Anna Elisabeth "Anneliese" Michel (1952-1976)
The case of Anneliese Michel is one of the most famous and controversial instances of alleged demonic possession and legal negligence in modern history. A young German woman from a devoutly Catholic family, her death following a series of exorcisms led to a high-profile trial that pitted religious belief against medical science.
Medical History and Symptoms
- Diagnosis: At age 16, Anneliese began experiencing seizures and was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and psychosis.
- Psychiatric Treatment: She underwent several years of medical and psychiatric treatment, taking medications such as Dilantin, Aolept, and Tegretol.
- Deterioration: Despite treatment, her condition worsened. She suffered from depression and began seeing "devil faces" and hearing voices that told her she was "damned."
- Behavioral Changes: She displayed extreme behaviors, including biting family members, eating insects, drinking her own urine, and reacting violently to religious objects (such as crucifixes and holy water).
The Exorcisms
Convinced that her condition was spiritual rather than medical, Anneliese and her family sought help from the Catholic Church.
- Approval: After initially being denied, Bishop Josef Stangl eventually authorized a "major exorcism" in 1975 under the Rituale Romanum of 1614.
- The Rites: Two priests, Father Ernst Alt and Father Arnold Renz, performed 67 exorcism sessions over a period of ten months.
- Alleged Possession: During the sessions, which were recorded on audio tape, "demons" identifying themselves as Lucifer, Cain, Judas Iscariot, Nero, and Hitler reportedly spoke through her.
- Physical Decline: Anneliese eventually refused to eat or receive medical care, believing her "vicarious suffering" would save others. She died of malnutrition and dehydration on July 1, 1976, weighing only 68 pounds (approx. 31 kg).
The Trial and Verdict
In 1978, the "Aschaffenburg Case" drew international media attention. The state charged her parents and the two priests with negligent homicide.
- Prosecution Argument: The state argued that Anneliese’s death was preventable and that her medical condition (epilepsy and psychosis) should have been treated by doctors, not ignored in favor of ritual.
- Defense Argument: The defense claimed the exorcism was a protected religious act and that Anneliese had exercised her own will in refusing food.
- Outcome: All four defendants were found guilty of negligent homicide. They were sentenced to six months in prison, which was later suspended to three years of probation.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- Church Reform: The case led the Catholic Church to revise its exorcism rites in 1999, now requiring that a medical doctor be consulted to rule out mental or physical illness before a rite is performed.
- Pop Culture: The story served as the primary inspiration for following film :
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose in 2005
- Requiem in 2006
- Anneliese: The Exorcist Tapes in 2011
Google Gemini AI
25 January 2026: 10.43 p.m
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