Ep 219: The True Story Behind the Exorcist Part 1
“One of the artifices of Satan is to induce men to believe that he does not exist: another, perhaps equally fatal, is to make them fancy that he is obliged to stand quietly by, and not to meddle with them, if they get into true silence.”
Description:
What every horror film loves to boast, if possible, is the claim of "Based on a True Story." Because if the story is not just from some writer's imagination, if there is a thread to an actual event with real people, no matter how thin, then the fear becomes more real. William Friedkin's 1973 motion picture The Exorcist is considered one of, if not the scariest horror film of all time. At that time, no audience had seen a case of demonic possession dramatized so deftly and explicitly, and the resulting shock left a lasting mark on popular culture and our collective psyche. Not as widely known is that William Peter Blatty adapted his Oscar-winning screenplay for the movie from his novel of the same name. And perhaps even lesser-known to most is that Blatty based his book on a real-life case, what is more commonly known as the "1949 Exorcism," or "The Exorcism of Roland Doe," or of "Robbie Mannheim." The Jesuits of the Catholic Church who examined the 13-year-old boy exhibiting either severe mental and emotional disturbances or authentic spiritual possession referred to him at the time only as "R" in their journal about the investigation. This report, known informally as the "Exorcist's Diary," is the only complete documented account of the events, and it kept the boy's identity anonymous out of respect. Guiding our examination of the story is the exhaustive work of our friend and guest for the Villisca Axe Murder series, investigative author Troy Taylor. Troy's updated version of his book, The Devil Came to St. Louis – UNCENSORED," is the culmination of over 20 years of research and interviews with surviving witnesses to the incredible occurrences. Troy had kept a promise not to reveal "R's" real name and sensitive details until after his death. Now that "Roland Doe" had passed away in May of 2020, Troy was free to publish the 4th edition of his book in 2021, revealing previously unpublicized information, including his name. Troy's book and our presentation aim at getting to the truth behind an actual, largely forgotten case that haunted the mindset of a generation. But don't think that separating the myths from the facts will make this tale any less frightening. For if even the slightest supernatural happening in this record is accurate, and there is plenty of testimony to support that it is, it's enough to unsettle your beliefs. If the wildest and worst accounts are true, and you're unsure what to believe, then most disturbing may be the adage that not believing in the Devil won't protect you from him.
Location:
The childhood home of Ronald “Ronnie” E. Hunkeler in Cottage City, Maryland, now considered Brentwood, MD. Ronnie’s parents, Edwin and Odell, had moved there from St. Louis when Ronnie was about 4-years-old. Also living in the house was Ronnie’s grandmother Anna Coppage, Odell’s German mother. Ronnie lived at this address when the incidents began until he was relocated to St. Louis between the ages of thirteen and fourteen years old.
Reference Links:
Other Troy Taylor books and offerings from American Hauntings Ink
“Couple unknowingly purchases 'The Exorcist' house” from NPR.org, October 3, 2021
The 1973 William Friedkin classic horror motion picture, The Exorcist on IMDb
“Father Gabriele Amorth: The Vatican’s Chief Exorcist” from Biographics on YouTube
“Vatican exorcist reveals his most haunting experiences” from A Current Affair on YouTube
“Figures of Babylon: oldest drawing of a ghost found in British Museum vault” from The Guardian
Related Books:
SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR SPECIAL SPONSORS:
FIND OTHER GREAT DEALS FROM OUR SHOW’S SPONSORS BY CLICKING HERE!
CREDITS:
Episode 219: The True Story Behind the Exorcist Part 1. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel and Brandon Shexnayder. Sound Design by Ryan McCullough; Tess Pfeifle, Producer, and Lead Researcher; Graphic Animation by Joshua Slone. Research Support from the astonishing League of Astonishing Researchers, a.k.a. The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2021 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.