10 Most Infamous Cases Of Demonic Attachment & Possession

One of the most infamous cases of demonic attachment involves the Annabelle doll, which gained widespread notoriety through the investigations of paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren. In the early 1970s, a nursing student received the doll as a gift and soon began experiencing strange occurrences. The doll appeared to move on its own, and notes with disturbing messages were found around the house. A psychic medium revealed that the doll was possessed by a demon masquerading as a young girl named Annabelle. The Warrens intervened and concluded that the doll was indeed a conduit for a malevolent entity. Annabelle was placed in a specially secured case in the Warrens' Occult Museum, where it remains to this day.

One of the most infamous possession cases is that of Anneliese Michel, a German woman who underwent 67 exorcisms in 1975-1976. Anneliese began experiencing severe depression and hallucinations in her teenage years, which modern medicine attributed to epilepsy and mental illness. However, she and her deeply religious family believed she was possessed by multiple demons, including Lucifer, Judas Iscariot, Nero, Cain, and Hitler. The exorcisms, conducted by two priests, were intense and gruelling but ultimately unsuccessful in saving Anneliese. She died of malnutrition and dehydration in 1976. The case led to legal proceedings against her parents and the priests, and it has inspired films such as 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose'.

Also known as the Entity Case, this is a well-documented and terrifying account of demonic attachment involving a woman named Doris Bither in the 1970s. Bither claimed that she and her children were being attacked by unseen forces in their home in Culver City, California. The most disturbing aspect of the case was the physical assaults, which included sexual attacks by invisible entities. A team of paranormal researchers, including Dr. Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor, investigated the house and witnessed inexplicable phenomena, including balls of light and physical manifestations. Despite their efforts, the haunting continued, and Bither eventually moved away, but the case remains one of the most harrowing examples of demonic attachment.

The case of Roland Doe (a pseudonym for the boy involved, Robbie Mannheim), also known as the St. Louis exorcism case, is one of the most famous instances of possession. This case involved a 14-year-old boy in the late 1940s who began experiencing strange phenomena after his aunt introduced him to a Ouija board. The boy's family reported furniture moving on its own, strange noises, and objects levitating. After consulting their Lutheran pastor, the family turned to the Catholic Church. The exorcisms were performed by Father William Bowdern and Father Walter Halloran. During the rituals, Roland exhibited violent reactions, spoke in a guttural voice, and displayed knowledge of events and languages he could not have known. The final exorcism concluded with Roland declaring he was free from the demonic presence. This case served as the basis for William Peter Blatty's novel 'The Exorcist'.

The Amityville Horror is one of the most famous cases of demonic attachment linked to a specific location. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. The following year, the Lutz family moved into the house but fled after only 28 days, claiming they experienced intense paranormal activity. The Lutzes reported phenomena such as swarms of flies, cold spots, foul odours, and green slime oozing from the walls. George Lutz claimed to have seen demonic faces and felt an oppressive presence throughout the house. The case was investigated by various paranormal experts, including Ed and Lorraine Warren, who concluded that the house was plagued by demonic entities. The Amityville Horror has since become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring numerous books and films.

The Bell Witch haunting is an early American case of attachment that took place in Adams, Tennessee, in the early 19th century. The Bell family began experiencing strange noises, physical attacks, and sightings of a spectral figure. The entity seemed particularly hostile towards John Bell and his daughter Betsy. The Bell Witch, as it became known, was said to be a malevolent spirit capable of speech, physical assault, and manipulating objects. The haunting persisted for several years and ended mysteriously with the death of John Bell, which some attributed to the witch. Many believe the Bell Witch was more than a mere ghost or restless spirit. The entity's malevolence, ability to manipulate the physical environment, and profound intelligence suggest the presence of a demonic force. The Bell Witch displayed all these characteristics, leading many to conclude that a demon was at work.

The Smurl family haunting in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, is another chilling case. Jack and Janet Smurl, along with their children, experienced a decade-long haunting starting in 1974, which they attributed to demonic possession. The family reported foul smells, strange noises, physical attacks, and the appearance of shadowy figures. The case gained notoriety when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in. The Warrens claimed the Smurl home was occupied by a powerful demon. Despite multiple exorcisms, the disturbances continued until the family eventually moved.

The Perron family haunting, which inspired the film 'The Conjuring', involved a demonic attachment in their farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. In the 1970s, the Perron family began experiencing a range of paranormal phenomena, including strange noises, foul odours, and physical attacks. The mother, Carolyn Perron, was particularly targeted, suffering from severe physical and psychological torment. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the case and identified the primary malevolent entity as Bathsheba Sherman, a witch who had lived in the area during the 19th century. The Warrens performed multiple cleansing rituals, but the haunting left a lasting impact on the family, who eventually moved out.

A more recent case is the Ammons haunting, which took place in Gary, Indiana, in 2011. Latoya Ammons and her three children reported being tormented by demons in their home. The family experienced strange occurrences such as swarms of flies, shadowy figures, and the levitation of one of the children. The case gained significant attention when medical professionals, including a child services caseworker and a hospital staff, claimed to have witnessed the paranormal activity. The family sought help from their church, and multiple exorcisms were performed by Father Michael Maginot. The case was widely covered in the media and became the subject of a documentary.

The Black Monk of Pontefract is widely recognised as one of the most violent and well-documented cases of demonic attachment in the United Kingdom. In the late 1960s, the Pritchard family moved into a house in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and soon began experiencing disturbing paranormal activity. The entity, dubbed the "Black Monk," was responsible for physical attacks, levitating objects, and other malevolent phenomena. The haunting was characterised by its intensity and the physical harm inflicted on family members, particularly the teenage daughter, Diane. The Black Monk of Pontefract is believed to be the spirit of a 16th-century monk who was executed for heinous crimes. Despite various attempts to cleanse the house, the activity reportedly continues, making it a notorious site for paranormal investigators.