The Earling Iowa Schoolgirl Case

In 1960, a young girl in Earling, Iowa, began exhibiting disturbing behavior that local priests attributed to demonic possession. The case, though less famous than the 1928 Anna Ecklund exorcism also connected to Earling, followed a similar pattern.

The Symptoms

The girl, whose identity was protected, began speaking in languages she had never learned, displaying knowledge she should not have possessed, and reacting violently to religious objects. Her personality would shift dramatically, from a normal child to something frightening.

The Investigation

Local priests, mindful of the famous 1928 case in their community, approached the situation carefully. They documented the phenomena before seeking permission for intervention from the diocese.

The Intervention

With approval from Church authorities, prayers and blessings were conducted over several sessions. The activity decreased gradually rather than ending in a dramatic confrontation.

Resolution

The girl recovered and went on to live a normal life. The case was kept quiet to protect her identity, only emerging in local historical accounts decades later.

Assessment

The Earling schoolgirl case represents the quieter reality of most possession claims: local clergy responding to a family in crisis, without the drama of famous cases but with similar phenomena reported.