The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel

Anneliese Michel’s case remains one of the most documented and controversial possession claims of the twentieth century. Between 1975 and 1976, the young German woman underwent 67 exorcism sessions, all recorded on audio tape. She died on July 1, 1976, weighing only 68 pounds, having refused food for months while believing herself possessed by multiple demons. Her death led to the criminal prosecution of her parents and the two priests who performed the exorcisms, sparking debates about religious practice, mental illness, and the boundaries of faith that continue to this day.

Early Life

Anneliese Michel was born in Leiblfing, Bavaria, on September 21, 1952, into a strict Catholic family. Her parents, Josef and Anna, were devout believers who raised their children with strong religious values. By all accounts, Anneliese was a serious, intelligent girl who shared her family’s faith.

In 1968, when Anneliese was sixteen, she experienced her first episode. She woke in the night feeling paralyzed, as if a massive weight pressed down on her chest. She could not call out. The experience terrified her. A year later, she had a similar episode and began experiencing convulsions.

Medical Diagnosis

Anneliese was taken to various doctors who diagnosed her with epilepsy. She was prescribed anticonvulsant medications, including Dilantin. The seizures continued. She began experiencing hallucinations—she saw grimacing devil faces while praying, heard voices telling her she was damned.

Throughout the early 1970s, Anneliese struggled. She attempted to continue her education, enrolling at the University of Würzburg to study education. But her symptoms worsened. She developed an aversion to religious objects—crucifixes, holy water, sacred images repelled her. She began referring to herself in the plural and speaking in voices not her own.

Religious Interpretation

Anneliese and her family became convinced that her problems were not purely medical. The failure of medications to control her symptoms, combined with her violent reactions to sacred objects, suggested demonic possession. By 1973, the family was petitioning the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism.

The local bishop initially refused, recommending continued medical treatment. But as Anneliese’s condition deteriorated, the Church eventually relented. In September 1975, Bishop Josef Stangl authorized an exorcism to be performed by Father Arnold Renz and Father Ernst Alt.

The Exorcisms

Beginning on September 24, 1975, the two priests conducted exorcism sessions, usually one or two per week, that would continue for ten months. Each session was recorded on audio tape—over forty hours of recordings that would later serve as evidence in court.

During the exorcisms, Anneliese appeared to be possessed by multiple entities. She identified them as Lucifer, Cain, Judas Iscariot, Nero, Hitler, and a disgraced priest named Fleischmann, among others. She spoke in voices distinct from her own, sometimes in languages she had not studied.

The tapes reveal Anneliese growling, screaming, and speaking as different “demons.” She engaged in dialogue with the priests, the entities expressing hatred of the sacred and making theological arguments. She displayed knowledge she seemed unable to possess and demonstrated physical strength that surprised those present.

Physical Deterioration

As the exorcisms continued, Anneliese’s physical condition worsened dramatically. She refused food, believing the demons would not permit her to eat. She performed hundreds of genuflections daily, eventually rupturing the ligaments in her knees. She bit through her own teeth and lips. She engaged in self-harm, including eating spiders and coal.

Her parents and the priests believed her suffering was spiritually meaningful—a sacrifice that would save souls. They continued the exorcisms rather than seeking hospitalization. Anneliese herself opposed medical intervention, believing only religious solution would help.

Death

On July 1, 1976, Anneliese Michel died. The official cause of death was dehydration and malnutrition resulting from nearly a year of self-starvation. She weighed 68 pounds at death. She had been suffering from pneumonia and was covered in sores from lying in the same position.

The state attorney was notified. An investigation began. The exorcism tapes were seized as evidence.

Trial

In 1978, Anna and Josef Michel, along with Fathers Renz and Alt, were charged with negligent homicide. The trial became a sensation, drawing international media attention and raising profound questions about religious practice, mental illness, and parental responsibility.

Prosecutors argued that Anneliese had suffered from epilepsy and mental illness, conditions that were treatable. By pursuing exorcism rather than medical care, the defendants had allowed her to die. Expert psychiatric testimony described her symptoms as consistent with temporal lobe epilepsy and psychosis.

The defense argued that Anneliese’s symptoms exceeded any medical diagnosis and that the exorcism had been conducted in good faith. They played the audio recordings, presenting the demonic voices as evidence of genuine possession. They called witnesses who had observed the exorcisms and believed them authentic.

Verdict

The court convicted all four defendants of negligent homicide. The parents and priests received suspended sentences of six months imprisonment and probation. The sentences were lenient, reflecting the court’s recognition that the defendants had acted from sincere religious conviction rather than malice.

The Catholic Church responded by restricting future exorcisms, requiring medical and psychiatric consultation before any such procedures. The Michel case prompted reforms in how the Church approached possession claims.

Legacy

Anneliese Michel’s case continues to generate debate. Was she possessed, mentally ill, or both? Could religious and medical approaches have been combined? Did the exorcisms help, harm, or merely accompany a trajectory that would have ended the same way regardless?

Her grave in Klingenberg has become a pilgrimage site for some Catholics who view her as a martyr. The audio recordings continue to circulate, their disturbing content cited as evidence for both possession and mental illness depending on the listener’s perspective.

The case inspired the films “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005) and “Requiem” (2006), introducing Anneliese’s story to new generations. Her death stands as a cautionary tale about the limits of faith and the consequences when spiritual and medical needs collide.