Parasites come in many different styles. Small, large, emotional, mental, and transclucent ones such as those that prey on your soul — if you believe such things. Anneliese Michel, allegedly possessed by the devil, had the misfortune of losing her life during the rite of exorcism.

Michel was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1952 into a Catholic home from where she was raised on the religion’s beliefs and practices. Known among her family and peers as a devout worshipper, she attended church regularly and was regarded as a ”good Catholic”. Then one day, she began to act strangely.

After a religious sojourn, a friend noted that Michel was possessed due to the 23 year old’s inability to walk past an icon of Jesus Christ. Much of the evidence presented to Michel’s parents proved to be inconclusive, however they eventually became believers that their daughter was no longer the one they knew.

During the exorcism, Michel would thrash in her bed, shake, and begin to speak blaspheme in Latin and German. She would refuse to eat and would shout curses at her family and priest. She eventually succumbed to death. The evidence proved that she had died from malnutrition and dehydration.

The case became sensationalized once again after the film, Emily Rose was released in 2005. Since then, there has been a tremendous surge of interest that has not been seen since The  Exorcist. Debate continues as to whether this was a genuine possession or if this was the perfect storm of mental and physical disease.