That time Unsolved Mysteries aired a real life exorcism
By Patti Pauley
Remember that time Unsolved Mysteries filmed and aired a real-life exorcism? Join me, and let’s get weird with some retro Robert Stack goodness.
I don’t think I’m alone here when I claim there was nothing scarier on Primetime TV than the glorious sounds and visuals of Unsolved Mysteries. Back when I was a wee Patti, this was mine and my recently passed Grandmother’s go-to program Tuesday nights on NBC. I was around the age of 7 when I had first laid my peelers on the majestic stance of the Stack and felt such excitement upon each week’s new episode of thrills, murder, and the paranormal. Albeit after a fresh viewing, I would also feel a sense of paranoia thinking escaped murderers were lurking in my backyard bushes. But, that was the magic of Unsolved Mysteries and watching it again with adult eyes thanks to Amazon streaming, proves it’s just as creepy now as it was 30 years ago.
Each featured case was substantially creepy on its own, however, one in particular stood out to me in memory apart from the 1987 Kurt Sova segment. And that was the time Unsolved Mysteries scratched the infamous re-enactments regarding a supposedly possessed 29-year-old woman only known to the world as “Kathie”. Running almost like a mini-documentary, the crew filmed an actual exorcism performed on the woman who claims to have been taunted by demons since her teenage years.
via Unsolved Mysteries Wiki
Kathie- “MYAHHHH!! I HATE YOUR PRAYERSSS!!”
Exorcist- “Shut up Devil!”
Nope. That didn’t give me nightmares at all.
First aired on June 11th, 1999, Unsolved Mysteries paired up with HOPE, (Hartford Office of Paranormal Exploration), who were initially contacted by Kathie herself. After years of both medical and psychological treatments failing her, her last hope (ironically) for relief was the seven-member group of HOPE. With over 100 prior cases of exorcisms performed under the team that includes a social worker, a psychic, a registered nurse, and the director of Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, the group visited Kathie’s home and conducted an interview with the woman prior to a decision being made that would warrant an exorcism. During the group consultation with Kathie, she seemed to slip into one of her possessive spells and began to curl and cringe her hands along with jolting her head violently. After the very strange interview, the group seemed to believe Kathie’s story and felt an exorcism was the right way to go. And Unsolved Mysteries was there to film the very controversial ritual.
Bless this damn program. No pun intended.
via Unsolved Mysteries Wiki
According to the official Unsolved Mysteries fandom page, Kathie provided an update after filming that she did not require any further exorcisms and was able to find a job for the first time in several years.
While there are no free online videos of the actual episode, thanks to Amazon Prime streaming you can watch not only this episode- season 10 episode 8- but a full twelve glorious seasons of Stack infused glory.
That theme song alone is the stuff of pure nightmares… “shudders”.
Next: Dracula: The Universal and Hammer Spectacular!
You can find more killer horror content from Patti Pauley at Bloody-Disgusting and Nightmarish Conjurings.