The history of exorcism is filled with shadowy accounts, but few are as thoroughly documented and genuinely disturbing as the case of Anna Ecklund. Often cited by religious scholars and paranormal investigators, this event, which took place in the early 20th century, remains a chilling testament to the darkest claims of demonic possession.
I. Who Was Anna Ecklund?
"Anna Ecklund" is the pseudonym given to the possessed woman, whose real name was Emma Schmidt.
She was born in the late 19th century in the small town of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Accounts describe her as a devout Catholic woman who began exhibiting increasingly bizarre and violent behavior in her late teens, behavior that defied medical and psychological explanation.
II. The Onset of the Possession
The cause of the possession, according to the official accounts recorded by the attending priests, was deeply rooted in the occult and a family curse:
The Family Connection: It was alleged that Emma's aunt, a known local practicing witch and Satanist, had cursed Emma when she was still a young girl.
The Catalyst: Later, Emma's father, who reportedly had a history of infidelity and abuse, also placed curses on his daughter. The combined effort, it was believed, resulted in a complete demonic takeover of her body and soul.
The Symptoms: Her affliction manifested as a hatred of all things sacred. She would spit, howl, and rail whenever she came near a cross, holy water, or a prayer. She displayed superhuman strength and had the ability to understand and speak languages she had never learned (glossolalia). She also exhibited the ability to levitate and defy gravity.
III. The First Exorcism (1912)
The first attempt to free Emma Schmidt occurred in 1912. The ritual was performed by a Capuchin priest named Father Max in his local parish.
Initially, the exorcism seemed successful. For a period of several years, Emma lived a normal, peaceful life. However, the respite was not permanent. The demons, it was said, had renewed their assault on her after being invited back by her family, who allegedly forced her to consume food laced with herbs consecrated to the Devil.
IV. The Terrifying Final Exorcism (1928)
The ultimate and most famous exorcism took place 16 years later in 1928, in the quiet community of Earling, Iowa, at the Convent of St. Joseph. The decision was made to move her to a convent for safety, where she could be kept isolated and away from the influences of her family.
This time, the ritual was conducted by Father Theophilus Riesinger, O.F.M. Cap., a renowned exorcist from Germany, who brought with him a team of assisting nuns and priests. The diary-like account of this exorcism, written by the attending clergy, is the source of the story's enduring notoriety.
Key Events During the 1928 Ritual:
Identifying the Demonic Entities: Over the course of the many weeks the exorcism lasted, the priests identified several distinct demons possessing Anna, with the two primary entities claiming to be Judas Iscariot and Beelzebub. They spoke through her mouth, cursing the priests and mocking the rites.
Physical Torment: Anna's body was brutalized. She vomited an incredible volume of foul-smelling liquids, spit violently, and her face became grotesquely distorted. At one point, she was described as hanging from her bed, suspended in the air.
The Smell of Brimstone: The priests repeatedly noted a pervasive, putrid odor in the room, which they described as the smell of Hell, or brimstone (sulfur).
The Climax: After nearly a month of continuous struggle, fasting, and prayer, the demons were ultimately cast out in a terrifying final scream. Anna's body collapsed, and she awoke in a state of peace, reportedly with no memory of the events that had transpired.
V. Legacy and Skepticism
The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund remains one of the most thoroughly detailed cases of claimed possession in the Catholic Church's history, often overshadowing the later and better-known case that inspired The Exorcist film.
While the Church stands by the account, medical and psychological professionals often suggest the symptoms could be attributed to severe mental illnesses, such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or schizophrenia. However, the sheer extremity of the physical phenomena—like the alleged levitation and the unnatural strength—continues to baffle skeptics and fuel the legend.
The terrifying true story of Emma Schmidt has inspired several cinematic works, most notably:
The Exorcism of Emma Evans/Exorcismus (2010)
The Exorcist (1973) - While not directly about Ecklund, the film drew heavily from the documented rituals and phenomena found in cases like hers.
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