In this episode of Loreplay, Dayna Pereira dives deep into the real-life horror story that inspired The Exorcist. Forget the spinning heads and pea soup—this is the true 1949 case of Roland Doe, the boy whose alleged demonic possession terrified priests, shook the Church, and changed how America viewed exorcisms forever.

From Cottage City, Maryland to St. Louis, Missouri, follow the chilling (and occasionally ridiculous) journey of a family haunted by unexplained scratches, flying furniture, guttural voices, and a bed that wouldn’t stop shaking. Meet the real priests behind the ritual—Father Albert Hughes, Father Raymond Bishop, and Father William Bowdern—and discover how one terrified teenager became the blueprint for Hollywood’s most infamous horror film.

Was it true possession, psychological trauma, or the most dramatic case of grief-fueled chaos in suburban history? Dayna unpacks it all with her signature mix of dark humor, history, and sass in this must-listen deep dive into the original exorcism that started it all.
Show Notes / Sources:

• Thomas B. Allen, Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism (1993) – Primary narrative source using Father Raymond Bishop’s diary notes from the 1949 St. Louis case.
• Father Raymond J. Bishop, S.J., Diary of the 1949 Exorcism – Archival source referenced by St. Louis University archives and Jesuit historical summaries.
• St. Louis University Archives (Jesuit Historical Institute) – Timeline and background on the priests involved and the documented exorcism events.
• Washington Post, “The Exorcist’s Real-Life Inspiration Dies at 85” (Oct. 2021) – Report linking Roland Doe’s true identity to NASA engineer Ronald Edwin Hunkeler.
• Smithsonian Magazine, “The Real Story Behind The Exorcist” (2013) – Historical overview of the case’s cultural impact.
• The New York Times Archives, coverage of The Exorcist (1973) release and public fascination with the real 1949 possession.
• Catholic News Agency, “The Real Exorcism That Inspired The Exorcist” (2019) – Clerical records and Vatican commentary on the St. Louis case.