[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: A YOUNG WOMAN IS REPEATEDLY ATTACKED
BY AN UNSEEN ENTITY IN HER HOME.
I FELT HANDS AROUND MY THROAT.
[ GASPING ]
Narrator: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS
TRY TO IDENTIFY THE PRESENCE,
BUT IT'S A DESPERATE RACE AGAINST TIME...
...CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET.
AAH! STEPHANIE?
...CULMINATING IN A FINAL BATTLE
BETWEEN THE FORCES OF GOOD AND EVIL.
MY WIFE WAS DYING.
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED,
NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OVER 150 YEARS AGO,
THE SOIL OF MANASSAS WAS AWASH IN BLOOD
AS THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RAGED.
TWO MAJOR BATTLES AT BULL RUN
SAW MORE THAN 20,000 WOUNDED OR KILLED.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE LAND AROUND HERE
HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SCARRED,
INFUSED WITH THE TORTURED SOULS
OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO DIED BEFORE THEIR TIME.
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
IN THE FALL OF 2008, MANASSAS RESIDENT STEPHANIE WINTER
ATTENDS A PARTY AT HER FRIEND PETER'S APARTMENT.
SHE DISCOVERS HE HAS A FASCINATION WITH THE DARK ARTS.
I NOTICED ON HIS SHELF HE HAD BOOKS THAT I'D NEVER HEARD OF.
Narrator: THE "NECRONOMICON" INCLUDES MAGIC SPELLS
AND ADVICE ON HOW TO SUMMON DEMONS AND SPIRITS.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S A REAL USEFUL BOOK.
YEAH, IF YOU'RE DEAD.
YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME AMONGST THE LIVING, PETER.
I WAS JUST HOPING
TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH YOU.
Stephanie: I THINK HE GOT THE WRONG IMPRESSION.
[ GASPS ]
IN HIS MIND, I HAD FEELINGS FOR HIM,
WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, MAN.
I'M MARRIED.
OKAY? GET IT!
I'M JUST PAYING YOU A COMPLIMENT.
LAY OFF!
THE MORE I TRIED TO TELL HIM NO,
THE MORE PERSISTENT HE GOT.
[ GASPS ]
HE PULLED SOME OF MY HAIR OUT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
JUST GETTING WHAT I NEED FOR A LOVE SPELL.
A LOVE SPELL. YOU ARE SICK!
AT THAT POINT, I WAS DONE.
I DIDN'T WANT ANY PART
OF ANYBODY WHO WAS INTO THAT SORT OF THING.
Narrator: DESPITE THE STRANGE NIGHT,
STEPHANIE IS UP THE NEXT MORNING AT 5:00 A.M.,
EAGER TO GET TO WORK ON THE HOME
SHE AND HER HUSBAND JUST MOVED INTO.
GOING TO WORK THIS MORNING?
UH, JUST LATE SHIFT.
IT'S A LOT OF UNPACKING TO DO.
THE COUPLE HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR JUST A YEAR.
STEPHANIE'S A BARTENDER AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
HER HUSBAND, NICOLAS, WORKS IN CONSTRUCTION.
DID YOU HAVE FUN LAST NIGHT?
I SHOULD HAVE STAYED HERE.
SOMETHING WRONG?
EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. NO, EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I JUST, UM...
I JUST HAVE A LOT OF UNPACKING TO DO.
YEAH. WELL, ONCE WE GET IT DONE,
WE CAN FINALLY CALL THIS PLACE HOME.
I WAS EXCITED TO BE MOVING INTO A HOUSE, OUT OF AN APARTMENT,
AND IT WAS A STEP IN THE DIRECTION
THAT I WAS TRYING TO GO IN LIFE.
[ SIGHS ] Yes.
I'LL BE HOME BY 6:00 TONIGHT.
OKAY.
BYE. SEE YA. BYE.
Stephanie: I WAS HAPPIER THAN I'D BEEN IN A REALLY LONG TIME,
AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD
TO MAKING IT A HOME FOR MY HUSBAND AND I.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
[ SCOFFS ]
YOU FORGOT SOMETHING, BABE?
YOU FORGET SOMETHING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
[ SNIFFS ]
PEACE OFFERING.
DID YOU WAIT UNTIL NICK LEFT?
NO.
I WAS JUST BRINGING YOU FLOWERS.
HE WAS COMING BY MY HOUSE 5:30 IN THE MORNING
ON HIS WAY TO WORK,
AND IT JUST REALLY MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE.
WELL, I DIDN'T REALIZE
YOU WERE GONNA GET ALL DRESSED UP FOR ME.
YOU NEED TO LEAVE, ALL RIGHT?
GET OUT!
OKAY?
WHAT?
YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY NO TO ME!
GET OUT!
IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS HIDING
IN, YOU KNOW, MY OWN HOME.
I FINALLY HAD TO COMPLETELY SHUT IT DOWN
AND TELL HIM TO STOP CALLING ME.
"DON'T CONTACT ME.
PLEASE, NOTHING."
Narrator: WEEKS GO BY.
STEPHANIE'S UNWANTED ADMIRER STAYS AWAY.
BUT HAS HE REALLY HEEDED HER REQUEST TO LEAVE HER IN PEACE?
[ WATER DRIPPING ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
Nicolas: I DON'T KNOW.
IS IT SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSE?
LET ME GET MY BAT.
NO. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
WHAT IF THEY HAVE GUNS?
Shh.
[ SIGHS ] COME HERE.
THAT'S SO WEIRD. WHAT DO YOU THINK DID THAT?
THAT'S SO WEIRD.
LET ME GO CHECK THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
BE CAREFUL.
STAY HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
BE CAREFUL.
[ GASPS, SIGHS ]
IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.
I CHECKED THE DOORS. I CHECKED THE WINDOWS.
NO ONE?
NO. NOTHING'S UNLOCKED.
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN INTRUDER.
WE'RE THINKING MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT SET UP THERE RIGHT
OR, YOU KNOW, IT SLIPPED OFF OR SOMETHING.
A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S HEAVY.
OUR NERVES WERE ALL JANGLED.
EVENTUALLY, WE FELL ASLEEP
AND REALLY DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH MORE ABOUT IT.
Narrator: WEEKS LATER, NICK IS WORKING AT HOME.
AS A HOBBY, HE CREATES FREE TATTOOS FOR FRIENDS
AND ENJOYS THE CHALLENGE OF COMING UP WITH NEW DESIGNS.
I SEE THIS CANDLESTICK THING
HIT THE WALL OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE.
IT MADE THIS BIG BLACK MARK ON THE WALL.
I STARTED TALKING TO MY WIFE ABOUT IT,
AND WE WERE LIKE, "THE ONLY THING
"THAT COULD BE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WOULD BE, LIKE, A GHOST."
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GASPING ]
NICK! MY -- MY BACK!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOUR BACK?
IT BURNS!
I'M LOOKING AT HER BACK, AND I SEE BLOOD START TO FORM.
WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?
WHAT IS IT? WHAT DID YOU DO?
BABY, WHAT DID YOU DO? I DON'T KNOW. IT BURNS.
HONEY, YOU'RE BLEED-- HEY, YOU'RE BLEEDING.
WHAT IS IT?
YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS, OKAY?
JUST -- NO, NO. JUST...
Stephanie: IT WAS REALLY BURNING.
IT WAS JUST ON FIRE.
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GASPS ]
JUST GETTING WHAT I NEED FOR A LOVE SPELL.
Narrator: THERE HAD BEEN DISTURBING EVENTS
IN NICOLAS AND STEPHANIE WINTER'S HOME
EVER SINCE SHE TOLD A LOVE-STRUCK FRIEND
WITH A FASCINATION FOR THE DARK ARTS TO LEAVE HER ALONE.
IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 2009, A YEAR SINCE THE TROUBLE STARTED.
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GASPING ]
NICK! MY -- MY BACK!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOUR BACK?
IT BURNS!
Nicolas: SHE WAS SCARED, AND I WAS, TOO,
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS.
[ SCREAMS ]
Stephanie: THERE WERE NO TEARS IN MY CLOTHING.
I HAVE A SHIRT ON. I'M UNDERNEATH BLANKETS.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
[ SOBBING ]
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
HEY. Woman: HEY, SWEETIE.
HOW ARE YOU? THANKS FOR COMING.
Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER,
STEPHANIE RECEIVES A VISIT FROM A CLOSE FRIEND,
ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE
WHO MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME ANSWERS.
NO, I HAVEN'T BEEN ANYWHERE, YOU KNOW, SO...
BUT THANKS FOR BRINGING HER BY.
SURE. YEAH.
UM, THIS IS THE LADY I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.
THERE WAS A LADY THAT I KNEW THROUGH CHURCH,
AND SHE HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS A SENSITIVE.
SHE COULD FEEL, SEE CERTAIN THINGS.
SO, UM, WOULD YOU LIKE THE 10-CENT TOUR?
COME ON. I'LL SHOW YOU AROUND.
SHE WALKED AROUND AND WALKED AROUND THE HOUSE
AND WALKED AROUND OUTSIDE.
I SENSE THE LAND HAS QUITE A HISTORY.
Stephanie: SHE TOLD ME ABOUT A HUSBAND AND WIFE AND THEIR SON.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL!
NO. NO, I HAVEN'T BEEN.
THE FATHER WAS EXTREMELY JEALOUS.
DAD, STOP!
STOP! BOY, I TOLD YOU BEFORE!
HE ENDED UP KILLING THE MOTHER AND THE SON.
HUH.
Stephanie: IT WAS THE FATHER
THAT WAS HAUNTING THE PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF I REMINDED HIM OF HIS WIFE OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER,
STEPHANIE'S SCRATCHES DON'T APPEAR TO BE HEALING.
IT SHOCKED ME IN THE SENSE
THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SEEING A SPIRIT.
I HAD ONLY SEEN HIM FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS,
BUT I SAW HIM, I MEAN, CLEAR.
THE LOOK ON HIS FACE -- JUST, I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.
HE JUST LOOKED VERY SAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE ACTUAL LITTLE BOY
THAT WAS KILLED ON THE PROPERTY.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOST SOULS.
I FULLY BELIEVE THAT.
[ HUMMING ]
I BELIEVED THAT GHOSTS COULD COMMUNICATE IN THEIR OWN WAY.
I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD PHYSICALLY HARM YOU.
[ HUMMING CONTINUES ]
[ PANTING ]
NICK!
YEAH, WHAT? WHAT? LOOK!
WHAT HAPPENED? LOOK!
AW, MAN. WHAT?
JUST -- NO.
HONEY, WHAT -- IT BURNS, BABY! IT BURNS!
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
I WANT YOU TO MAKE IT STOP!
OKAY. HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE IT STOP, OKAY?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.
TO SEE YOUR SKIN OPEN UP WHEN THERE'S NO EXPLANATION FOR IT --
THE PAIN THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
IT'S LIKE A LIQUID FIRE POURED IN THERE.
IT'S FINE. [ SOBBING ]
YOU'LL BE OKAY.
I HAD TO CONVINCE MYSELF IT WAS REAL
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
EVEN THOUGH I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES.
Narrator: STEPHANIE AND NICK
ARE TOO AFRAID OF HOW PEOPLE WILL REACT
TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES.
Nicolas: WE HAD NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO
AND NOBODY TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH
BECAUSE WHO IS THERE TO TALK TO ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY?
Narrator: ALL THEY CAN DO IS TRY TO RESUME A NORMAL LIFE.
HEY.
HOW YOU DOING?
OKAY. YEAH.
DOES IT HURT?
UH, YEAH.
I TOLD YOU IT WOULD.
HE'S GOOD, THOUGH. HE'S REALLY GOOD.
I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE RESULT
OF NICK'S LAST ATTEMPT AT A FREE TATTOO.
NO, IT'S JUST -- I FELL.
[ GASPS ] AAH!
[ GASPS ]
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED TO YOU?!
OH. OH.
[ PANTING ]
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, JUST, MY LEG JUST OPENED UP.
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
NO. DON'T LEAVE.
DON'T -- DON'T GO.
SHE WAS BEING TORTURED --
TORTURED IN A WAY THAT I'VE NEVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.
I FELT TOTALLY POWERLESS.
AND I BEGGED.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO HER?!
[ GASPS ] AAH!
Narrator: NOVEMBER 2009.
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED TO YOU?!
STEPHANIE WINTER COMES UNDER ATTACK
FROM A SUPERNATURAL FORCE.
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
NO. DON'T LEAVE.
DON'T -- DON'T GO.
IT'S HARD TO GO THROUGH.
[ SOBS ]
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE.
WE FELT ALONE.
Narrator: NICK FEELS POWERLESS TO PROTECT HIS WIFE.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO HER?!
COULD PETER, STEPHANIE'S LOVE-STRUCK ADMIRER,
HAVE PLACED A DARK SPELL ON HER?
OR ARE THE ATTACKS IN SOME WAY RELATED
TO THE VIOLENCE AND TWISTED SOULS
OF MEN WHO DIED TOO YOUNG
IN THE CIVIL WAR BATTLES THAT RAGED NEARBY?
A MEDIUM HAS OFFERED A THIRD POSSIBILITY --
THAT THE SPIRIT OF A FATHER WHO KILLED HIS WIFE AND CHILD HERE
COULD BE LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIM.
A WEEK WENT BY.
THEN SHE GOT SCRATCHED AGAIN.
AND THEN ANOTHER WEEK WENT BY, AND SHE GOT SCRATCHED AGAIN.
AND IT HAPPENED LIKE THAT MAYBE HALF A DOZEN TIMES.
Stephanie: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THOSE SCRATCHES TO SOMEBODY?
AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET HOLD OF SOMEBODY
WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE PARANORMAL.
MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP.
I'D HAVE BEEN IN A LOONY BIN SOMEWHERE.
AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO?
[ SNIFFLES ]
Narrator: FINALLY, THE COUPLE RELUCTANTLY DECIDES
TO SEEK HELP FROM A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR.
RETIRED DETECTIVE RICK ACHERSTEIN
SPECIALIZES IN VIOLENT HAUNTINGS.
THE NATURE OF STEPHANIE'S SCRATCHES CATCHES HIS ATTENTION.
HE'S SEEN THIS BEFORE IN HIS RESEARCH PHOTOS.
WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING TO ME
WAS THAT EACH WOUND APPEARED TO BE IN A SET OF THREE SCRATCHES,
THREE LINEAR SCRATCHES SIDE BY SIDE.
THE THREE SCRATCH MARKS
IS INDICATIVE OF A NEGATIVE-ENTITY HAUNTING.
THREE SCRATCHES ARE VERY COMMONPLACE WITH THE DEMONIC.
AND THE REASON THAT IS, IS BECAUSE THE SYMBOL OF THREE
IS A DIRECT MOCKERY OF THE TRINITY --
FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT.
Rick: IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEGATIVE ENTITY,
USUALLY IT HAS TO BE INVITED OR SUMMONED SOMEHOW.
I STARTED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO INVITE
OR TO CAUSE THIS PHENOMENON TO OCCUR TO HER.
IS THERE ANYONE IN YOUR LIFE
THAT IS INVOLVED IN OCCULT PRACTICES
OR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT MEAN YOU HARM?
THERE IS THIS GUY PETER.
AND HE JUST...
...STARTED BECOMING, LIKE, VERY STALKISH WITH ME...
...AND...
...AND MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A LOVE SPELL.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HE COULD HAVE PUT A CURSE ON HER.
Stephanie: I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HEAR THAT.
Narrator: STEPHANIE IS NOW CONVINCED
PETER MAY HAVE UNLEASHED SOME DARK FORCE TO TORMENT HER.
EVERYTHING KIND OF FELL INTO PLACE.
EVERYTHING MADE A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE.
"OKAY. THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON.
"THIS IS WHY IT'S DOING IT.
THIS IS WHY IT HAS SO MUCH POWER."
Narrator: RICK AGREES TO CONDUCT A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION
THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
UNTIL THEN, THE EVIL PRESENCE COULD ATTACK AT ANY TIME.
[ SNIFFS ]
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
GET OUT!
I WAS VERY ANGRY AND VERY CONFRONTATIONAL.
AND I WANTED IT OUT.
NO MORE!
YOU HEAR ME?!
NO MORE!
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
THIS THING WAS SUCH A COWARD,
AND IT WAS JUST ATTACKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND JUST OUT OF NOWHERE AND WHEN YOUR BACK IS TURNED,
AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ME SO ANGRY.
WHERE ARE YOU?!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
WHERE ARE YOU?!
HUH?! [ GASPING ]
YOU HEAR?!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
WHERE ARE YOU?!
[ CRYING ]
HELP ME! HELP ME FIND IT!
I GOT YOU.
HELP ME FIND IT!
CALM DOWN.
[ Crying ] HELP ME FIND IT.
MAKE IT GO AWAY. JUST -- Shh!
I BEGGED MY WIFE TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE HOUSE WAS EVIL.
Stephanie: I JUST WANTED AWAY FROM IT.
BUT THEN, AFTER TALKING WITH RICK,
HE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT NOT WORK."
IN CASES THIS SEVERE,
SOMETIMES THE ENTITY WILL FOLLOW YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.
Narrator: RICK AND A COLLEAGUE
SET UP ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT
TO MONITOR EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE,
HOPING TO CAPTURE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL.
Rick: DURING THIS FIRST PHASE OF THE INVESTIGATION,
I TRIED TO DOCUMENT WHAT WAS GOING ON,
TRIED TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT WOULD LEND ME
TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT SHE WAS TELLING ME WAS TRUE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS UNABLE TO DOCUMENT
OR SEE OR EXPERIENCE ANYTHING,
BUT I WAS STILL OF THE OPINION THAT SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING.
I JUST FELT, YOU KNOW, IN MY HEART
THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.
Stephanie: IT WOULD STAY HIDDEN WHEN RICK WAS OUT,
BUT AS SOON AS HE LEFT, I WOULD GET SCRATCHED.
Nicolas: I BECAME AFRAID TO LEAVE MY WIFE ALONE
BECAUSE AT THAT POINT,
IT BECAME AN EVERY-OTHER-DAY THING ALMOST --
OR AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK.
YOU DOING OKAY, BABY?
YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT?
I'M NOT HUNGRY.
IT WAS PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH HER
BECAUSE I COULD DEFINITELY TELL
THAT HER SPIRIT WAS BEING CRUSHED.
I THINK THAT IT WAS TRYING TO INFLUENCE HER INTO GIVING UP.
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF THE HOUSE IN DAYS.
I DON'T...
I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE ME LIKE THIS.
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
Stephanie: I DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC
BECAUSE I WAS COVERED IN BANDAGES ALL THE TIME.
I WAS SO DEPRESSED.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND ANYBODY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY WHOSE LIFE WAS NORMAL
BECAUSE MY LIFE WAS SO FAR OUT OF WHACK THAT I WAS JEALOUS.
I'M GONNA MAKE A SANDWICH.
WOULD YOU LIKE ONE?
FINE. I'LL MAKE YOU ONE, ANYWAY.
[ GASPS ]
I COULD FEEL SOMEBODY ON TOP OF ME.
[ GASPING ]
I FELT HANDS AROUND MY THROAT.
[ GASPING ]
Nicolas: STEPH?
STEPH?!
[ GASPING CONTINUES ]
I THOUGHT MY WIFE WAS DYING.
LET HER GO!
IF YOU WANT TO HURT SOMEBODY, YOU HURT ME,
BUT YOU LET HER GO!
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," GO TO...
Narrator: STEPHANIE WINTER SUSPECTS A FORMER FRIEND
WHO DEVELOPED AN OBSESSION WITH HER...
YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY NO TO ME!
...HAS CAST A DARK SPELL...
...UNLEASHING A DEMONIC SPIRIT TO EXTRACT HIS REVENGE.
SOMETHING UNSEEN IS NOW TRYING TO KILL HER.
I COULD HEAR NICK TALKING TO ME.
I COULD HEAR HIM CALL ME. STEPH?!
AND I REMEMBER THE ONLY THING I COULD MOVE
WAS MY LEFT PINKIE.
LET HER GO!
IF YOU WANT TO HURT SOMEBODY, YOU HURT ME,
BUT YOU LET HER GO!
Nicolas: I WAS SO MAD ABOUT IT.
I WAS THREATENING IT.
"COME AND GET ME. COME AND GET ME.
WHY ARE YOU GONNA PICK ON HER?"
[ GASPING, COUGHING ]
ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE JUST [GASPS] GRABBED A BREATH OF AIR,
AND SHE SAT UP.
[ COUGHS ]
WE MUST HAVE SAT THERE LIKE THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
[ PANTING ]
IT WAS VERY EASILY CAPABLE OF KILLING ME.
Narrator: THEY TELL PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR RICK ACHERSTEIN
ABOUT THE VIOLENT ATTACK.
BEING THAT IT WAS SPIRITUAL IN NATURE,
LOGIC WOULD DICTATE THAT THE SOLUTION
WAS PROBABLY SPIRITUAL IN NATURE,
SO I CONTACTED A DEMONOLOGIST AND ASKED THEIR OPINION
AS TO WHAT WE COULD DO TO STEM THIS ACTIVITY,
TO QUELL THESE ATTACKS.
Narrator: THE DEMONOLOGIST GIVES RICK INSTRUCTIONS
FOR A SEALING RITUAL.
HE SUGGESTED I GET SOME BLESSED CANDLES, 100% BEESWAX CANDLES...
AND THE INCENSE.
AND THE INCENSE IS ALREADY LIT.
...AND SOME PONTIFICAL INCENSE AND SOME HOLY WATER,
HAVE THE CANDLES AND THE PONTIFICAL INCENSE
BLESSED BY A PRIEST,
AND THEN BURN THOSE -- THE CANDLES AND THE INCENSE.
Narrator: INCENSE HAS BEEN USED IN RELIGIOUS RITUALS
SINCE THE TIME OF THE PHARAOHS TO ROMAN CATHOLICS.
IT SYMBOLIZES THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL RISING TO HEAVEN.
Stephanie: ...THROUGH THE WORLD.
Rick: AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO RECITE THE PRAYER I GAVE YOU.
THIS WILL SEAL THE HOUSE WITH POSITIVE ENERGY
AND KEEP YOU SAFE.
THAT GAVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE
BECAUSE THERE WAS POSITIVE FORCES THAT WERE NOW INVOLVED
THAT WE HAD HOPE OF RUNNING THIS THING OUT.
LISTEN TO THE WORDS YOU'RE SAYING.
LISTEN TO THE MEANING BEHIND THEM.
AND IN EVERY ROOM, YOU NEED TO DO THE SAME THING.
LET'S MOVE THROUGH THERE,
AND YOU CAN RECITE THE PRAYER AS WE WALK.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON.
"ST. MICHAEL..."
"...THE ARCHANGEL, DEFEND US IN BATTLE..."
Nicolas: WE WOULD DO THAT EVERY SINGLE NIGHT,
AND IT REALLY DID SEEM TO WORK.
Stephanie: "...AGAINST THE WICKEDNESS
AND SNARES OF THE DEVIL."
AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF IT JUST BEING QUIET,
I HAD GOTTEN USED TO IT, AND I WAS RELIEVED.
YOU KNOW, YOU TRY AND PUT YOUR LIFE BACK TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT
AND KIND OF REFLECT LIKE, "WOW. DID I REALLY GO THROUGH THAT?"
Narrator: STEPHANIE GETS USED TO HER NEW NIGHTLY ROUTINE,
CONVINCED SHE IS NOW SAFE AGAIN.
IT'S MARCH 2011,
A YEAR SINCE STEPHANIE STARTED PERFORMING THE SEALING RITUAL.
"...AND SNARES OF THE DEVIL.
"OH, PRINCE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST...
"IN THE NAME OF GOD,
"CAST SATAN AND HIS EVIL SPIRITS...
"INTO HELL,
WHO ROAM THE EARTH, SEEKING THE DESTRUCTION OF SOULS."
[ GASPS ]
[ GLASS SHATTERING ]
NICK!
THERE'S -- THERE'S A GUY OUTSIDE!
WHAT? THERE'S A GUY OUT-- BABY...
STAY HERE. BE CAREFUL!
[ PANTING ]
[ PANTING CONTINUES ]
[ PANTING ] THERE'S NOBODY OUT THERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS, BABE?
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S STUPID ENOUGH TO COME BACK HERE.
WE WERE STANDING AT THE FRONT WINDOW
KIND OF WATCHING TO SEE IF WE COULD SEE ANYTHING,
ANYBODY KIND OF HANGING AROUND.
[ GASPING ]
THIS THING GRABBED THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND JUST YANKED ME DOWN.
DID YOU HURT YOUR NECK?
YOU OKAY? Shh!
DON'T MOVE. DON'T MOVE. DON'T MOVE. JUST RELAX.
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING
BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER WITH.
[ PANTING ]
Rick: NICOLAS CALLED ME. HE WAS VERY FRANTIC.
HE SAID THAT THE ATTACKS HAD RESUMED.
Narrator: IN APRIL 2011,
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR RICK ACHERSTEIN
BEGINS A 48-HOUR INVESTIGATION,
HOPING TO GATHER EVIDENCE
TO JUSTIFY A FORMAL CATHOLIC EXORCISM.
IN ORDER TO GET THE CATHOLIC CHURCH INVOLVED,
IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF EVIDENCE
AND A GREAT DEAL OF DOCUMENTATION.
STEPHANIE.
WHAT?
THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO ASK YOU.
WHAT?
MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T USE THE SEALING RITUAL WHILE WE'RE HERE.
YOU WANT TO USE ME AS BAIT.
IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT,
I'M CERTAINLY NOT GONNA TRY TO CONVINCE YOU.
NO.
[ BLOWS ]
NO.
LET'S DO THIS.
I WAS PRETTY MUCH WILLING TO DO WHATEVER I HAD TO DO
TO GET SOME KIND OF EVIDENCE.
Narrator: RICK AND A MEMBER OF HIS INVESTIGATION TEAM
WILL STAY UP ALL NIGHT MONITORING CAMERA FEEDS.
ON NIGHT 1, THERE'S DISAPPOINTMENT,
AS NOTHING HAPPENS.
THEY RETURN TO THEIR POSTS FOR NIGHT 2.
SHE'S HAVING A TOUGH TIME AGAIN, SLEEPING.
YEAH, SHE IS.
[ PANTING ]
HEY.
[ Crying ] OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA,
STEPHANIE WINTER IS BEING TORTURED AND TORMENTED
BY A DEMONIC ENTITY.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN UNLEASHED THROUGH A SPELL
CAST BY A SPURNED FORMER FRIEND WHO BECAME OBSESSED WITH HER.
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR RICK ACHERSTEIN
BELIEVES AN EXORCISM BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
MAY BE NECESSARY,
BUT FIRST, HE NEEDS TO CAPTURE PROOF OF THE EVIL PRESENCE.
[ PANTING ]
HEY.
[ Crying ] OH, MY GOD!
HEY, HEY. LOOK, LOOK. YEAH, I'VE GOT IT.
I'VE GOT IT. [ SOBBING ]
NO!
YOU OKAY?
Rick: THE WOUND TO HER ARM WAS SO SEVERE
THAT IN THE KITCHEN ITSELF, WHERE SHE WAS STANDING,
THERE WAS A POOL OF BLOOD.
THERE WAS ALSO SOME MINOR BLOOD SPATTER
ON THE WALL ADJACENT TO WHERE SHE WAS STANDING...
...WHICH INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOME FORCE
APPLIED TO THAT PARTICULAR SCRATCH.
Narrator: BUT THE EVIDENCE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH
TO TAKE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
THE VIDEO EVIDENCE WAS SIGNIFICANT, BUT NOT CONCLUSIVE
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED
BECAUSE SHE WAS IN AND OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
IF I WANT TO TAKE A SKEPTICAL STANCE,
SHE COULD HAVE DONE IT IN ANOTHER ROOM,
COME IN, AND PRETENDED THAT SHE GOT SCRATCHED.
I WAS KIND OF MAD ABOUT THAT.
I WAS LIKE, "[SIGHS] MAN. ALL RIGHT."
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
AAH.
Rick: DID YOU SEE THAT?
Man: I SEE IT. I'VE GOT IT.
RICK!
SHE NEEDS ME. GO, GO, GO.
RECORD IT.
[ GASPING ]
[ MOANS ]
I ACTUALLY SAW THE WELTS FORM IN THREE SCRATCHES,
LINEAR SCRATCHES, SIDE BY SIDE.
AND I SAW THEM START TO BLEED.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
I KNEW THAT SHE DID NOT SCRATCH HERSELF,
THAT THEY WERE FRESH.
WE GOT IT.
WE GOT IT!
THAT PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT
THAN THE ORIGINAL SCRATCHING BECAUSE OF THE TIME PERIOD
THAT SHE WAS UNDER CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE.
[ STEPHANIE SIGHS ]
WE FELT SO GOOD.
IT WAS LIKE, "THANK GOD.
"RICK FINALLY SAW THIS.
HE SAW IT WITH HIS EYES, AND HE'S GOT IT ON CAMERA."
I KNEW THAT I HAD SOMETHING OF A NEGATIVE NATURE.
Narrator: RICK CONTACTS DAVID CONSIDINE,
A LAY RELIGIOUS DEMONOLOGIST IN CONNECTICUT
WHOSE WORK IS OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED
BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
David: ANY TIME THAT WE'RE HAVING OUTWARD MANIFESTATIONS
WHERE WE'RE GETTING SCRATCHING
AND/OR SOMEONE'S BEING PUNCHED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE,
IT'S ALWAYS REASON FOR CONCERN.
WE DO HAVE EXORCISTS THAT WORK WITH US.
WHAT WE HAD PLANNED
WAS FOR A MASS TO BE INITIATED IN HER NAME.
HE SUSPECTED THAT SHE MIGHT BE UNDER DEMONIC OPPRESSION.
Narrator: DEMONIC OPPRESSION IS WHEN A PERSON
STARTS TO COME UNDER CONTROL OF THE ENTITY.
IT'S JUST A STEP AWAY FROM BECOMING FULLY POSSESSED.
Rick: IF THAT WERE, IN FACT, THE CASE,
SHE SHOULD SHOW SOME TYPE OF ADVERSE EFFECT FROM THIS,
EVEN AT THAT DISTANCE.
THIS WAS NOT REVEALED TO STEPHANIE,
NOR WAS IT REVEALED TO NICOLAS.
Narrator: THE DAY OF THE MASS ARRIVES.
AS A PRIEST IN CHICAGO PREPARES,
700 MILES AWAY IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA,
RICK ARRIVES AT STEPHANIE'S.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
HEY. Rick: HEY.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE YOU TODAY.
I KNOW. I LEFT MY NOTEBOOK IN HERE.
DO YOU MIND IF I COME IN A MINUTE?
NO, NO, OF COURSE NOT. COME ON IN.
[ SPEAKING LATIN ]
...STEPHANIE WINTER.
Narrator: THE PRIEST BEGINS THE MASS FOR STEPHANIE.
Priest: ...PERPETUA...SEMPER VIRGINIS INTERCESSIONE.
DID YOUR FRIEND REVIEW THE EVIDENCE AT ALL, OR...
YES, HE DID. HE'S REVIEWING IT RIGHT NOW.
PERPETUA MENTIS ET CORPORIS SANITATE GAUDERE.
[ Echoing ] ET GLORIOSA BEATAE MARIAE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
...AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
SIT DOWN HERE.
LEAN BACK.
DEPART, SATAN.
Stephanie: I FELT FINE ONE SECOND
AND THEN FELT LIKE SOMEBODY SET A BOMB OFF IN MY HEAD.
THE GOD OF PEACE WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET.
Narrator: FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, STEPHANIE WINTER
HAS BEEN TORMENTED BY A NEGATIVE ENTITY
AT HER HOME IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA,
A HAUNTING THAT MAY OWE ITS ORIGINS
TO A DARK SPELL UNLEASHED BY A FORMER FRIEND
IN REVENGE FOR STEPHANIE
REJECTING HIS ATTEMPTS TO WIN HER HEART.
IN THE SPRING OF 2011,
A PRIEST 700 MILES AWAY PERFORMS A MASS IN HER NAME,
HOPING THE DEMON WILL MAKE ITS PRESENCE KNOWN.
I DID NOT REVEAL THIS INFORMATION TO STEPHANIE.
SHE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
[ Echoing ] ET GLORIOSA BEATAE MARIAE.
[ PANTING ]
LIBERARI TRISTITIA...
...QUAESUMUS DOMINE DEUS...
...LIBERARI TRISTITIA...
OH, MY GOD. I'M SO DIZZY.
...PER CHRISTUM DOMINUM NOSTRUM.
AMEN.
SHE HAD A SEVERE MIGRAINE HEADACHE.
OH, MY HEAD. I DON'T FEEL GOOD.
THAT WAS A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATOR
THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY LEGITIMATE DEMONIC OPPRESSION.
Narrator: STEPHANIE IS IN IMMINENT DANGER
OF BECOMING FULLY POSSESSED BY THIS EVIL SPIRIT.
[ GASPS ]
RICK CONTACTS RELIGIOUS DEMONOLOGIST DAVID CONSIDINE,
WHO ARRANGED THE DIAGNOSTIC MASS WITH A PRIEST IN CHICAGO.
NO, NO. SHE'S SICK.
SHE NEEDS OUR HELP.
WE FELT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HANDLED
BY THE MINOR FORM OF EXORCISM.
Narrator: THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR THE CHURCH
TO SANCTION A FULL EXORCISM.
INSTEAD, PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR RICK ACHERSTEIN
WILL TRY TO DRIVE OUT THE DEMON.
RICK WAS INSTRUCTED TO PURGE HIMSELF,
TO CLEAN HIMSELF, AS IT WERE, AT A SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
IT IS INTENSE, AND I FEAR FOR STEPHANIE.
I ABSOLVE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,
THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SO THAT WAY, HE COULD BE STRONGER FOR STEPHANIE
AND FOR HIMSELF
AND TO LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY
THAT HE COULD COME UNDER POSSESSION.
Rick: I KNEW THE CLASH WAS IMMINENT.
I KNEW THE CLASH WAS COMING.
SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: RICK IS FINALLY READY TO TAKE ON A DEMON.
ARE YOU OKAY?
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?
YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S POWER IN GOD AND HIS WORD.
I'M GONNA READ THE ENTIRE RITUAL.
WHATEVER HAPPENS,
I WANT YOU TO KEEP READING ALONG WITH ME.
"MOST GLORIOUS PRINCE OF THE HEAVENLY ARMIES..."
Both: "MOST GLORIOUS PRINCE OF THE HEAVENLY ARMIES..."
"...ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL..."
"...DEFEND US IN OUR BATTLE..."
"...AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS..."
"...AGAINST THE RULERS OF THIS WORLD OF DARKNESS..."
"...AGAINST THE SPIRITS OF WICKEDNESS
IN THE HIGH PLACES..."
"...AGAINST THE SPIRITS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HIGH..."
"HIGH PLACES." "...PLACES."
"FROM THE SNARES OF THE DEVIL, DELIVER US, OH, LORD."
"FROM THE SNARES OF THE DEVIL, DELIVER US, OH, LORD"!
"FROM THE SNARES OF THE DEVIL, DELIVER US, OH, LORD!"
"GOD ARISES."
"HIS ENEMIES ARE SCATTERED."
"AS SMOKE IS DRIVEN AWAY..."
"...SO THEY ARE DRIVEN."
"AS WAX MELTS BEFORE THE FLAME..."
"...SO THE WICKED PERISH AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD."
"MOST PRECIOUS HEART OF JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US."
PLACE YOUR HANDS THERE.
"MOST PRECIOUS HEART OF JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US."
I THINK IT'S OVER.
[ LAUGHS ] YES, YES.
IT'S OVER.
Narrator: FOR NOW, IT APPEARS
THAT THE HOUSE BELONGS ONLY TO THE LIVING.
Stephanie: IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS
SINCE ANYTHING'S HAPPENED, THANKFULLY,
AND SLOWLY, NICOLAS AND I HAVE GOTTEN OUR LIVES BACK ON TRACK
AND ARE ABLE TO KIND OF LOOSEN UP AND LAUGH.
IT'S FUNNY HOW MUCH YOU MISS LAUGHING
WHEN YOU DON'T DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THINGS THAT GIVE ME CONFIRMATION
THAT THERE IS DEMONS OR A DEVIL AND THAT THERE IS A GOD.
Narrator: THE COUPLE
CONTINUES TO WONDER WHAT CAUSED THE HAUNTING
AND IF IT IS GONE FOR GOOD.
DID STEPHANIE'S LOVE-STRUCK FORMER FRIEND
CAST A SPELL AND CONJURE A DEMON?
Stephanie: RICK DID BRING THAT UP TO ME,
THAT PETER COULD HAVE DONE THAT.
HE COULD VERY WELL HAVE BROUGHT THIS THING TO ME.
Narrator: MORE THAN ANYTHING,
STEPHANIE WONDERS ABOUT THE GHOST
OF A BOY THAT APPEARED TO HER.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THIS DEMON THAT WAS IN MY HOUSE
TRYING TO GAIN MY TRUST
OR IF IT WAS THE ACTUAL LITTLE BOY ASKING FOR HELP,
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM AGAIN.
I'M STILL ON EDGE
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETELY GONE
OR IF IT'S JUST DORMANT AGAIN.