The Maria José Ferreira Case

The case of Maria José Ferreira, known as “the girl from Jaboticabal,” combined elements of possession and poltergeist phenomena. Her ordeal was investigated by Brazilian researchers and documented with photographs and testimony from numerous witnesses.

The Beginning

Maria José Ferreira was eleven years old when strange events began occurring around her in 1965. Objects moved without apparent cause. Stones fell inside her house. Furniture shifted. The activity escalated over months.

The Escalation

The phenomena became increasingly violent. Needles appeared embedded in Maria’s flesh. Stones materialized inside the house and struck family members. Objects caught fire spontaneously. Maria began displaying signs of possession.

The Possession

Maria spoke in voices not her own. She displayed knowledge she could not possess. Her behavior shifted between normal and completely alien. Religious interventions had minimal effect.

The Investigation

Brazilian researchers including journalist Guy Lyon Playfair investigated the case. They documented physical phenomena and interviewed numerous witnesses. Photographs captured objects in mid-flight. The case was well-documented for its era.

The Outcome

The phenomena eventually subsided without clear resolution. Maria’s later life was marked by difficulties. She died young under circumstances that remain unclear. Her case left questions unanswered.

Assessment

The Maria José Ferreira case represents a combination of poltergeist and possession phenomena rarely so thoroughly documented. The physical evidence photographed and the number of witnesses distinguish it from cases based solely on testimony.