Special Sub-Topic: An Exorcism in St. Louis Click Here To Play: An Exorcism in St. Louis

The exorcism in St. Louis was the basis for a book called "The Exorcist", which was written in 1971. Who was the author of the book?

William Peter Blatty. Many of the early events in the case were recorded by the Jesuit priests who later performed the exorcism. When William Peter Blatty was a student at Georgetown University in 1949 and heard about a diary that had been kept. He even found the name of the priest involved. However, priests who are involved in exorcisms are said to be sworn to secrecy. No further information or comments were forthcoming.

The exorcism in St. Louis was performed on a girl.

False. The subject was a young boy who was called Roland or Robbie Doe. Blatty changed the character of the story to a girl in order to respect the family's privacy. Troy Taylor, the author of "The Devil Came to St. Louis", says that at the time the book was written Robbie was still alive, and went on to lead a normal life after his ordeal.

Where did the events that led to the exorcism in St. Louis begin?

Cottage City, Maryland. After the exorcism Robbie and his parents left St. Louis and returned to Maryland. He went on to attend a Catholic High School, and reportedly remains a devout Catholic today. Troy Taylor claims to have found (through quite a bit of research) the identify of Robbie, who lived in the Washington, D.C. area at the time of writing. Robbie says he has never had a repeated supernatural experience.

In which decade did the events of the alleged possession take place?

1940s. In January 1949 Robbie's family began to hear scratching noises that seemed to come from inside the walls and ceilings of their house. In addition, they said that objects in the home moved any without explanation, and they heard a noise that sounded like someone walking in the hallway.

People who believed Robbie was possessed, believed the incident began with:

a Ouiga Board experiment. Robbie had been taught how to use the device by a relative who believed in Spiritualism and the occult. Perhaps he was invaded by an invisible entity after experimenting. Robbie's relative passed away shortly after the symptoms began. Some have suggested that there was a connection between her death and his possession.

The name of the priest who performed the actual exorcism was:

Father Bowdern, S.J.. Rev. Thomas Bermingham, S.J., was Blatty's instructor when he was a student at Georgetown University. The priest who kept the supposed journal of the exorcism, as well as participated, was Rev. Raymond Bishop, S.J. Father Brian McGrath, S.J., was Dean of Georgetown University in the spring of 1950.

According to five witnesses, which archangel ordered the demon to depart?

Michael. On the night of April 18, after days of little progress, Bowdern tried a new treatment. Robbie was forced to wear a chain of religious medals and to hold a crucifix in his hands. Five witnesses said Robbie screamed that he was a fallen angel; finally, a loud voice identifying himself as St. Michael the Archangel ordered the demon to depart. Robbie told the priests that he had a vision of St. Michael holding a flaming sword.

During his stay in St. Louis, Robbie was hospitalized for a while at:

Alexian Brother's Hospital. When Robbie left Alexian Brother's Hospital, Brother Rector Cornelius had a statue of St. Michael removed from the room, and stated that the room would be kept permanently locked. Supposedly, everyone who worked at the hospital knew why the door was locked, but kept the secret. In October of 1978 the original hospital was razed to make room for a new building.

What reports were later made about the hospital room in which Robbie stayed?

All of these answers are correct (The area around the door was always ice cold, Demonic laughter was heard, Screaming was heard). According to Taylor, some of the Alexian brothers still dream about the wing and the locked door.

What events happened at the time of the demoliton of the old hospital?

All of these (The wrecking ball swung and hit a portion of a new building., The furniture and records were found in the still-locked room., "Something" emerged from the room.). The crew members who worked at the Department of Transportation desribed it as a "cat or big rat or something." Was the creature natural or supernatural?