The St. Louis Exorcism of 1949

In early 1949, a fourteen-year-old boy known by the pseudonyms Roland Doe, Robbie Mannheim, or simply R underwent an exorcism that would later inspire William Peter Blatty’s novel “The Exorcist” and the subsequent film. The case involved multiple priests, numerous witnesses, and phenomena that convinced those present they were dealing with genuine demonic possession.

Background

The boy lived with his family in Cottage City, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. He had been close to his aunt, a spiritualist who introduced him to the Ouija board. When his aunt died in January 1949, the family claimed that strange phenomena began shortly thereafter.

Scratching sounds came from inside the walls. The boy’s bed shook violently while he was in it. Objects moved on their own. Furniture rearranged itself. The family consulted ministers, doctors, and finally the Catholic Church.

Initial Exorcism Attempts

The family sought help from multiple sources. A Lutheran minister witnessed the phenomena and recommended Catholic involvement. A Jesuit priest, Father E. Albert Hughes, attempted an exorcism at Georgetown University Hospital. During the ritual, the boy allegedly broke free of his restraints and slashed the priest’s arm with a bedspring, requiring stitches.

The family then traveled to St. Louis, where relatives lived, hoping distance would help. The phenomena followed them.

The St. Louis Exorcism

In St. Louis, the case was taken up by Father William Bowdern, assisted by Father Walter Halloran and Father William Van Roo. The exorcism took place over several weeks in spring 1949, primarily at the Alexian Brothers Hospital.

Father Halloran, the youngest priest present, witnessed and later confirmed the phenomena he observed. He described the boy speaking in languages he did not know, demonstrating impossible knowledge of hidden objects, and exhibiting superhuman strength. Most dramatically, he reported that the words “HELL” and “EVIL” appeared scratched on the boy’s skin, forming in front of witnesses’ eyes.

The ritual required multiple sessions. The boy would become violent, curse in unknown voices, and display physical transformations including contorted features and seemingly possessed strength.

Resolution

On April 18, 1949, during what would be the final session, the boy suddenly called out in a commanding voice, “Satan! I am Saint Michael, and I command you, Satan, to leave this body now!” The boy then relaxed completely and asked for communion.

According to witnesses, he had no memory of the preceding weeks. He recovered fully and went on to live a normal life, reportedly in the Washington, D.C. area. His true identity has been protected to this day.

Documentation

Father Bowdern kept a diary of the exorcism that was later obtained by researchers. The document describes the phenomena in clinical detail and served as a primary source for later investigations.

The case was also documented in hospital records, though these have been sealed. Multiple witnesses, including Father Halloran until his death in 2005, continued to confirm the basic facts of the case.

Assessment

The St. Louis exorcism of 1949 is notable for its documentation, its multiple clerical witnesses, and its cultural impact. The priests involved were educated professionals who initially sought natural explanations and only reluctantly concluded they were witnessing possession.

Whether the boy was genuinely possessed, suffering from psychological trauma manifesting in dramatic symptoms, or experiencing something else entirely, the case shaped public understanding of possession for generations. The Exorcist would not have been written without it, and the cultural image of demonic possession remains influenced by what occurred in St. Louis in spring 1949.