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1973 would see the release of hit film 'The Exorcist', in which a twelve-year-old girl is possessed by a demon, and two priests attempt to rid the child of the possession.
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A year later in West Yorkshire, England, a real-life exorcism would take place and fail with disastrous consequences.
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Michael Taylor was a 31-year-old man living in the market town of Ossett with his wife, Christine.
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Taylor worked as a butcher, which is... foreshadowing.
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Michael Taylor belonged to a Christian Fellowship group, which is kind of like a book club, I think?
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Only there's one book and it's generally frowned upon if you don't have a glowing review for it.
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It was here Taylor developed strange mannerisms, including speaking in tongues.
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The leader of this group was Mary Robinson.
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Taylor's wife, Christine, revealed to the group that Michael's interest in Robinson was sexually driven.
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I think he might have misunderstood the nature of these types of groups or — fuck, maybe I've misunderstood the nature of these types of groups.
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Taylor did indeed admit to feeling evil inside and would eventually attack Robinson verbally.
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Robinson described a wild bestial look overtaking Taylor's face, and feared she would have been killed in the incident had it not been for the intervention of Jesus.
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Taylor's behavior would become increasingly erratic after this, until the group came to the conclusion that Taylor's behavior was a result of him being diabolically afflicted,
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and that there was only one way to free him and get the old Michael Taylor back.
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The local vicar called in other ministers he knew to be experienced in deliverance to cast out demons in Michael Taylor.
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Enter Father Peter Vincent, an Anglican priest who would head up the exorcism, and Reverend Raymond, a Methodist clergyman who would assist him.
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The exorcism would be performed in Saint Thomas Church in Barnsley on the night of the 5th of October, 1974.
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In an all-night ceremony, the men invoked and cast out at least 40 demons. Jesus, leave some for the rest of us.
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Among these were incest, bestiality, blasphemy, and lewdness.
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The exorcism rite lasted until 6:00 a.m., totally exhausting the priests.
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They allowed Taylor to go home but feared at least three demons still remained: insanity, violence, and murder.
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Those seem like three pretty important demons, like surely you should have prioritized those ones!?
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Like, at the very least, you should have got rid of murder — that's pretty serious.
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Like couldn't you have maybe swapped bestiality and murder there? Was it really more important to get rid of bestiality instead of murder?
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"Well, he might kill someone, but at least he won't suck a dog's dick."
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Imagine a mechanic gave you your car back and said,
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"Okay, so I fixed the left tail-light, the broken mirror, and the crack in the windscreen. The brakes still don't work, but I think you're good to go."
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A mere two hours after the exorcism, Michael Taylor would fly into a ferocious rage.
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Neighbors described a fit of laughter and joy emanating from the Taylor household, but what they did not know was Michael had viciously attacked Christine.
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With his bare hands, Michael tore her eyes and tongue out, and almost ripped her entire face off.
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He left the house, but not before strangling their poodle.
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Police found Michael aimlessly wandering the streets; naked and covered in blood.
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He was maniacally shouting, "It is the blood of Satan!" over and over again.
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They would soon find the mutilated bodies of his wife and their dog lying in pools of blood on the floor of their home.
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At his trial in March, Taylor was acquitted on the grounds of insanity.
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He spent two years in Broadmoor Hospital before being sent to a secure ward in Bradford for another two years.
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Michael Taylor was then released. In the years following, Michael Taylor would attempt suicide on at least four occasions, until in 2005 when he would find himself in court again.
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This time for the indecent touching of an underage girl.
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A week into his prison sentence for the crime, Taylor began to exhibit the same strange behavior he did before his wife's murder.
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When brought back before the court, they again ordered him into a psychiatric treatment.
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I was unable to find out where Michael Taylor is as of time of recording.