The Exorcism of Roland Doe (1940s)

 

                        

Location: Maryland and St. Louis, Missouri, USA

The case known as the Exorcism of Roland Doe (a pseudonym used to protect the identity of the child) occurred in the late 1940s in the United States. The boy reportedly lived in Maryland and began experiencing disturbing events after using a Ouija board, allegedly introduced to him by a relative. Soon afterward, family members claimed to hear scratching sounds, furniture moving, and unexplained noises within their home.

As the boy’s behavior became increasingly violent and erratic, his family sought medical and psychiatric help, but no clear explanation was found. Eventually, Jesuit priests became involved, and a series of exorcisms were performed, primarily in St. Louis, Missouri. According to accounts written by the priests, the boy exhibited extreme agitation, spoke in altered voices, and showed physical reactions during the rituals. Reports also described words appearing on his skin and violent resistance during prayers.

The case was documented privately within religious circles and later became known to William Peter Blatty, who used it as inspiration for his 1971 novel The Exorcist. The book, and its 1973 film adaptation, became cultural phenomena and permanently shaped modern possession horror. Whether interpreted as demonic possession, psychological illness, or mass suggestion, the Roland Doe case remains one of the most influential real-life incidents in horror history.

https://horrornews.net/163635/assets-discoverys-the-exorcism-of-roland-doe-shock-docs-special/