The Watseka Wonder

The Watseka Wonder was an 1877-1878 case in which a teenage girl named Lurancy Vennum apparently became possessed by the spirit of Mary Roff, a local girl who had died twelve years earlier. The case was extensively documented and became famous in early psychical research.

The Background

Lurancy Vennum was a normal teenage girl in Watseka, Illinois, until she began experiencing trances, speaking in different voices, and claiming to see spirits. Doctors were consulted. One suggested allowing the spirits to speak.

Mary Roff

During a trance, a spirit identifying as Mary Roff, who had died in 1865, asked to go “home.” Mary had lived in Watseka and died before Lurancy was born. The families had no connection.

The Possession

Lurancy went to live with the Roff family for three months. She recognized family members and objects, recalled incidents from Mary’s life that Lurancy could not have known, and behaved exactly as Mary had. She did not recognize her own parents.

The Return

After three months, Mary announced she must leave and Lurancy must return. Lurancy “awakened” with no memory of the experience and returned to her own family. She later married and lived a normal life.

Assessment

The Watseka Wonder was cited as compelling evidence for survival after death. Skeptics suggest information leakage, multiple personality disorder, or fraud. The case remains important in the history of psychical research.