It happened at [Saint Louis University]." But the fact remains that the real-life story behind author William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel The Exorcist had its origins in St. Louis.

The real-life case of Ronald Hunkeler, a Maryland boy who underwent a harrowing exorcism in ... The Devil Came to St. Louis tells a detailed account of Hunkeler’s story. Ronald (Ronnie) Hunkeler ...

In true St. Louis fashion, many people claim to have a degree or two of separation from someone that knows something about the exorcism. The entire, true story is known only to those who conducted ...

In his hometown and St. Louis, Mo., Doe underwent “between 20 and 30 performances of the ancient ritual of exorcism,” according to an Aug. 20, 1949, story in The Washington ... was revealed publicly ...

As described in Joe Sonderman’s 2024 book, “This Day in St. Louis History,” the exorcism involved ... Inquirer reported his name as Ronald Edwin Hunkeler. He reportedly died in 2020 ...

Myth 1: It’s based on a true story The Exorcist is ... the Alexian Brothers Hospital in St Louis, where three Jesuit priests agreed to undertake the exorcism. It proved a traumatic ...

Most people don’t know The Exorcist was based on a true story ... the supposed possession story of 1949 very, very loosely. Part of it surely was to not identify Hunkeler and preserve his ...

EPA/JIM LO SCALZO In the Rare Books and Archives Division of Saint Louis University's Pius ... are based on a true story: a months-long exorcism by Jesuit priests of a 14-year-old Maryland boy ...