The Aumsville Exorcism

In 1974, in the small rural community of Aumsville, Oregon, a young woman named Lory Mitchell underwent an exorcism that would end in tragedy. The case highlights the dangers that arise when mental illness is interpreted through a supernatural lens, and the consequences when vulnerable people are subjected to religious intervention rather than medical treatment.

Background

Lory Mitchell was a young woman in her twenties who had experienced psychiatric problems for several years. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had spent time in psychiatric facilities. Her condition was known to her family and community, though the interpretation of her symptoms varied.

Mitchell’s family belonged to a fundamentalist Christian community that viewed mental illness with suspicion. Some members of their church believed that psychiatric problems could be manifestations of demonic possession. As Mitchell’s condition worsened, the family sought help from their religious community rather than medical professionals.

The Decision to Perform Exorcism

As Mitchell’s behavior became increasingly disturbed, church members became convinced that demons were responsible. She exhibited classic symptoms of severe mental illness—hallucinations, paranoid delusions, violent outbursts—which were interpreted as evidence of demonic influence.

The family and church leaders decided to perform an exorcism. They believed that prayer and faith could drive out the demons tormenting Mitchell, freeing her from her affliction in a way that psychiatry had failed to do.

The Exorcism

The exorcism took place in a private home with approximately a dozen participants. Church members restrained Mitchell and began praying over her, commanding demons to leave her body.

The session lasted for hours. Mitchell struggled against her restraints and screamed. The participants interpreted her resistance as the demons fighting against expulsion. They intensified their prayers and physical intervention.

At some point during the prolonged exorcism, Mitchell stopped breathing. Participants initially believed she was merely unconscious or that her stillness represented the demons departing. By the time they realized the severity of the situation, it was too late.

Death and Investigation

Lory Mitchell died during the exorcism. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to the prolonged physical restraint. The weight of those holding her down, combined with her exhaustion from struggling, had compressed her chest until she could no longer breathe.

Law enforcement investigated the death. Several participants were charged with crimes ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment. The case brought national attention to the practice of exorcism and its potential dangers.

Legal Proceedings

The legal proceedings that followed raised difficult questions about religious freedom and criminal responsibility. Participants maintained they were performing a religious ritual in good faith, attempting to help Mitchell. Prosecutors argued that their actions, regardless of motivation, had caused a preventable death.

The case highlighted the legal gray areas surrounding exorcism. Religious practices are protected, but physical restraint leading to death can constitute criminal behavior regardless of religious intent.

Medical vs. Spiritual Interpretation

The Aumsville case exemplifies the clash between medical and spiritual interpretations of mental illness. Mitchell had received psychiatric treatment and medication that, while imperfect, represented the best available medical care for her condition.

The decision to substitute exorcism for medical treatment reflected a worldview that saw psychiatric symptoms as spiritual rather than biological. This interpretation, while sincere, proved fatal.

Mental health professionals pointed to the case as a warning about the dangers of treating mental illness as possession. The symptoms of schizophrenia—hallucinations, paranoid delusions, disordered thinking—can appear similar to traditional descriptions of possession. Without proper training, lay people may interpret these symptoms through a supernatural framework with tragic consequences.

Religious Response

The case sparked debate within religious communities about the appropriate role of exorcism. Many mainstream denominations had already moved away from literal belief in possession and exorcism. The Aumsville death reinforced concerns about the practice.

Some defenders of exorcism argued that the Aumsville case represented a failure of proper procedure rather than a condemnation of exorcism itself. They distinguished between legitimate spiritual intervention conducted under appropriate supervision and amateur efforts that endangered vulnerable people.

Others in the religious community acknowledged that the case demonstrated the need for cooperation between spiritual and medical care. A person experiencing symptoms of possession should receive psychiatric evaluation as well as, or instead of, religious intervention.

Legacy

The Aumsville exorcism became a cautionary tale, cited in discussions about the boundaries between religious practice and harm. It influenced legal and medical guidelines regarding the treatment of mentally ill individuals in religious contexts.

The case did not end the practice of exorcism—it continues in various forms in many religious traditions. But it contributed to increased scrutiny of exorcism practices and heightened awareness of the medical conditions that can be misinterpreted as possession.

Lory Mitchell’s death serves as a reminder that faith, however sincere, is not a substitute for appropriate medical care. The line between spiritual support and harmful intervention can be tragically thin.