Summary
Overview
This is part two of the tragic case of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who underwent 67 exorcisms over nine months in 1975-1976, ultimately dying of starvation and dehydration at age 23. The episode details how religious conviction, mental illness, and shared psychosis converged to prevent proper medical intervention, leading to her death and the subsequent manslaughter trial of two priests and her parents.
The Priests Get Involved
Father Karl Roth, working under Father Alt, maintained a growing fascination with Anneliese's case despite Alt's initial reluctance. In fall 1975, both priests experienced strange hallucinations while discussing the case, including smelling stenches and visions of Christ on the cross. These supernatural experiences, combined with Anneliese's deteriorating condition, finally convinced Father Alt that this was genuine demonic possession requiring their intervention.
- Father Karl Roth received information about Anneliese from her mother and passed it to Father Alt, becoming increasingly fascinated despite Alt's initial refusal
- Father Alt had undergone psychiatric evaluations showing signs of possible schizophrenia and pseudo-hallucinations
- While discussing Anneliese on a walk, both priests smelled the same stenches described by Anneliese and her mother
- Father Alt saw a vision of Christ on the cross calling out to him months earlier
" In the case of Father Alt, we are dealing with an abnormal personality in the wildest sense of the term. During the multiple psychiatric examinations he underwent in the late 1970s, The evaluating psychologist noted, quote, parts of his history even suggest the presence of a psychosis of the schizophrenic type. "
" In the evening, I took a walk with my friend, Father Roth. And once more, as we talked about Annalise Michelle, we smelled the same series of stenches described by Annalise and her mother. "
Anneliese's Brief Glimpse of Hope and Deepening Depression
While attending university in early 1974, Anneliese met Peter at a local dance and briefly came back to life, engaging in social activities for the first time in years. However, her profound depression quickly returned, causing her to end the relationship despite Peter's insistence on remaining friends. She told him she felt completely numb and incapable of feeling love or any emotions, textbook symptoms of severe chronic depression that went largely untreated due to the stigma surrounding mental health in 1970s Germany.
- Anneliese met Peter at a dance in early 1974, which completely revived her and got her dancing and bowling
- She ended the relationship after a few weeks, saying she was too depressed and not good company for anybody
- When Peter insisted they remain friends, she told him 'I cannot feel any love at all. I am all numb, sort of. I can't feel emotions like that'
- Her psychologist Dr. Leonard described her as a textbook case of neurosis caused by family dynamics
" I often get terribly depressed and I'm not good company for anybody. "
" You don't understand. I cannot feel any love at all. I am all numb, sort of. I can't feel emotions like that. "
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