21:10,233 --> 01:21:12,110
which is not uncommon.
It has happened before,
1576
01:21:12,134 --> 01:21:15,180
and I believe they housed
the priest in a hospital
1577
01:21:15,204 --> 01:21:17,115
until his death in 1983.
1578
01:21:17,139 --> 01:21:20,252
And I believe
that's where I was.
1579
01:21:20,276 --> 01:21:24,489
During exorcisms, the entity
will try to leave
1580
01:21:24,513 --> 01:21:28,260
the afflicted individual
and go into other people
1581
01:21:28,284 --> 01:21:30,395
who may be present
at the exorcism,
1582
01:21:30,419 --> 01:21:33,665
including the exorcist himself.
1583
01:21:33,689 --> 01:21:36,168
NARRATOR:
In an ultimate act of sacrifice,
1584
01:21:36,192 --> 01:21:39,171
is it possible a priest
took possession of the devil
1585
01:21:39,195 --> 01:21:42,975
to save Roland and then spent
the rest of his life
1586
01:21:42,999 --> 01:21:45,944
locked in a mental hospital?
1587
01:21:45,968 --> 01:21:48,447
LACHANCE: According to the
person from the Catholic Church
1588
01:21:48,471 --> 01:21:51,483
that I was with, that was indeed
what had happened.
1589
01:21:51,507 --> 01:21:55,187
So there you go.
1590
01:21:55,211 --> 01:21:57,823
That's one of those St. Louis
things that you're not going
1591
01:21:57,847 --> 01:22:01,026
to hear anywhere else,
and I think it's sad
1592
01:22:01,050 --> 01:22:04,863
that somebody
gave their life for the child.
1593
01:22:04,887 --> 01:22:08,667
NARRATOR: If the story is true,
perhaps William Peter Blatty
1594
01:22:08,691 --> 01:22:10,736
knew this
before writing the climax
1595
01:22:10,760 --> 01:22:13,639
to his screenplay,
"The Exorcist."
1596
01:22:13,663 --> 01:22:16,909
In the shocking scene,
a priest takes the devil
1597
01:22:16,933 --> 01:22:20,779
into his own body
and then ends his life.
1598
01:22:20,803 --> 01:22:23,982
♪♪
1599
01:22:24,006 --> 01:22:27,152
♪♪
1600
01:22:27,176 --> 01:22:28,754
The St. Louis exorcism
1601
01:22:28,778 --> 01:22:32,157
inspired one of the most iconic
horror films of all time.
1602
01:22:32,181 --> 01:22:35,093
♪♪
1603
01:22:35,117 --> 01:22:37,095
Yet the real case of Roland Doe
1604
01:22:37,119 --> 01:22:40,632
and its strange
aftermath remains unresolved.
1605
01:22:40,656 --> 01:22:46,171
♪♪
1606
01:22:46,195 --> 01:22:49,107
We're still talking about
this case because it was made
1607
01:22:49,131 --> 01:22:52,344
into one of the greatest
horror movies of all time,
1608
01:22:52,368 --> 01:22:55,580
and then you find out that
there's a story behind the story
1609
01:22:55,604 --> 01:22:56,915
and that it's real?
1610
01:22:56,939 --> 01:22:59,151
You're never going to
stop talking about it
1611
01:22:59,175 --> 01:23:02,220
because that's what
profound stories do.
1612
01:23:02,244 --> 01:23:04,323
They stay with us.
1613
01:23:04,347 --> 01:23:07,559
LACHANCE: How can a child go
from being innocent and pure
1614
01:23:07,583 --> 01:23:09,027
to a monster?
1615
01:23:09,051 --> 01:23:10,629
I think that's interesting.
1616
01:23:10,653 --> 01:23:15,600
And I think with people,
that's where the curiosity lies.
1617
01:23:15,624 --> 01:23:18,637
TAYLOR: I think for other
people, they see it as a warning.
1618
01:23:18,661 --> 01:23:21,306
Why why in the world
would a 13-year-old boy
1619
01:23:21,330 --> 01:23:25,177
be possessed by some evil
or demonic presence?
1620
01:23:25,201 --> 01:23:27,980
Why? What did he ever do?
Nothing.
1621
01:23:28,004 --> 01:23:31,149
This is just a kid
living his life in 1949.
1622
01:23:31,173 --> 01:23:34,252
There's that fear of
if it can happen to him,
1623
01:23:34,276 --> 01:23:35,454
it could happen to me.
1624
01:23:35,478 --> 01:23:36,888
It could happen to anyone.
1625
01:23:36,912 --> 01:23:38,623
If it's real,
1626
01:23:38,647 --> 01:23:44,596
then this could happen to
anyone, any time, any day.
1627
01:23:44,620 --> 01:23:46,531
NARRATOR: For those who believe,
1628
01:23:46,555 --> 01:23:51,436
the exorcism of Roland Doe
endures as a haunting warning
1629
01:23:51,460 --> 01:23:54,306
evil walks among us,
1630
01:23:54,330 --> 01:23:56,274
and the devil's greatest trick
1631
01:23:56,298 --> 01:24:01,346
is making us believe
he doesn't exist.
1632
01:24:01,370 --> 01:24:04,872
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