Paranoid About the Paranormal

Happy Halloween! If you have a detective costume, now’s the time to put it on! In this blog, we’ll be looking at some real-life, modern-day experiences people had with the paranormal. There are more unresolved case files than people might think, from being possessed to receiving mysteriously uncanny letters. Let’s take a deeper dive into the mysteries of these experiences and see if we can deduce the outcomes, or dispute them, in some cases.

The Exorcism Of “Roland Doe”

You might not have watched the movie The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin, but no doubt you’ve heard of it. Did you know that this movie was based on real-life events that happened in 1949? “Roland Doe,” otherwise known as Ronald Hunkeler, had several exorcisms performed on him throughout his life. Things started to get weird after his spiritual Aunt Harriet died. Ronald would see scratches on his doorframes and hear sharp whispers in the night.

Over the course of a few months, he went from place to place, his condition worsening until April 18th when it became too much to handle. His parents took him to Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis and they watched in pure horror as their son thrashed, screamed, and cursed the priests trying to help him. Finally around 10:45 at night, Ronald became still. Satan had been expelled from his body, and finally, he was able to live again.

Or so the story goes, anyway. The original article by The Washington Post from 1949 left out many details, including the boy’s name and what exactly happened to him. The movie adaptation is likely dramatized for viewing pleasure, but who knows? Perhaps all these details are true, and Satan really did torment this poor boy to the point of insanity.

The Watcher

Imagine you’ve just moved into your dream home with your loving family of four. It’s a quiet community and the people are nice, but the house is decades old and has seen better days. Like the start of most horror movies, Derek and Marie Broaddus began to receive chilling letters on their doorstep. At first, they seemed like a prank, most of the letters saying “I’m watching you,” but that’s still enough to freak anybody out.

Things started to get worse not much later. The letters became more like threats, saying “I know your names” and "bring me your young blood,” indicating that the Watcher wanted their children. Assumed to be a part of the family who purchased the house before them, the Broaddus’ filed a lawsuit. They also fled their newly-purchased home in fear for their lives.

What’s interesting is that this case never went anywhere, it became cold. The family filed a civil complaint and told the court about the Watcher, and police have investigated the small town until they searched every square inch. No charges were filed and the police stopped investigating, leading many to believe that this was a case of the paranormal. A spirit has been watching the home ever since they passed and threatens any who dares to try and live where they once walked.

To learn more, check out this article by The Washington Post.

Are you officially in the spooky spirit for All Hallows Eve? Remember to keep your wits about you when you’re out tonight, you never know when something could happen… no, I’m just teasing. Remember to stay safe and wear a mask, and to also leave some treats out for any spirits who might want a snack. They’re celebrating too, of course!

Wraith

Wraith is a ghostly soul that enjoys investigating the truth behind paranormal affairs. There are secrets and discoveries to be made within the pages of history, and Wraith intends to find out the chilling truth. From ancient to current practices of communing with the dead, Wraith will use his quick wit and keen determination to investigate the sincerity of paranormal records.