Monday, July 30, 2007

Exorcism Ends in Man's Death

Here is another case illustrating the damage that religious superstition can cause. It is truly insane that people still practice exorcism. But what is even more ridiculous is that the Catholic church not only sanctions such practices, but trains preists in the trade of exorcism. Obviously, the notion of humans being posessed by demons is somthing that is foolish and should have been left in the dark ages. However, this is the kind of nonsense you get when you place blind faith in a holy book that you deem to be the word of God.

I truly feel sorry for the poor girl who was being choked by this nut in front of her family. I only hope that at 3 years old, she will be too young to remember this incident as she gets older.


Attempted exorcism ends in man’s death
Police use stun guns on grandfather seen choking 3-year-old girl


July 30: An Arizona man is dead after police use a stun gun to stop him from choking his 3-year-old granddaughter during an alleged exorcism.

PHOENIX - Officers responding to a report of an exorcism on a young girl found her grandfather choking her and used stun guns to subdue the man, who later died, authorities said Sunday.

The 3-year-old girl and her mother, who was also in the room during the struggle between 49-year-old Ronald Marquez and officers, were hospitalized, police said. Their condition was unavailable.

The relative who called police said an exorcism had also been attempted Thursday.

“The purpose was to release demons from this very young child,” said Sgt. Joel Tranter.
Officers arrived at the house Saturday and entered when they heard screaming coming from a bedroom, Tranter said.

Naked woman seen chanting- A bed had been pushed up against the door; the officers pushed it open a few inches and saw Marquez choking his bloodied granddaughter, who was crying in pain and gasping, Tranter said.

A bloody, naked 19-year-old woman who police later determined to be Marquez’s daughter and the girl’s mother was in the room, chanting “something that was religious in nature,” Tranter said.

The officers forced open the door enough for one to enter, leading to a struggle in which an officer used a stun gun on Marquez, Tranter said.

Mother may be charged- After the initial stun had no visible effect, another officer squeezed into the room and stunned him. The girl was freed and passed through the door to the relative, Tranter said.

Marquez was placed in handcuffs after a struggle with officers and initially appeared normal, but then stopped breathing, Tranter said. He could not be revived and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Tranter declined to identify Marquez’s daughter and granddaughter but said they lived in the house with Marquez.

The mother was not arrested, but police will consider criminal charges, Tranter said.
There was no phone listing at Ronald Marquez’s address.