Morbid

Episode 662: The Exorcism of Roland Doe

Apr 10, 2025

Dive into the unsettling story of Roland Doe, the boy whose supposed demonic possession inspired a horror classic. Explore his eerie encounters, from levitating objects to bizarre voices, as family and priests grapple with supernatural disturbances. Unearth the tension of exorcism rituals that blur the line between skepticism and belief. Amidst the horror, discover Ronald's personal struggles and the fascinating twist of his journey to becoming a successful scientist, all while balancing humor and chilling tales.

01:09:24

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Quick takeaways

The case of Roland Doe exemplifies the intersection of mental health issues and perceptions of demonic possession during his tumultuous adolescence.

Intense paranormal phenomena, including violent behaviors and unexplained occurrences, were reported during Ronald's exorcism attempts, raising questions about their authenticity.

Roland Doe's story, which inspired 'The Exorcist,' reflects societal fascination with the supernatural, propelling public interest in exorcism and possession narratives.

Deep dives

Introduction to Ronald Hunkler's Case

The case of Ronald Hunkler, known as Roland Doe, began in 1949 and has since been shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Ronald, a young boy from Cottage City, Maryland, was reportedly subjected to a series of strange phenomena that seemed to indicate possession, including violent outbursts and unexplained noises in his home. The events escalated after the death of his Aunt Tilly, who had introduced Ronald to spiritualism and Ouija boards. This led to a seance conducted by his mother with the intention of contacting Tilly, which some believe may have amplified the subsequent paranormal activities.

Intro

4min

Sweet Treats and Spooky Tales

14min

The Complex Bonds and Early Struggles of Ronald

8min

Ronald Doe's Haunting Encounters

10min

The Haunting of Ronald: An Unsettling Encounter

10min

The Frightening Rituals of Possession and Exorcism

9min

Unearthly Voices and Physical Confrontations

2min

The Possession of Ronald Hunkler

17min

Embracing the Weird: A Lighthearted Take on Possession and Podcasting

3min

In the winter of 1973, director William Friedkin released his iconic horror classic The Exorcist, a film that has shocked and terrified audiences for more than fifty years. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, The Exorcist tells the story of a young girl who becomes possessed by a demonic entity, and the two Catholic priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. Even more terrifying than the content of the film, however, was the fact that The Exorcist was supposedly based on a true story.

William Peter Blatty had always stated The Exorcist was based on a supposedly true story he’d heard while at Georgetown University. According to Blatty, a Maryland boy, known as “Roland Doe,” had become possessed by a demonic entity and, among other things, underwent a negative personality change and began exhibiting impossible abilities including an ability to speak Latin. It was only through the dedication of one Jesuit priest that the boy was eventually freed of his possession and went on to live a normal life.

Since the release of both the novel and the film in the 1970s, a great deal more has been learned about “Roland Doe” and the supposedly true story that inspired The Exorcist, raising many questions about the veracity of the original claims. Who was “Roland Doe,” and was he truly possessed by a demon, or just the intense emotions of an adolescent boy?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Allen, Thomas. 1993. Possessed: The True Story of the Most Famous Exorcism of Modern Time. New York, NY: Doubleday.

Associated Press. 1949. "'Evil spirit' cast out of 14-yearf-old." The Bee (Danville, Virginia), August 10: 8.

McGuire, John M. 2005. "Priest was last of three who did 1949 exorcism." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 3: A1.

News and Observer. 1964. "Tar Heel develops space ceramics." News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), September 3: 27.

Nickell, Joe. 2001. "Exorcism!: Driving Out the Nonsense." Skeptical Inquirer 20-24.

Opsasnick, Mark. 1999. "The haunted boy of Cottage City, the cold hard facts behind the story that Inspired The Exorcist." Strange Magazine.

Young, Maya. 2010. Boy whose case inspired The Exorcist is named by US magazine. December 20. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/the-exorcist-boy-named-magazine.

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