Anneliese Michel

Anneliese Michel was born on September 21, 1952, in Germany. She was a high school student who faced significant mental health challenges from a young age. At the age of sixteen, she experienced a seizure that led to a diagnosis of psychosis attributed to temporal lobe epilepsy. This diagnosis was soon followed by a struggle with depression, prompting her to seek treatment in a psychiatric hospital.

As she transitioned into adulthood, Anneliese's condition deteriorated. By the age of twenty, she began to exhibit symptoms that included an intolerance to religious objects and auditory hallucinations. Despite undergoing five years of psychiatric treatment and medication, her symptoms persisted, leading her and her family to believe that she was possessed by a demon.

In 1975, after initially being denied, two priests received permission from the local bishop, Josef Stangl, to perform exorcism rites on Anneliese. Over the course of the following year, she underwent a staggering sixty-seven exorcism sessions. Tragically, during this time, her family ceased consulting medical professionals, and Anneliese stopped eating, ultimately succumbing to malnutrition and dehydration.

The aftermath of her death was marked by legal repercussions for her parents and the priests involved. They were convicted of negligent homicide, receiving sentences that included six months in jail, later reduced to three years of probation, along with a fine. Anneliese's harrowing story has inspired several religious horror films, including 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose,' 'Requiem,' and 'Anneliese: The Exorcist Tapes.'