Anneliese Michel was just 23 years old and weighed only 31 kilograms when she was found dead at her home in Germany.
Her ordeal had begun during adolescence, when she started experiencing seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. She received medical treatment, but other symptoms gradually appeared, including episodes of severe distress and changes in her behavior.
Her deeply religious family eventually became convinced that she was possessed by evil spirits.
In September 1975, two priests began performing exorcisms with authorization from a bishop. Over approximately ten months, they carried out 67 rituals.
Some of the sessions were recorded, capturing Anneliese screaming, making unusual sounds, and speaking in voices that those present interpreted as demons communicating through her.
While the exorcisms continued, Anneliese’s physical condition deteriorated. She stopped eating properly, lost a significant amount of weight, and became so weak that she needed assistance to move.
On July 1, 1976, she died at the age of 23.
The autopsy identified the cause of death as malnutrition and dehydration.
In 1978, her parents and the two priests were convicted of negligent homicide after failing to provide the medical care and assistance necessary to prevent her death.
Years later, Anneliese Michel’s story inspired the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose. However, the movie introduced supernatural elements that were never established as facts in the real case.
