Debunk Paranormal

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Paoli, Ind., man Wednesday afternoon on felony charges of battery and confinement after he performed an “exorcism” on a 14-year-old autistic boy over the course of 11 hours, police said. Sheriff’s Department Det. Brad Swain said Edward F. Uyesugi, 22, turned himself into police at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday. Witnesses told police Uyesugi had said he punched the boy in the face 20 times and stuck his fingers down the boy’s throat in an attempt to “cast out the demons” in him, according to a probable cause affidavit. ______________________________________________________ Walter Zepeda was possessed by the devil. His parents, devoutly religious members of a Pentecostal church that believes in such manifestations, knew that much to be true. They had seen their shy 19-year-old son engage in behaviours that could only signal the presence of Satan. So Diego Zepeda-Cordera called his friend Alex Osegueda, a fellow member of the Missionary Church of Christ and a man of equal devotion, to help him rid his son of the evil. They had no idea the seven days of forced confinement it took to drive away the devil would also, literally, drain the life out of Walter. He lost nine litres of fluid as he lay strapped with men's ties to metal chairs in the basement apartment he shared with his family in this western Ontario city. Ultimately he died of dehydration. Yesterday, the squarely cut shoulders of Mr. Zepeda-Cordero heaved silently as a judge sentenced him and Mr. Osegueda to four years in penitentiary for the ritual that caused the death of the teen. They had pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week, ending a preliminary hearing that heard from 24 witnesses, among them some who had prayed over Walter as he lay bound in his bedroom. The two men wrestled him into submission on Jan. 2, 2002, and tied him to the chairs in the apartment. His mother, who didn't originally agree with the action, acquiesced because she too believed Satan had control of her son. Walter struggled against his restraints to the point that his wrists and ankles were a mass of bruises, but that was interpreted "as an example of the devil or the demon doing what he would with Walter," Mr. Arntfield said. The morning after he was tied up, Rev. Guillermo Fabian, the pastor of the church, was summoned to the home. As Walter swore and squirmed, Mr. Fabian prayed with the family to help exorcise the demon. He came back the next day and Walter was lying in his own urine - a problem solved by dressing him in adult diapers. Over the weekend, at least 10 other members of the church visited the home and joined in the prayer sessions. All this time, Walter's parents say they were offering him liquid, even his favourite Chinese soup, but he refused it all. When he screamed too loud, his mouth was duct-taped. And by Sunday, those who saw him were worried about his health. One said he "looked sick and dying." On Monday, Mr. Fabian urged Mr. Zepeda-Cordero to let his son go. That night, Walter was calm and his father came to the conclusion the devil had finally left the boy's body. The straps were removed and he was placed on a bed, but by then it was too late. A few hours later he stopped breathing. First his father called Mr. Fabian. Then, at the pastor's urging, he called the police. Despite the deception, it is obvious the trio "genuinely believed that Walter was possessed," Judge Livingstone said. "They only wanted to help him, wanted to save his soul, but the facts of the matter show that despite their prayer and the zealousness of their religious convictions, what they did - and what they did not do - caused Walter's death." _____________________________________________________ Exorcism Gone Bad A pastor who killed a woman during an exorcism claims that she will return to life next month. I'm sure the fact that this guy is on trial for manslaughter has nothing to do with whether he thinks his victim will rise from the dead or not. The Crown alleges he strangled her while trying to dislodge a large demon from her throat. A church member raised the alarm after five or six days of intense prayer over her decaying body. I smell a cult. ______________________________________________________ In Romania, a "priest" tried to perform an exorcism. The result - his patient died. The person was bound to a cross and denied food and water for many days. Many people will look at this type of news and come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as demon possession. ______________________________________________________ Exorcism gone horribly, horribly wrong Police interupted a reported exorcism Saturday in Phoenix. The scene they walked --- or rather pushed, past a door blocked by a bed --- into looked something like this: A 3-year-old girl --- crying, bloodied and gasping for air. Her grandfather, his hands around her neck, unphased by blast No. 1 from a stun gun. His daughter (the girl's mother) naked, also bloody, and chanting something of a religious nature. After being stunned again, scuffling with police officers and being latched into handcuffs, the grandfather stopped breathing. He couldn't be revived and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The little girl and her mother also were hospitalized, but the extent of their injuries wasn't reported. ______________________________________________________ One of New Zealand's leading Maori priests says he's surprised and dismayed by the death of a 22-year-old woman in an exorcism gone wrong. Janet Moses, a mother-of-two, is thought to have drowned when at least one member of her 'healing group' held her under water, while trying to drive out an evil curse. This afternoon, Anglican Maori Church archdeacon Hone said he'd never heard of anyone dying in a "maketu", but acknowledged they were potentially dangerous ceremonies if not conducted properly. Ms Moses was found with grazes to her upper arms, forearms and torso. Dr Kaa said, in some cases, victims needed to be held down by several people as the spirit fought, but he was not familiar with injuries such as scratches and grazes being inflicted. He said water was often used in such ceremonies, but not the amounts understood to have been involved in Ms Moses' case. Dr Kaa wouldn't comment on the specifics of the Wellington case which police are now treating as a homicide. Police say Ms Moses died at a family home in Wainuiomata on October 12. Police were called to the house by family members. As many as 40 people were at the house during the ceremony and more came and went throughout the day after she died, Mr Levy said. Police said she had been dead for about nine hours before they were called and have since interviewed dozens of people in relation to the death. The curse was believed to have been linked to a relative stealing ______________________________________________________