Anneliese Michel’s haunting story blurs the lines between faith, mental illness, and tragedy. Her exorcism, death, and the sensational trial that followed captivated the world. From her troubled youth to her eerie final days, these 30 chilling facts uncover the unsettling truth behind one of history’s most controversial cases of alleged possession.
30. Birth of Anneliese Michel – 1952
Anneliese Michel was born on September 21, 1952, in Leiblfing, Bavaria, West Germany. Raised in a devout Roman Catholic household, Anneliese was one of four daughters. Her parents, Anna and Josef Michel, were strict and religious. Her upbringing set the stage for the intense spiritual and psychological struggles she would later endure.
29. First Seizure – 1968
At age 16, Anneliese suffered her first seizure. Doctors diagnosed her with temporal lobe epilepsy, a condition linked to hallucinations and visual distortions. This marked the beginning of a long battle with mental and neurological health issues. Her behavior soon became erratic, blending religious obsession with troubling symptoms.
28. Hospitalization and Medication – 1969
Anneliese was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where she was prescribed anti-convulsant drugs like Dilantin. Despite treatment, her mental health declined. She experienced depression, paranoia, and suicidal ideation. Her condition baffled doctors, as medications seemed to have little effect on her worsening symptoms.
27. Diagnosis: Psychosis with Epileptic Patterns – 1970
Doctors diagnosed Anneliese Michel with “psychosis related to epilepsy” and admitted her to the Psychiatric Clinic Würzburg. Despite ongoing medication, her condition worsened. She claimed to see the Devil, heard tormenting voices, and felt she was eternally damned. These terrifying visions marked a shift from medical treatment to spiritual explanations, setting the stage for exorcism.
26. Withdrawal from School and Isolation – 1973
Anneliese Michel enrolled at the University of Würzburg to study education and theology, hoping for a normal future. However, her health rapidly declined, and she struggled to attend classes. She became socially withdrawn, stopped eating, and engaged in obsessive prayer. Her disturbing behavior led her devout parents to believe her suffering was spiritual—not medical—in nature.
25. Religious Fixation Intensifies – 1973
Anneliese began showing a severe aversion to religious objects, claiming that crucifixes burned her skin and that she couldn’t walk past churches. Her parents observed disturbing behavior, including drinking her own urine and hiding under tables, growling like an animal. These actions escalated to a point beyond any psychiatric explanation.
24. Request for Exorcism – 1974
The Michel family approached several priests to request an exorcism, but the Church initially denied it, recommending continued medical treatment. However, they persisted. Anneliese’s mother insisted her daughter was possessed and beyond medical help, claiming demons were speaking through her and rejecting the possibility of a mental health diagnosis.
23. Bishop Approves Exorcism – 1975
After months of appeals, Bishop Josef Stangl of Würzburg authorized the exorcism in 1975. He appointed Father Ernst Alt and Father Arnold Renz to perform the ritual using the Roman Rite of Exorcism. This decision would go down in history as one of the most controversial religious acts of the 20th century.
22. First Exorcism Session – September 1975
The first official exorcism of Anneliese Michel occurred on September 24, 1975. The priests believed she was possessed by multiple demons, including Lucifer, Judas Iscariot, Nero, Cain, Hitler, and a disgraced priest named Fleischmann. These intense sessions lasted up to four hours and were conducted as often as twice a week.
21. Voice Recordings – October 1975
The priests recorded over 42 audio tapes during Anneliese Michel’s exorcisms. Her voice shifted dramatically, alternating between growls, screams, and mocking taunts. She spoke in multiple languages and sometimes simultaneously with different voices. These eerie tapes later became critical evidence in the trial, deeply influencing public and legal perceptions.
20. Extreme Self-Harm – November 1975
Anneliese Michel displayed increasingly disturbing behaviors: she bit herself, bashed her head against walls, tore off her clothes, and ate insects. Her family claimed she had superhuman strength. She knelt in prayer so obsessively her knees ruptured. Despite medical treatment and spiritual intervention, her physical and mental health continued to rapidly decline.
19. Failed Medical Interventions – December 1975
Though doctors continued monitoring Anneliese’s condition, her family limited hospital visits. Physicians recommended forced institutionalization, but the Michel family believed this would interfere with the exorcisms. As her condition worsened, she stopped eating entirely, and her weight dropped below 90 pounds, signaling the severity of her physical decline.
18. Sessions Increase in Intensity – January 1976
The exorcisms became longer and more violent, with Anneliese screaming for hours, frothing at the mouth, and claiming to see burning figures. Her family and the priests believed the demons clung to her soul with increased resistance. Meanwhile, her body deteriorated rapidly, showing severe signs of physical and emotional torment.
17. Last Public Appearances – March 1976
Anneliese Michel stopped attending school entirely. Her few remaining friends described her as a shadow of her former self—pale, withdrawn, and frail. She told others she was sacrificing herself for the sins of others, believing her death would cleanse the world and offer salvation through her suffering.
16. Final Exorcism – June 30, 1976
On June 30, 1976, Anneliese Michel underwent her 67th and final exorcism. Emaciated and barely conscious, she could no longer eat, drink, or speak clearly. Her final words were reportedly, “Beg for absolution” and “Mother, I’m afraid.” Her condition was beyond saving—her tragic and terrifying journey had come to an end.
15. Anneliese Michel Dies – July 1, 1976
Anneliese Michel died in her home on July 1, 1976, from malnutrition and dehydration. At the time of death, she weighed only 68 pounds, with signs of broken bones, bruises, and extreme starvation. She had endured 67 exorcism sessions, and her health had severely deteriorated throughout the ordeal.
14. Authorities Informed – July 1976
Despite Anneliese Michel’s rapidly deteriorating condition, no medical help was sought for weeks. The state prosecutor intervened, launching an investigation. Authorities were horrified by the exorcism audio tapes, photographs, and diary entries, which vividly documented her extreme suffering, revealing the shocking neglect she endured during the prolonged religious rituals.
13. Trial Begins – 1978
In March 1978, the trial of Anneliese Michel’s parents and two priests began, with charges of negligent homicide. Prosecutors argued that medical intervention could have saved her life. The case, marked by intense media scrutiny, captivated both Germany and the world, sparking widespread debate over faith, mental health, and responsibility.
12. Courtroom Shocker – Audio Evidence
During the trial, the court listened to tapes of Anneliese Michel’s exorcisms, shocking the jury with her voice changes, guttural growls, and disturbing threats. She referred to herself in the plural, saying, “We are the demons.” The prosecution argued this behavior was evidence of untreated psychosis, not possession.
11. Medical Testimony – A Preventable Death
Doctors testified that Anneliese Michel could have been saved just days before her death if she had been force-fed or hospitalized. They diagnosed her with a combination of epilepsy and psychosis, worsened by religious delusions and severe detachment from reality, which ultimately led to her tragic and preventable demise.
10. Defense – “She Wanted This”
The defense argued that Anneliese Michel had the right to refuse medical treatment and genuinely believed she was possessed. The priests insisted they followed official Church protocol under the approval of Bishop Stangl. Her parents testified that Anneliese had begged them to stop further medical intervention, trusting in spiritual healing.
9. Guilty Verdict – April 1978
All four defendants were found guilty of negligent homicide but received light sentences: six months in prison, suspended with three years’ probation. The court recognized their deep religious convictions and sincere intentions. Despite the verdict, the case remained deeply controversial, dividing public opinion on faith, responsibility, and mental health.
8. Exhumation Ordered – 1978
In 1978, Anneliese Michel’s parents requested her body be exhumed, believing it had not decomposed and might show signs of sainthood. However, when the body was examined by authorities, it had decayed normally. Despite public interest, no official photographs of the exhumation were ever released to the public.
7. Vatican Response – Quiet but Firm
The Catholic Church distanced itself from the case. Although the exorcism had been authorized, the Vatican later revised its guidelines, requiring stricter medical and psychological vetting before approving exorcisms. Anneliese’s case became a textbook example of religious extremism clashing with mental health care.
6. New Exorcism Guidelines – 1984
Following the Michel case, the Catholic Church revised its official exorcism rite in 1984. The updated guidelines emphasized that most possession cases were likely mental health disorders and urged clergy to consult medical professionals first. This new approach aimed to prevent future tragedies like Anneliese Michel’s heartbreaking ordeal.
5. “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” – 2005
Anneliese’s story inspired the 2005 horror film The Exorcism of Emily Rose. While the movie fictionalized many aspects of the case, it included several true elements, such as the haunting recordings, the courtroom drama, and her tragic death. This portrayal reignited public fascination, introducing her story to a new generation.
4. Legacy – Folk Sainthood in Germany
To this day, some people in Germany visit Anneliese Michel’s grave, viewing her as a saint. Her gravestone is often decorated with flowers, candles, and heartfelt notes. Her parents, unwavering in their beliefs, refused to accept a mental illness diagnosis, insisting their daughter died as a martyr for her faith.
3. Modern Medicine vs. Spiritual Belief
Anneliese Michel’s case continues to ignite debate between science and religion. Mental health experts view it as a devastating example of untreated psychiatric illness, highlighting the dangers of neglecting medical care. In contrast, some religious groups still regard her story as compelling evidence of genuine demonic possession in the modern era.
2. Audio Tapes Circulate Online
Recordings from Anneliese Michel’s exorcisms remain online and are widely regarded as some of the most disturbing audio ever released. Her guttural screams, distorted voice, and chilling animal-like sounds have shocked listeners worldwide, fueling ongoing debate and fascination at the intersection of faith, mental illness, and supernatural belief.
1. A Cautionary Tale
Anneliese Michel’s life and death remain a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences when medical science and spiritual belief clash. Her story endures not only through horror films but also in psychiatric literature, Church doctrine, and classroom debates. She is one of history’s most haunting and controversial exorcism cases.