A Terrible Exorcism

Hello followers,

 

I apologise for my long absence. Life has been a little crazy.

I hope you can forgive me for branching out from the Illawarra for this one, but this story is so frightening and simply must be heard,

 

Our story takes place in Antwerp, a small town in Western Victoria. 49 year old Joan Vollmer lives with her 53 year old husband, Ralph. The pair lived a simple life, pig farming during the week and attending the local church on Sundays.

But one day, Joan changed. The smiling, charming woman Ralph adored was replaced by a foul mouthed, angry woman who would tear off her clothes and run through the fields screaming. A nervous breakdown perhaps?

Ralph decided Joan was possessed.

Joan Vollmer. Provided by Herald Sun.

Ralph tried tying Joan to the bed, and locking her in the basement, but the hysterical woman kept either escaping or screeching so loudly that Raph couldn’t sleep. Finally he did the only thing he could think of to save his wife – he called his neighbour, John Reichenbach, the leader of the local Christian fellowship.

Reichenbach and his wife, Leanne, came as quickly as they could and instantly agreed with Ralph. Joan was clearly the victim of a violent possession by a number of demons – 10 it was decided. Needing more collaboration still, Reichenbach called for Leah Clugston, the leader of their church. Leah had started her own church after being expelled from the Lutheran Church for excessive diagnosis of possession. Unsurprisingly, she agreed Joan was inhabited by demons.

Reichenbach read aloud a few passaged from the bible to the struggling Joan. Then, as he had more pressing matters to attend to, he left Ralph and Leanne to watch over Joan. As soon as Reichenbach left, Ralph and Leanne set to work, tying Joan down and deciding to provide neither food nor water to the beasts inside her.

They prayed while Joan complained of hunger ad thirst, praying louder when she began to beg.

This continued for days.

Ralph and Leane knew this treatment was working, as Joan became malnourished and dehydrated, clear proof that she was fighting the demons off with gusto. But the demons fought determinedly, screeching aggressively and struggling against the bonds. Ralph and Leanne admitted they needed help.

So – enter David Klingner, another member of the church. The demon were fighting, and had far more strength than Ralph anticipated. David would provide another pair of hands to restrain the beasts.

The trio set their jaws and, ignoring Joan’s pleas, strapped her down harder, praying incessantly. Days without nourishment were taking their toll on Joan, and the three took turns slapping her face hard whenever she seemed to be falling into exhausted unconsciousness. Strangely, this treatment seemed to be having no affect on the demons, which were now causing Josn to sob and beg and abuse her attackers.

Ralph knew this was no longer his wife, and as such felt no remorse for the countless blows he was dealing the screaming demons. And yet, this wasn’t working. It was time, yet again, to call for reinforcements.

This time they sought the expertise of Matthew Nuske, a 23 year old veteran of exorcisms. It took Nuske only minutes to size up the situation. He sent the others into town to fetch wrapping and olive oil. When they returned, he blessed the oil and ordered everyone to douse themselves in it, while he circled the house seven times with the wrapping, sealing all doors ad windows to prevent any new demons from entering. He then ordered that all of Joan’s belongings be smashed to pieces with a sledgehammer, in case any demons were hiding within. They then obliterated Joan’s flowerbeds and greenhouse, which could be home to any demons waiting to attack.

In the early hours of January 30, Nuske decided a new tactic must take place. He  positioned himself directly in front of Joan’s face, abusing the demons, and slapping Joan’s head with the full force of his hand, demanding the demons identify themselves. Nuske informed the other spectators that he had identified Legion, the master of outrage, and a mother and daughter named Princess Joan and Princess Baby Joan. To eradicate these beasts, said Nuske, it was essential to beat them from the hostage.

Thus, Joan Vollmer was tied to a chair against the fireplace, her feet tied to wooden stocks. She was then thrashed and beaten, the devils wailing and begging for mercy. She was kicked and pummeled. Her head was slammed repeatedly into cupboards and walls. The demons were certainly clever, trying everything from fighting aggressively to weeping and sobbing in an attempt to appeal to the Christian’s sympathies. Sometimes Princess Baby Joan attempted to convince them in a frightened, baby voice that would melt a heart of ice. But these Christian folk were wise to the ways of the devil, so Nuske spat in her face and crashed his fist into her ear.

As Joan fought, begging for her life, Ralph was suddenly confronted with the realism of the violence and forced to leave the room. While his wife screamed and howled in the next room, Ralph sought the lord for guidance. God assured him, through the voices of Leanne, David and Nuske, that they were doing the right thing. Joan was not being hurt, only the demons using her body so cruelly. They were saving her life. Ralph nodded and returned to the room with the others. Joan looked up at her husband, her love, through tears mixed with blood. He smashed her in the face with a bible.

At long last, the demons seemed to have exited their host, departing in the blood, urine and faeces that poured from Joan. By noon, Nuske stated that only Princess Joan and Princess Baby Joan remained, huddled in Joan’s stomach. They would have to be taught a lesson.

Joan’s battered, bruised and exhausted body was moved to the bedroom where she was held down while Leanne sat on her stomach and bounced up an down, to shift the demons. At some point it was established that the demons had moved into her chest, so Leanne and Nuske took turn pulverising her breasts and beating her around the head and neck. Nuske pumped on Joan’s throat, roaring bible passages into her face. Every time Joan closed her eyes, he prised them open again with his thumbs. After two hours, the two demons were just hanging on – on Joan’s tongue. While the others held her down, Nuske prised Joan’s jaw open so wide it almost dislocated, giving the demons enough room to escape. He held her jaw like this for an hour, ignoring the demons attempts to sway him with the tears flowing down the woman’s face and the gurgling sound her throat omitted.

Suddenly, all was quiet. The thrashing and moaning stopped. Joan was still. A superatural hissing and groaning rose from the depths of Joan’s body, until at last there was only silence.

While the other celebrated, Ralph Vollmer pointed out that his wife had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. Perfectly normal, Nuske assured him jovially, she would awaken shortly, the Joan Ralph knew and adored. Nuske left the farm all smiles, assuring the others that if they prayed, Joan would arise before the morning.

The Vollmer House. Photo courtesy of The Australian.

After a whole night of praying to no avail, Ralph sent for the Baptist minister, Roger Atze. Atze arrived to find Ralph, Leanne and David casually eating lunch while the body of Joan Vollmer lay decomposing on the kitchen table, bodily fluids seeping into the floor. Atze carefully suggested that they contact the police.

When the authorities arrived, they found the trio praying while Joan’s body continued to rot in the 40+ degree heat. Ralph informed them that they were about to witness a miracle, and that Joan was about to stroll out of the bedroom any minute. Three days later, at Joan’s funeral, Ralph still grinned around at everyone, wondering why they looked so sad. It was not until the dirt was tossed onto the coffin that the realisation hit Vollmer, and he began to cry.

Ralph Vollmer outside the family home. Image supplied by The Herald Sun.

All four were found guilty of manslaughter – not murder- by a lengthy trial. They were good Christian folk, determined to destroy an evil which lurked in a loved member of their society. Ralph Vollmer recieved a suspended sentence, and the remaining three served four months in prison before returning home. This story belongs in an ancient text, filled with horrendous stories from the middle ages.

Did I mention that it occurred in 1993?

The murderers of Joan Vollmer walk free among us. Today.

Matthew Nuske. Image supplied by The Herald Sun.

 

Thanks to Jack Marx for this story.

 

 

 

 

 

~ by forgottenillawarra on August 21, 2014.