Mental Illness or Demonic Possession: Annelise Michel
Was this girl really possessed by the devil?
I first heard about this case through the show Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural (which I’m a huge fan of).
I’ve watched many of their episodes and many horror movies before, but this case was probably the only thing that has ever genuinely terrified me. I remember being so scared that I was hesitant to even close my eyes in the shower, not to mention sleeping at night.
Beginnings
The story goes that Anneliese Michel was a German girl born in 1952, and both her family and herself were very religious Roman Catholics. But once she was 16, Michel began experiencing severe convulsions.
Her doctors gave her various psychiatric treatments including anti-convulsion drugs, and other medicine. However, Michel’s condition only worsened: she began to feel depressed, having hallucinations, and “hearing things” while praying.
She even described seeing devilish faces throughout the day. As time went on, her condition became worse. Michel began to become intolerant to Christian relics and symbols, even the crucifix.
At that point, her family and community began to suspect demonic possession, and wanted her to be exorcised. The local priests however declined, stating that a bishop’s approval was needed and overall recommending Michel to continue seeking medical remedies. They didn’t believe that she met the standards to be considered possessed.
But Michel continued to worsen. Physically, she looked like Annabelle the doll. Mentally, she began to act aggressive and display even “weirder” behavior. She began doing things such as drinking her own urine, injuring herself, refusing regular food and drink, growling at crosses, and eating insects. This entire time she was still taking her medication.
The exorcisms
Priest Father Ernst Alt finally suspected that Michel was not suffering from seizures, and asked the local bishop to grant permission for an exorcism.
Bishop Josef Stangl agreed, and Father Arnold Renz administered the first session on September 24th, in total secrecy. In total, 67 exorcisms were performed over the course of ten months. There are audio recordings of some of these exorcisms, and they are the most haunting, disturbing, and chilling tapes I have ever heard. If you want to hear it, you can easily search it up online, but if you want a good night sleep, I strongly recommend against it.
Despite the medical and spiritual treatments, Anneliese Michel died on July 1, 1976. The official cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration, as she basically refused to eat or drink anything for a year. When she died, she weighed only 33 kilograms.
Trial
Then after an investigation, Michel’s parents and the two priests were charged with homicide. They were convicted, and given six month prison sentences, which later turned into three years of probation and a fine. But at the forefront of the trial was the debate whether or not Michel was truly “possessed” or just suffering from mental illness(es).
To me, this is one of those cases that sets the battle of religion versus science. On one hand, it’s hard to say that its demons and magic that caused Michel’s death. Yet on the other (and even though I am not an expert on mental health), I don’t know any illness or series of illnesses that could cause someone to growl at a cross.
But then again, that is what makes it so bizarre and terrifying — that such a beautiful, teenage girl can have such a tragic fate. And to add on, I do believe that regardless of the cause, her death could have been prevented, whether that treatment be from exorcisms or medical care, and that itself makes this case all the more heartbreaking.
