The Story of Roland Doe: The Inspiration for The Exorcist

The Chilling True Story of Roland Doe: The Inspiration for The Exorcist

Roland Doe, also known as Robbie Mannheim, is the pseudonym used to describe the real-life individual whose alleged possession and exorcism served as inspiration for William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel, The Exorcist, and the 1973 film of the same name.

The story of Roland Doe began in 1949 when the boy was just 13 years old. He began experiencing strange occurrences in his home, such as objects moving on their own and strange noises. His family, who were devout Catholics, believed that he was possessed by demons and contacted their local priest for help. In early January 1949, Roland was struggling with the loss of his beloved Aunt Harriet, who was a spiritualist and had taught him how to use an Ouija board. After her death, strange occurrences began to happen in his room, such as scratching sounds coming from the floors and walls, water dripping from pipes and walls, and his mattress moving on its own. Disturbed by these events, Roland's family sought help from various experts such as doctors, psychiatrists, and their local Lutheran minister, but to no avail. Eventually, the minister suggested that the family seek the assistance of the Jesuits, as they believed that Roland may be possessed by demons.

The priest, Father Bowdern, performed several exorcisms on Roland, but the strange occurrences continued. Father Bowdern then contacted the Catholic Church for assistance and two other priests, Father Walter Halloran and Father William Bowdern were brought in to help with the exorcism.

Father William Bowdern

The exorcisms were performed in a Maryland hospital and were said to be intense and violent, with Roland experiencing seizures and exhibiting superhuman strength. The exorcism lasted for several weeks and involved the use of holy water, crucifixes, and the recitation of prayers. A few days later, red scratches appeared on Roland's body. 

After the exorcism was completed, Roland's family reported that the strange occurrences in their home had stopped and Roland was no longer possessed. According to Bowdern the strange occurrences and behavior ceased after that. However, the details of the exorcism were kept secret by the  Church and were not revealed to the public until the release of The Exorcist.

The story of Roland Doe has been the subject of much debate and skepticism over the years, with some people claiming that the exorcism was nothing more than a hoax. However, those who were involved in the exorcism, including Father Bowdern, have maintained that the events were real and that Roland was truly possessed by demons.

The Exorcist, both the novel and the film, brought the true story of Roland Doe to the public and sparked a renewed interest in the topic of demonic possession. The film, directed by William Friedkin, went on to become one of the most successful and controversial films of all time.

The chilling true story of Roland Doe serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the unknown forces that exist in the world. It continues to fascinate and terrify people to this day.

One important aspect of the Roland Doe story is that the exorcism was not officially recognized by the  Church. The Church has strict guidelines for recognizing and performing exorcisms, and in this case, the exorcism was performed by a small group of priests without the authorization or oversight of the Church. This has led some to question the validity of the events and whether or not Roland was truly possessed.

Another interesting aspect of the Roland Doe story is the connection to the death of a young boy, named Ronnie Doe, who was a cousin of Roland. Ronnie died of a heart attack at the age of 14, and it was reported that he had been experiencing similar strange occurrences prior to his death. Some believe that Ronnie was also possessed and that the exorcism performed on Roland was an attempt to save Ronnie's soul.

Moreover, it is important to mention that the exorcism ritual as depicted in the movie, is not the same as the real exorcism rite that the Church performs. The movie portrays exorcism as a dramatic, intense and violent process, but in reality, it is a much more subdued and simple ritual that is performed by a priest.

If you want to read the novel click on the name of the novel: The Exorcist

A pic from the film version  check the movie """"The Exorcist"""""

After reading about the Story of Roland Doe,  read about THE EXORCISM OF ANNELIESE MICHEL