The Roland Doe Case

By Crusader1307

 It is widely known that William Peter Blatty's classic Novel of Demonic Possession ''The Exorcist'' is the standard for an entire Genre of Horror Films and Books on The Subject. The books would go on to become a major Warner Brothers Film (with many sequels and ''rip offs to boot). But it is also known that Blatty may have been given His ''idea'' from an actual Case. A Case which is still hard to get the facts about. The supposed Event took place in Maryland (US) – outside of Georgetown. It involved a young man in the mid-1940s whose last name was really never known to The Public. He is simply known as ''Roland Doe''. Roland came from a moderately Religious Family, bu had an Aunt who was a self-proclaimed Spiritualist. Further, She introduced Roland to The Quija Board. During His early teenage years, Roland began to exhibit unusual behavior. He was known to sit for hours in a chair, simply ''staring out into space'' (as if He was not ''really there). Later, The Family reported household objects '' flying off shelves or outright breaking on their own''. Strange ''creaks, bumps and thumps'' could be heard at night in the walls. This lead to the entire House ''vibrating and shaking'' as if it was in an Earthquake.

This would lead to more dangerous and scarier event by 1946. At night, ''Roland'' would be heard speaking to Himself in a ''deep and guttural tone'' also using languages that would later be identified as ''Aramaic, Greek and Latin'' (languages that He had no educational knowledge of). It was when His parents came into His room on night, during what was described as ''complete anarchy'', that they saw Roland's bed ''jumping and hopping around on it's own'' – with the Boy ''floating above it''. It was time to seek help. The Family sought help from The Catholic Church. The Church sent in trained members of The Society of Jesus (Jesuits). After several tests with Doctors and Psychiatrists, The Jesuits determined to move forward with an Exorcism. It was said nearly 50 people participated in The Ritual with as well documented with the ''technology of the day''. It ''lasted 7-days supposedly. But Roland apparently ''relapsed''. This time, He was taken to an Asylum run by The Jesuits in Georgetown. This time, Roland (it was reported), ''manifested'' a Demon who was able to break free of it's restraints. Making a makeshift weapon from His bed springs, Roland almost killed a Priest.

This would lead to a final ''confrontation'' with The Jesuits and Roland. Those who witnessed this event refused to a person, to discuss what ''they saw'' – save that it was the most ''terrifying experience'' of their life. All records of The Case was intentionally ''buried'' by the Church in 1949. Further, all Clergy were said to be ''sworn to secrecy'' save defrocking. What little that was released later (1990s) when several books on Roland came to life with the aid of ''smuggled information'', what after the final Exorcism, He lived a very ''simple and uneventful'' life.......Supposedly.......