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'''Robbie Mannheim''' (also known as '''Roland Doe''';<ref name="name" group="note"/><ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Roland">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The Evening Star’s account differed from the Post’s in that the family was referred to as “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe” and their 13-year-old son “Roland.”|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> born 1 June 1935)<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - DOB">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Reporters to date have claimed that the 13- or 14-year-old boy was allegedly from Mount Rainier, Maryland. (It was later revealed that his date of birth was June 1, 1935, meaning he was actually 13 when the rite of exorcism was finally completed).|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> is the [[pseudonym]] given by historian [[Thomas B. Allen (author)|Thomas B. Allen]] to an anonymous individual most notably known for allegedly being [[Demonic possession|possessed]] and later [[exorcised]] during his childhood in the late 1940s.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Pseudonym">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&q=Thomas+B.+Allen#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Allen&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology|quote=In 1949, just outside of Washington, DC, a thirteen-year-old boy, who lived with his two parents and grandmother, began to experience some very strange phenomena. We'll call this boy Robbie, the fictional name given to him by historian Thomas Allen, who has written a very sober and fascinating account of this entire case.|publisher=[[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> The alleged events which were reported in the media of the time and the subsequent claims surrounding those events went on to inspire the 1971 novel ''[[The Exorcist]]'' by [[William Peter Blatty]] and the 1973 film of the same name, as well as Thomas B. Allen's own 1993 book ''Possessed'' and the following 2000 television film by the same name.

'''Robbie Mannheim''' (also known as '''Roland Doe''';<ref name="name" group="note"/><ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Roland">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The Evening Star’s account differed from the Post’s in that the family was referred to as “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe” and their 13-year-old son “Roland.”|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> born 1 June 1935)<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - DOB">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Reporters to date have claimed that the 13- or 14-year-old boy was from Mount Rainier, Maryland. (It was later revealed that his date of birth was June 1, 1935, meaning he was actually 13 when the rite of exorcism was finally completed).|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> is the [[pseudonym]] given by historian [[Thomas B. Allen (author)|Thomas B. Allen]] to an anonymous individual most notably known for being [[Demonic possession|possessed]] and later [[exorcised]] during his childhood in the late 1940s.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Pseudonym">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&q=Thomas+B.+Allen#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Allen&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology|quote=In 1949, just outside of Washington, DC, a thirteen-year-old boy, who lived with his two parents and grandmother, began to experience some very strange phenomena. We'll call this boy Robbie, the fictional name given to him by historian Thomas Allen, who has written a very sober and fascinating account of this entire case.|publisher=[[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> The alleged events which were reported in the media of the time and the subsequent claims surrounding those events went on to inspire the 1971 novel ''[[The Exorcist]]'' by [[William Peter Blatty]] and the 1973 film of the same name, as well as Thomas B. Allen's own 1993 book ''Possessed'' and the following 2000 television film by the same name.

==Origin of claims==

==Origin of claims==

The identity of Mannheim has never been revealed however he is reported as having no memory of being possessed.<ref name="Emissary - Happily Married">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false|title= A Faraway Ancient Country |quote= After over fifty years, this man (whose identity remains a closely guarded secret) has no memories of his possession.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Most of the information regarding him and the events surrounding his alleged possession and exorcism comes from [[secondary source|secondary]] and [[tertiary source]]s.  

The identity of Mannheim has never been revealed however he is reported as having no memory of being possessed.<ref name="Emissary - Happily Married">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false|title= A Faraway Ancient Country |quote= After over fifty years, this man (whose identity remains a closely guarded secret) has no memories of his possession.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Most of the information regarding him and the events surrounding his alleged possession and exorcism comes from [[secondary source|secondary]] and [[tertiary source]]s.  

Around the time of the alleged events there were several newspaper articles printed attributed to anonymous reports which were later sourced back to be that of the family's clergyman, Reverend Luther Miles Schulze.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - The Parapsychology Bulletin">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= He turned out to be Reverend Luther Miles Schulze and in this article his experiences with the boy were reported in detail. |publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

Around the time of the events there were several newspaper articles printed attributed to anonymous reports which were later sourced back to be that of the family's clergyman, Reverend Luther Miles Schulze.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - The Parapsychology Bulletin">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= He turned out to be Reverend Luther Miles Schulze and in this article his experiences with the boy were reported in detail. |publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

Another article was written on the subject in the January 1975 edition of ''Fate magazine'' titled ''“The Truth Behind The Exorcist,”''. This article alleges to reveal previously unknown details from a diary kept by one of the priests involved in the exorcism.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Media interest">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage2.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The most fascinating and in-depth article ever to appear on the subject appeared in the January 1975 edition of Fate magazine. |publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

Another article was written on the subject in the January 1975 edition of ''Fate magazine'' titled ''“The Truth Behind The Exorcist,”''. This article alleges to reveal previously unknown details from a diary kept by one of the priests involved in the exorcism.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Media interest">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage2.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The most fascinating and in-depth article ever to appear on the subject appeared in the January 1975 edition of Fate magazine. |publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

==Early life==

==Early life==

Some of the more generally accepted claims about Mannheim are that he was an only child born into a German Lutheran Christian family and that during the 1940s they lived in the American city of [[Cottage City, Maryland|Cottage City]], [[Maryland]].<ref name="Sue Lim - Residence">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= The film ''The Exorcist'' is a the fictional rendition of a true story of possession of a thirteen year old boy named Robbie Mannheim who lived in Maryland in the 1940s.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Hometown">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Rob’s home address was listed in the yearbook as being 3807 40th Avenue, Cottage City, Maryland.|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> Pseudonyms given to Robbie's parents in literature regarding this subject are "Mr. and Mrs. Doe" as well as "Karl and Phyllis Mannheim née Wagner."<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Roland"/><ref name="Sue Lim - Parents">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and Grandmother Wagner alone in the house.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  

Mannheim was an only child born into a German Lutheran Christian family and that during the 1940s they lived in the American city of [[Cottage City, Maryland|Cottage City]], [[Maryland]].<ref name="Sue Lim - Residence">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= The film ''The Exorcist'' is a the fictional rendition of a true story of possession of a thirteen year old boy named Robbie Mannheim who lived in Maryland in the 1940s.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Hometown">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Rob’s home address was listed in the yearbook as being 3807 40th Avenue, Cottage City, Maryland.|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> Pseudonyms given to Robbie's parents in literature regarding this subject are "Mr. and Mrs. Doe" as well as "Karl and Phyllis Mannheim née Wagner."<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Roland"/><ref name="Sue Lim - Parents">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and Grandmother Wagner alone in the house.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  

Since Robbie was an only child, it is claimed that he depended upon adults in his household for playmates, namely his Aunt Harriet, who treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew.<ref name="Sue Lim - Playmates">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= As an only child, he had to depend upon the adults in the household for his playmates. One of these adults was his Aunt Harriet.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> His aunt, a [[Spiritualist]], who also professed [[Christianity]], saw the [[Ouija board]] as a means of contacting those who had passed on the [[Afterlife|next world]].<ref name="Sue Lim - Ouija board">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote= Harriet responded to Robbie's interest in board games by introducing him to one - the Ouija board. Because Aunt Harriet was a Spiritualist, she saw it as a way to make contact between this world and the next. The planchette, she explained to Robbie, would sometimes move in response to answers given by the spirits of the dead. The communicated by entering the consciousness of people at the board. The spirits, Aunt Harriet said, produced impulses that traveled through the medium to the planchette, which moved obediently to spell out words or point to "Yes" or "No." Aunt Harriet seemed to have treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew. She had an exotic quality, especially with her talk about Spiritualism. Between visits, Robbie sometimes played at the Ouija board himself. For a Spiritualist like her, attempts to deal with the dead were neither pagan nor dangerous. Most Spiritualists considered themselves good Christians...Spiritualists, however, did not heed the biblical admonitions against consorting with spirits.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> Like other Spiritualists, she did not heed the [[Biblical]] admonitions [[Witchcraft and divination in the Bible|against consorting with spirits]].<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Ouija board">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Possessed: the true story of an exorcism|quote= Harriet responded to Robbie's interest in board games by introducing him to one - the Ouija board. Because Aunt Harriet was a Spiritualist, she saw it as a way to make contact between this world and the next. The planchette, she explained to Robbie, would sometimes move in response to answers given by the spirits of the dead. The communicated by entering the consciousness of people at the board. The spirits, Aunt Harriet said, produced impulses that traveled through the medium to the planchette, which moved obediently to spell out words or point to "Yes" or "No." Aunt Harriet seemed to have treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew. She had an exotic quality, especially with her talk about Spiritualism. Between visits, Robbie sometimes played at the Ouija board himself. For a Spiritualist like her, attempts to deal with the dead were neither pagan nor dangerous. Most Spiritualists considered themselves good Christians...Spiritualists, however, did not heed the biblical admonitions against [[Necromancy|consorting with spirits]].|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  She therefore, introduced Robbie to the Ouija board when he expressed interest in it; between visits from his aunt, Robbie would sometimes dabble with the Ouija board on his own.<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Ouija board"/> Nonetheless, Robbie was your average boy - he played, read [[comic book]]s, and listened to the [[radio]].<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Adolescent">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=7AEvAAAAYAAJ&q=Robbie++exorcism&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=3|title= Possessed: the true story of an exorcism|quote= Robbie played, read comic books, listened to the radio, got under people's feet, acting like a normal thirteen-year-old boy.|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  

Since Robbie was an only child, he depended upon adults in his household for playmates, namely his Aunt Harriet, who treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew.<ref name="Sue Lim - Playmates">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= As an only child, he had to depend upon the adults in the household for his playmates. One of these adults was his Aunt Harriet.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> His aunt, a [[Spiritualist]], who also professed [[Christianity]], saw the [[Ouija board]] as a means of contacting those who had passed on the [[Afterlife|next world]].<ref name="Sue Lim - Ouija board">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote= Harriet responded to Robbie's interest in board games by introducing him to one - the Ouija board. Because Aunt Harriet was a Spiritualist, she saw it as a way to make contact between this world and the next. The planchette, she explained to Robbie, would sometimes move in response to answers given by the spirits of the dead. The communicated by entering the consciousness of people at the board. The spirits, Aunt Harriet said, produced impulses that traveled through the medium to the planchette, which moved obediently to spell out words or point to "Yes" or "No." Aunt Harriet seemed to have treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew. She had an exotic quality, especially with her talk about Spiritualism. Between visits, Robbie sometimes played at the Ouija board himself. For a Spiritualist like her, attempts to deal with the dead were neither pagan nor dangerous. Most Spiritualists considered themselves good Christians...Spiritualists, however, did not heed the biblical admonitions against consorting with spirits.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> Like other Spiritualists, she did not heed the [[Biblical]] admonitions [[Witchcraft and divination in the Bible|against consorting with spirits]].<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Ouija board">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Possessed: the true story of an exorcism|quote= Harriet responded to Robbie's interest in board games by introducing him to one - the Ouija board. Because Aunt Harriet was a Spiritualist, she saw it as a way to make contact between this world and the next. The planchette, she explained to Robbie, would sometimes move in response to answers given by the spirits of the dead. The communicated by entering the consciousness of people at the board. The spirits, Aunt Harriet said, produced impulses that traveled through the medium to the planchette, which moved obediently to spell out words or point to "Yes" or "No." Aunt Harriet seemed to have treated Robbie more like a special friend than a nephew. She had an exotic quality, especially with her talk about Spiritualism. Between visits, Robbie sometimes played at the Ouija board himself. For a Spiritualist like her, attempts to deal with the dead were neither pagan nor dangerous. Most Spiritualists considered themselves good Christians...Spiritualists, however, did not heed the biblical admonitions against [[Necromancy|consorting with spirits]].|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  She therefore, introduced Robbie to the Ouija board when he expressed interest in it; between visits from his aunt, Robbie would sometimes dabble with the Ouija board on his own.<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Ouija board"/> Nonetheless, Robbie was your average boy - he played, read [[comic book]]s, and listened to the [[radio]].<ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Adolescent">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=7AEvAAAAYAAJ&q=Robbie++exorcism&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=3|title= Possessed: the true story of an exorcism|quote= Robbie played, read comic books, listened to the radio, got under people's feet, acting like a normal thirteen-year-old boy.|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref>  

On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and his Grandmother Wagner alone in the house; shortly afterwards, a dripping sound ensued and would not stop, despite the fact that every faucet was checked in the house.<ref name="Sue Lim - Dripping">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and Grandmother Wagner alone in the house. Not long after...Grandmother Wagner heard a dripping sound. She and Robbie checked every faucet in the neat, well-maintained house. The could not find the source of the dripping...They finally decided that the dripping came from Grandmother Wagner's bedroom under the sloping ceiling of the second floor. The entered  and while listening to the loud dripping, saw a painting of Christ begin to shake, as if some-body were bumping the wall behind the painting.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> In an attempt to locate the origin of the sonorous dripping noise, both Mannheim and his grandmother noticed that a painting of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] began to shake.<ref name="Sue Lim - Dripping"/><ref name="Emissary">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Once, a portrait of Christ fell off the wall.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref>  

On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and his Grandmother Wagner alone in the house; shortly afterwards, a dripping sound ensued and would not stop, despite the fact that every faucet was checked in the house.<ref name="Sue Lim - Dripping">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= On Saturday, January 15, 1949, Karl and Phyllis Mannheim went out for the evening, leaving Robbie and Grandmother Wagner alone in the house. Not long after...Grandmother Wagner heard a dripping sound. She and Robbie checked every faucet in the neat, well-maintained house. The could not find the source of the dripping...They finally decided that the dripping came from Grandmother Wagner's bedroom under the sloping ceiling of the second floor. The entered  and while listening to the loud dripping, saw a painting of Christ begin to shake, as if some-body were bumping the wall behind the painting.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> In an attempt to locate the origin of the sonorous dripping noise, both Mannheim and his grandmother noticed that a painting of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] began to shake.<ref name="Sue Lim - Dripping"/><ref name="Emissary">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Once, a portrait of Christ fell off the wall.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref>